Can you bring Xanax to Japan?

• Psychotropic medication

  allowed, within limits

  You can bring psychotropic medicines without a permit or a doctor's certificate, as long as the total amount of each active ingredient stays within the limit in NCD's table and it isn't an injection. Limits from the table include: alprazolam (Xanax) 72 mg, clonazepam (Klonopin) 180 mg, diazepam (Valium) 1.2 g, lorazepam (Ativan) 90 mg, zolpidem (Ambien) 300 mg, etizolam 90 mg, methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) 2.16 g, modafinil (Provigil) 6 g and buprenorphine 80 mg. Above those amounts, or for injections, carry a certificate from your prescribing doctor.

  The limits are totals across everything you carry, not per tablet. For example, 72 mg of alprazolam is 144 tablets of 0.5 mg, or 36 tablets of 2 mg. A doctor's certificate must give your name, the disease, why you need the medicine, each medicine with its dose and strength, the doctor's signature and the date. To bring more than a month's supply, NCD says to contact yakkan@mhlw.go.jp first.

  Doctor's letter checklist

  Only what Japan's rule asks the letter or prescription to include. Tick each one off with your doctor.

  • Your name
  • The disease
  • Why you need the medicine
  • Each medicine, with its dose and strength
  • The doctor's signature
  • The date

  Copy the list for your doctor

  Source Narcotics Control Department — Table (List of Psychotropics) with carry-in amountsChecked against the official source on 2026-10-14

  Also covers: psychotropic medication, benzodiazepine, xanax, alprazolam, valium, diazepam, klonopin, clonazepam, ativan, lorazepam, ambien, zolpidem, ritalin, concerta

  Download border card (PDF)

  Source Narcotics Control Department — Table (List of Psychotropics) with carry-in amountsChecked against the source on 2026-10-14

Check your specific trip →|All medication rules for Japan →

Informational only — not legal advice. Customs rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. Not medical advice. Don't stop or change a medicine because of a travel rule without talking to your doctor. See update history