Japan Import Restrictions
In order to enter Japan, certain goods are subject to specific controls and, regardless of their value and quantity, they require the consent of Japan government, preferably, license must be obtained prior to passage through the customs, preventing the goods from being retained. On this page, you will see what kinds of items are prohibited from entering the Japan, and which items need special documentation before exporting to Japan.
Import regulations
Senders should determine import restrictions from Japanese authorities before posting:
- Animal products
- Arms and ammunition and parts thereof
- Beverages, spirits and vinegar
- Foodstuffs
- Firearms, imitation
- Mineral Products
- Pharmaceutical products
- Plants and plant products
- Resins
- Rice and straw goods
- Tobacco and tobacco substitutes
- Vegetables
- Wood and articles of wood.
Special documentation requirements
Items containing merchandise or samples require an invoice in duplicate. Articles more than 200,000 Japanese Yen in value require a certificate of origin. Senders should clearly mark all articles with the purpose of the shipment; for example, gift, merchandise, samples, or unaccompanied goods.
Japan Post requests that any items valued at more than 200,000 Japanese Yen must have a commercial invoice and certificate of origin is attached. Any items received over this value that do not have the attached will be subject to delays.
Prohibitions
In addition to items prohibited by Dangerous and Prohibited Goods & Packaging Post Guide and ECI International Courier Regulations, Japan prohibits:
- Arms and ammunition and parts thereof
- Copyright violations
- Coffee, tea, mate and spices
- Cereals
- Counterfeit, defaced or imitation stamps
- Dairy and birds eggs
- Documents or goods from or made in North Korea
- Firearms and imitation firearms
- Fertilizers
- Fish
- Live animals and animal products
- Lottery material
- Meat and edible meat offal
- Narcotics
- Oil, seeds, grain and fruits
- Organic chemicals
- Pharmaceutical products
- Patent violations
- Publications of books, newspapers and products of the printing industry- offensive by nature
- Products of the milling industry
- Publications, including video tapes, prejudicial to public order or morality
- Trademark violations
- Vegetable products
- Weapons, parts and accessories thereof
Transporting food of any kind is prohibited under ECI Platinum.
