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| Travelling with prescription medication to japan; Rules and unusual taboos | |
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| Topic Started: Jul 12 2014, 09:15 PM (1,381 Views) | |
| sooty | Jul 12 2014, 09:15 PM Post #1 |
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Blue Star Member
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I am heading off for a two week tour of Japan in October and have been looking at the regulations for medications. I don't take that much but do have sleeping tablets for the plane, antihistamines and some strong codeine based pain medication. Well it isn't going to be a pleasant time as all are banned and you can be refused entry if arriving with them. Even Vicks vapour is banned. Even the USA accepted my medications last year with a doctors letter and the prescriptions in the original boxes. I am looking at legal alternates and it seems that alcohol, probably several gin and tonic or Baileys cream will have to do for sleeping and pain relief. As for antihistamines it will be a box of tissues a day. It is amazing that my travel agent hasn't mentioned this. Reading several trip advisor sites there were horror stories of entry refusal and deportation. Just a warning for any potential travellers. |
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| Kahu | Jul 12 2014, 10:51 PM Post #2 |
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That's a real trap for any traveller ... it appears you have to apply for a Yakkan-Shoumei, which is a kind of import document.
Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare |
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| Trotsky | Jul 12 2014, 11:56 PM Post #3 |
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Big City Boy
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sooty, From my reading of the regs, it seems you can bring into Japan 30 days supply of almost anything except narcotics without needing the Yakkan-Shoumei. If you are using the most common current sleeping med, zolpidem, I do not think it is one of the "nacrotics." Too bad you will certainly need to pre-apply to bring in the codeine because it is specifically listed as a narcotic or else make do with an OTC med for pain. Gotta LOVE the requirement that you can bring in only 30 days of "deadly poison." laugh123 laugh123 Edited by Trotsky, Jul 13 2014, 04:38 AM.
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| blizzard | Jul 13 2014, 04:08 AM Post #4 |
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Gold Star Member
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Sooty, although I am not familiar with travelling to Japan there is usually some leeway provided for tourists/short term visitors. Perhaps have your travel agent check that for you. Codeine might be a problem. Antihistamines are available but best to have a very good translation of the word as well as be aware of the brand you use as well known OTCs are often available in major cities. Have a wondeful trip - will you be posting about it? |
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| Deleted User | Jul 13 2014, 05:29 AM Post #5 |
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Deleted User
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This is indeed troubling as like Sooty, I also take a number of meds for which preclearance is required. It is troubling because many of our trips are scheduled at the last minute. |
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| erka | Jul 13 2014, 05:50 AM Post #6 |
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Gold Star Member
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I am a diabetic and use needles to adminster insulin and to test my blood. Letters from both my GP and Endroconologist (sp?) indicating that I must carry needles & supplies at all times and the letter is taped to my passport. There's never been a problem at any of the border crossings. |
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| sooty | Jul 13 2014, 04:13 PM Post #7 |
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Blue Star Member
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Kahu, I have applied today for my CPAP machine and Losec meds. All other medications I will manage without . It will be a good experience but I will have that bottle of alcohol from the duty free. Actually I will need to check if it can be brought in! Trotsky, my sleeping tablets and the codeine based pain relief are the restricted type so I am trying to do without. Blizzard, I was able to get some antihistamines in the USA last year just over the counter so I am hoping if my symptoms flare up it will be ok. Begete-justicette I think if you go regularly to a country you would be prepared but this really threw me. You needed the actual prescription signed by the doctor, too bad if you had taken it to the pharmacy and had it already filled. Erka, I think insulin still needs this paperwork for Japan. I have wanted to visit Japan for over twenty years as I have a Japanese penfriend who I met staying at the YWCA in Sydney. We hope to catch up on one of the days in Tokyo. I chose a tour because I'm not comfortable in a non English speaking country and worry that I will get lost and not be understood. |
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| Kahu | Jul 13 2014, 05:16 PM Post #8 |
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I think you would have to buy that at the Japanese Duty free (if they have such a thing?) .on arrival in Japan |
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| Deleted User | Jul 13 2014, 07:06 PM Post #9 |
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Deleted User
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Well, this afternoon, I emailed the Japanese Ministry of health to ask if this can be managed on a last minute basis. If I get a reply, will post it. |
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| Deleted User | Jul 16 2014, 04:17 AM Post #10 |
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Deleted User
