I’m planning on visiting the country for 3 to 4 weeks in 2022. Unfortunately late last year my pancreas decided to stop working, this means that I have to take capsules with everything I eat, 2 with a snack 4 or 5 with a meal. So ill need to take about 400 to 500 if I’m going to be in the country for that length of time. I can see that the drug is approved in the country I’m just a bit worried that I’ll get to Japan and they’ll question why I need 500 large capsules and even worse confiscate them, If I eat without taking them I get the shits so this would be a disaster. Is there any steps I can take before to make sure this doesn’t happen? I’m also a bit concerned about openly popping pills everytime I eat something in public over there, will I get funny looks?
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No. People popping weirder shit in their mouth than pills. You’re good.
For my diabetes, I always have my doctor write a letter of medical necessity (on her letterhead) and list out my medications and reason for using them. I carry this letter on me as I go through airports, train stations, etc. just in case. This at least is a good attempt at communicating to authorities for why I carry a whole bunch of prescriptions! I also recommend checking the airport or travel information websites that might exist for the countries you are going to to see what information might be available.
If you are very concerned about it while getting through the airport, You could bring a small doctors note and a translation of it that explains what the meds are for. But you shouldn’t encounter trouble going through customs, since it’s a personal prescription medication. Japan is notorious for having some of the strictest drug rules for travellers, but since its approved in Japan, you should not have an issue. Travellers who need cannabis or amphetamines (like pain patients or ADHD ppl, respectively) would need to be concerned, since both of those are banned. However you should be fine. Pack it in your carry-on with its original packaging that has your name on it; bring a copy of your prescription. There are no TSA restrictions liquid or solids for personal medication, but it is a good idea to declare it if you think it will alert the scanners
Like other commenter said, wouldn’t worry about taking meds in public; gotta do what you gotta do
Last year I had a bottle of allergy pills and also a box of lactaid pills. But when they asked to look through my suitcase coming in to the country they ended up being more worried about if I had weapons and stuff.
One of my medicine bottles even fell into the security bin when the nice lady was rifling through my stuff, and she just tossed it back in when I mentioned it had fallen out.
I think as long as your medication is approved and you have documentation about it you should be more than fine.
You may, or may not, need a Yakkan Shoumei which is an import certificate for prescription medications. Typically, if you’re bringing in up to a one month’s supply and it is not a restricted drug in Japan you are ok. But since you’ll need to bring a larger supply than what is typically just 30 or 60 pills (if you take an RX twice a day) it may be best to err on the side of caution and request a Yakkan Shoumei in advance of your trip. When you arrive in Japan, at customs you just go through the red (something to declare) line and show the certificate and you medication. Truthfully, they’ll likely just glance at you and wave you on and you probably wouldn’t have issues if you didn’t get a Yakkan Shoumei; but getting one would alleviate any worries/concerns you may have. When it comes to medication you absolutely need better safe than sorry.
These website’s have good overviews of the process and as long as you apply about 1-2 months before arrival you shouldn’t have any issues obtaining the form as the process can typically be done via email. 🙂
[US Embassy: Bringing OTC Medicine & RX Into Japan](https://jp.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/doctors/importing-medication/)
[Japan: Medications and Drugs in Japan](http://japan.aoimirai.net/resources/medications_medicines_and_drugs_in_japan.html)
[Info for Bringing Medication Into Japan for Personal Use](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/pharmaceuticals/01.html)
Tip: Email the contact for the airport you’re arriving into for questions. You can email in English and they’re usually very quick to respond.
Got to the source:
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/pharmaceuticals/01.html
They literally do not care at the airport. Their little Fido drug dog is not smelling pig pancreas pills. You’ll walk through with 500 the same as 1500. Over 5-10000 it might look like they’re for resale. Looks like you’re from the UK, so they won’t even ask if you have any medication probably, since they’re looking for Chinese and SE Asian people trying to bring food, gold, and endangered species into the country. Nobody cares in Japan if you have a bottle of pills with you. I was stopped by cops last year and had prescription benzos and opioids in my wallet and the cops didn’t say a thing (I have a chronic pain condition.)
Not specific to Japan, but whenever you travel, bring the meds in the original packaging or blister packs, including the little info sheet it comes with. I work in healthcare, one of the most annoying things is the traveller that I can’t communicate with who shows me this bag of random loose pills and expects me to figure out what they are taking.
Some salient facts:
​
1. Don’t just go with a doctor’s letter. Go with a doctor’s letter translated into Japanese–and make sure it’s a certified translation. One you translate yourself is not sufficient to purpose.
2. Prescription or no prescription, not all medication that is legal overseas is legal in Japan. Contact the people in the link TotalNewbie lists below ([here](https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/pharmaceuticals/01.html)) and verify that your medication is both legal and available here in Japan.
3. As TotalNewbie mentions, the usual limit is a one-month supply, two at the outside. Even if you have a letter, the amount will be subject to Japanese law. The issue won’t be how many PILLS you have, but how many DOSES you have.
4. Japanese medical institutions generally prescribe large numbers of small dose pills rather than small numbers of large dose ones. Taking four or five pills after a meal isn’t unusual; rather it’s seen as the norm if you have an illness.
I wouldn’t be concerned about the prescription for this. Unless it’s something resembling an illegal drug that people are commonly addicted too they likely won’t care at all.
For peace of mind bring a copy of your prescription. (Good advice for travel in general)
Anti-depressents are what you have to worry about. Not pancreas medicine.
500 pills nobody will care. That’s like one large bottle no?
5,000,000 pills will get you questioned.
Worst case scenario for you they ask you what the pills are and you show your prescription and they let you through.