When travelling anywhere in the globe information technology'south important to remember almost what you're packing and most importantly what you can and can't bring into a land. Nihon is no dissimilar, and so we've put together a listing of things you can't bring into Japan.

Medicine

Taking medicine to Japan tin be tricky as in that location are restrictions on quantities and some items you might retrieve are fine, but in fact are not. The complexities of this item category are such that we've put together a whole article on the subject.

Wine and cured meats on table

Food items

Once again, every bit with near countries, there are a lot of nutrient items on the list of things you tin't bring into Japan.

Fresh fruit and vegetables aren't allowed and this should go without saying, simply with the price of these items in Japan being rather high, we understand why you might want to try. One of the more specific prohibited items is meat. This is not merely if it'southward uncooked or prepared in a  container but vacuum-sealed products are prohibited every bit well. This is quite a wide rule covering items such as beef hasty and it'due south becoming enforced more harshly then nosotros don't recommend testing your luck.

There are some exceptions if you have an inspection certificate for the items simply it'due south unlikely that you'll have this and then essentially any natural food items are prohibited. We recommend sticking to sweets and snacks from your domicile country as the go-to choice of omiyage (お土産, souvenir) during your stay in Japan.

Money

Plain yous are allowed to take money to Japan. You may already be enlightened that Japan is still a cash-based society in many respects and it is likely that you've been recommended to bring both a reasonable amount of cash and credit cards to pay for things. This is certainly truthful but there is a limit on how much cash you lot can bring into the state before you must declare it. The limit is ￥1mil which is the equivalent of around £vii,000 or $9,500. While it's unlikely y'all will be taking this much with you on holiday, some people might seek to take this much if they are coming to Japan to study long-term. Nosotros recommend using credit cards or an international card instead and so that you can withdraw money when you need information technology as this is both more practical and more than user-friendly.

Taking money out of a purse

Apocryphal items

We don't expect that many of our students coming to Japan are looking to start trading on the black market in apocryphal goods, but we do remember this category is worth mentioning. If a customs officer thinks that you are bringing any items into Nihon that are counterfeit, then they will exist confiscated from you. Even if it's just one or two items, if it is considered to be impinging on someone else'due south intellectual property and then it is illegal. And then exist careful, you may think that cool jacket yous got from a market is great but if it's counterfeit information technology might non be yours for much longer.

Prohibited items

Some of the prohibited items have already been covered but there are some standard items on the listing that you'll find prohibited in almost countries. These include but aren't limited to:

  • Drugs
  • Guns
  • Explosives
  • Precursors to chemic weapons
  • Items that can damage the moral fibre of the state

Exemptions

There are plenty of items that are prohibited but just within reason and many of these autumn into the category of personal furnishings. Ultimately, it comes downward to quantities. Quantities practice often get updated then it's best to cheque out this page for the current limitations. One of the more important factors to consider is the toll of other items, personal furnishings that autumn into this category must non have a combined value of over ￥200,000.

And then now yous know what things yous can't bring into Nihon y'all should be ready for your trip or motion, now you just need a listing of items that yous are immune to accept and demand to call back.