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Thank you for your e-mail. The medications are all legal in Japan. When you bring them more than the limit, one month supply, an official certificate called Yakkan Shoumei is required. You have to obtain it prior to your departure. As for a respirator device, when it is home use, you can bring ONE without paperwork. If it is Medical device, please apply. We attach herewith PDF file which contains Q&A and application form for Yakkan Shoumei for your reference. We accept the application by e-mail and issue Yakkan Shoumei back to you by e-mail. Sincerely, Medicinal Inspection and Guidance Division Kanto Shinetsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare From: Begete Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2014 1:46 AM To: 外国人 薬監相談(yakkan-shomei) Subject: Questions ************************************************************************ このメールは、フリーメールです。 フリーメールは標的型メール攻撃等で多く使用されますので、ご注意ください。 送信元を確認し、不審な送信元である場合には、メールを削除してください。 ************************************************************************ My husband and I are retired US citizens/residents. I suffer from a disease called mastocytosis which causes me to have severe, potentially life threatening allergic type reactions to many man made chemicals. Some of the drugs I take are considered "orphan drugs" in the USA and not readily available, such as Gastrocrom. Others medications, taken for sleep or pain, are considered narcotics (percoset) or psychiatric (xanax). I also take daily specialized antihistamines (H1 and H2 blockers) and carry an epiPen at all times which is an injectible. My husband takes synthroid daily. We do not have a definite trip planned as yet to Japan, as, being retired, we tend to take last minute trips offered at lower prices, yet we have always wanted to visit Japan. I have just learned from a friend who is planning such a trip in advance of the necessity to obtain a yakkan-shomei for these medications, as well as for a respirator device I carry with me at all times. Is there a way to obtain the required documentation and have it remain valid for a period of years? Otherwise, we may never be able to visit your country as my health would be in serious jeopardy if I were forced to relinquish my medications at the border, but we often travel with less than one week advance notice which would not allow sufficient time to obtain a then current yakkan-shomei. Thank you, |
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| sooty | Jul 16 2014, 10:08 AM Post #11 |
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Blue Star Member
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Found it. Thank you so much. It is interesting how we all read legalese. I have sent my forms off now and will just wait on the email from them. I understood that you needed a paper form from the online instructions. I do hope you get the opportunity to visit Japan soon, Begete.
Edited by sooty, Jul 16 2014, 10:12 AM.
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| sooty | Jul 19 2014, 12:56 PM Post #12 |
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Blue Star Member
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Well I have just had an email from the pharmaceutical section of Japan's customs to say that I didn't include a letter from my doctor saying that I need the CPAP machine that I am trying to bring with me. I have had it since 2007 and never thought that this might be required. I will be seeing my doctor in late July and get him to write a letter and email it back to Japan. |
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| sooty | Sep 24 2014, 11:32 PM Post #13 |
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Blue Star Member
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Got my Japanese approval for the CPAP and Losec meds. Will ignore calcium, vitamin D , aspirin and Lipitor for the holiday. Am taking paracetomal, nurophen , voltaren gel as OTC meds and four temazapan tablets for the flights. If they take the last two off me I will just dink more alcohol on the home flights. My penfriend is meeting me on my arrival on next Tuesday and I have been chasing up some 1988 photos from when she visited Adelaide. Will try and post a travelogue where there is wifi. Puss is suspicious as the case is in the spare bedroom and her travelling cage and vet papers are there too. The Tokyo temperatures seem to be mid 20s Centigrade but the humidity is quite high which I won't like at all. Five more sleeps to Monday morning, then Adelaide to Singapore with a change of plane for Singapore to Narita, Tokyo , arriving Early Tuesdaymorning |
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| FuzzyO | Sep 24 2014, 11:35 PM Post #14 |
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Looking forward to your trip diary! Glad you got the meds situation straightened out. |
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| sooty | Oct 4 2014, 01:26 AM Post #15 |
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Blue Star Member
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Entered the country without an issue . First day I caught up with my penfriend after 26 years and she took me to Kamakura, a small village with lots of pilgrims and temples. She is Buddhist and we went to Jomyo-ji temple and beautiful bamboo Forrest where we had matcha tea ( powdered green) in a state of serenity. Then a Japanese lunch where I sat cross legged on the floor. This girl (me) can't even kneel in church without a rail to help her up. As you can imagine it was very ungainly and unattractive as I crawled to a standing position after lunch. The next day our group tour had a visit to the Meiji Shrine where we were lucky enough to see part of a Shinto service in the inner courtyard and the priests' procession. It was raining and as they left the sacred area an acolyte handed each one a Classic Japanese parasol. We drove past some other landmarks before yet another temple, this time the Buddhist Asakusa Kannon temple. Again lots of pilgrims and tourists like myself. That afternoon I met Naomi again and we visited Ueno park and gardens and walked miles and miles. I have the blisters to prove it! There were avenues of cherry trees, not the season but you could imagine Springtime . One lake was devoted to lotus flower and another was a family lake with paddle boats shaped as swans with dads pedalling strongly to the delight of their offspring. Am I having a good time? Yes, the humidity is a bit wearing but I am enjoying the people, very polite and helpful, the flowers, they have azaleas as roadside plants. Even the overpasses are not scaring me like the Las Vegas motorway. More will follow in the next few days as internet in the hotels varies. Sayonara. |
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