[Stann]

Bringing prescriptions to Japan

by Stann on Wed Mar 19, 2014 9:14 pm

The family and I are going on a trip of lifetime. We are headed to Japan for 2 weeks. We're leaving tomorrow and I just found out I may have trouble bringing my prescribed medicine into the country! Apparently I was supposed to contact a Japanese government bureau a month ahead of time and get permission.

I'm having my doctor write up a letter and hope that suffices. Other than that, I'm going to hope it doesn't turn into a nightmare.

Feeling nervous and not so bright.

[Multibilly]

Re: Bringing prescriptions to Japan

by Multibilly on Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:21 am

I travel to Japan a couple of times a year and I come loaded with 3 (sometimes 6 if I am staying longer than a week) jumbo weekly pill containers loaded up with both supplements and prescription meds. Been doing this for years (including many trips to China, Korea and India) and it has never been an issue. To be on the safe side, if you simply pack your meds in the original prescription bottles, you should be fine ... but I haven't even bothered doing that. If you also have a letter from your doc in hand, you should be doubly covered.

If you think about it, probably the majority of the folks on the plane going over there have at least one prescription med in their possession. They don't do anything special to declare their scripts.

I would NOT contact a Japanese official beforehand. Also, don't declare anything special script-wise on your immigration form you will get on the plane (the form doesn't ask for this kind of info anyway). You'll just get caught up in a bureaucratic and unnecessary mess.

Japanese airport customs are a breeze to get through ... they are very efficient.

Enjoy ... it's a great country.