Can You Bring Xanax, Ativan or Ambien to Japan? Psychotropic Medicine Rules
Can you bring Xanax to Japan? Usually yes, but not in unlimited amounts. Alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam and zolpidem (Ambien) are psychotropics (向精神薬) in Japan. They follow their own quantity and documentation rules, which are different from those for ordinary prescription medicines, narcotics or stimulants.
Quick answer
For tablets and other non-injectable psychotropics, at or below the amount in the Narcotics Control Department (NCD) table you need no doctor certificate and no advance permission. Above the table amount (or for injections), carry a doctor certificate. Separately, if you are bringing more than one month's supply, you must contact MHLW about Import Confirmation before you travel. Psychotropics cannot be posted to Japan.
Not sure whether your quantity crosses either threshold? Check the ingredient, strength, daily dose and total amount before you travel.
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Why Xanax, Ativan and Ambien are treated differently
Japan's Narcotics Control Department (NCD), part of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), lists alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam, clonazepam, zolpidem, triazolam and etizolam among the psychotropics covered by its traveller rules.
This category has its own rules. It should not be confused with narcotics (such as codeine above certain strengths, oxycodone or morphine) or with stimulants and stimulants' raw materials.
Psychotropic does not mean banned. It means the medicine is subject to Japan's psychotropic quantity and documentation rules.
Two checks before you bring Xanax to Japan
Substance-specific amount
For non-injectable psychotropics at or below the NCD table amount, no doctor certificate is needed. Above the table amount, or for any injection, carry a doctor certificate.
More than one month's supply
NCD guidance tells travellers bringing more than one month of psychotropics to contact MHLW ([email protected]) about Import Confirmation before travel.
The two checks are independent. A long trip can cross both at once, so work out your total quantity before you book your flight. Our guide to Import Confirmation (formerly yakkan shoumei) explains that process.
NCD quantity limits for common psychotropics
The NCD table sets a total amount for each substance. Convert your supply to the total amount of active ingredient and compare.
| Active ingredient | Common brand | NCD table amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alprazolam アルプラゾラム | Xanax | 72 mg |
| Lorazepam ロラゼパム | Ativan | 90 mg |
| Diazepam ジアゼパム | Valium | 1.2 g |
| Clonazepam クロナゼパム | Klonopin, Rivotril | 180 mg |
| Zolpidem ゾルピデム | Ambien, Stilnox | 300 mg |
| Triazolam トリアゾラム | Halcion | 15 mg |
| Etizolam エチゾラム | Depas | 90 mg |
Klonopin (clonazepam) works the same way. Clonazepam is a Type 3 psychotropic with a table amount of 180 mg in the Kanto-Shinetsu psychotropic table (page updated 28 February 2025). Brands such as Klonopin and Rivotril are classed by the ingredient, so the same two checks apply. Methylphenidate has its own guide: Is Concerta legal in Japan?
Worked example (illustration only): alprazolam 0.5 mg three times a day for 30 days is 45 mg, below the 72 mg table amount and within one month. The same dose for 60 days is 90 mg, which is above the table amount (doctor certificate) and more than one month's supply (contact MHLW about Import Confirmation).
Figures are taken from the NCD table reviewed on 30 September 2026. Tables can change, so check the current NCD table for your exact substance before travel.
What to carry when you bring Xanax to Japan
- Medicine in its original pharmacy-labelled packaging
- Prescription or a medication list showing each active ingredient
- Strength, daily dose and total quantity for each medicine
- A doctor certificate if you exceed the NCD table amount or carry an injection
- Import Confirmation if MHLW requires it for more than one month's supply
NCD guidance says a doctor certificate should show your name, the name of your condition, why the medicine is needed, your medicines with doses and strength, the prescriber's signature and the date of issue. If your certificate is not in English or Japanese, a medical translation can help.
Do not confuse psychotropics with narcotics or stimulants
| Category | Examples | What travellers need |
|---|---|---|
| Psychotropics | Alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam, zolpidem | NCD table and, above it, a doctor certificate. More than one month: contact MHLW about Import Confirmation. |
| Narcotics | Oxycodone, morphine, methadone | Advance permission from the NCD office covering your arrival point. NCD advises applying at least 14 days before travel. |
| Stimulants' raw materials | Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) | Advance permission from the NCD. |
| Stimulants | Amphetamine (Adderall), methamphetamine | Cannot be brought in by individual travellers, even with a prescription. |
See our overview of controlled medicines in Japan for more detail on each category.
If you will stay in Japan for a longer period
For ongoing treatment, a doctor in Japan may be able to continue your care with a locally available medicine. Bring a treatment summary showing your diagnosis, current dose, treatment history and how you have responded, and ask a doctor who can communicate in English or book an interpreter.
Do not stop benzodiazepines or sleep medicines abruptly because of travel paperwork. Discuss any interruption, taper or change with your doctor well before you travel.
Want your exact medicine and quantity checked?
We review the ingredient, strength, dosage form and total quantity against the current published NCD and MHLW guidance and explain the likely next step, including whether you need a doctor certificate or Import Confirmation.
- Price confirmed before work begins
- Reply within 2–3 business days (or sooner)
- Secure document process
MedicTranslate is not a healthcare provider or customs authority. We do not give medical advice or guarantee customs approval.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring Xanax to Japan?
Yes, in most cases. Alprazolam (Xanax) is a psychotropic in Japan, not a banned substance. The Narcotics Control Department table lists 72 mg of alprazolam in total for tablets and other non-injectable forms. At or below that amount you do not need a doctor certificate. Above it, carry a doctor certificate. If you are bringing more than one month's supply, you also need to contact MHLW about Import Confirmation.
Are Ativan and Ambien treated the same way?
Yes. Lorazepam (Ativan) and zolpidem (Ambien) are also psychotropics, but each has its own limit in the NCD table: 90 mg for lorazepam and 300 mg for zolpidem. Check the total amount of active ingredient you are carrying for each medicine separately.
Do I need advance permission from the Narcotics Control Department for psychotropics?
No. Advance permission applies to narcotics and stimulants' raw materials. Psychotropics are handled through the quantity table and, above the table amount or in injection form, a doctor certificate. The separate one-month Import Confirmation check with MHLW still applies.
What should a doctor certificate for psychotropics include?
NCD guidance says it should show your name, the name of your condition, why the medicine is necessary for your treatment, a list of your medicines with doses and strength, the prescribing doctor's signature and the date of issue.
Can I post Xanax or another psychotropic to Japan?
No. MHLW guidance states that psychotropics, narcotics and stimulants' raw materials cannot be sent to Japan by post or courier. They must be carried by the patient under the traveller rules.
Can I bring Adderall with my other medicines?
No. Amphetamine, the active ingredient in Adderall, is a stimulant under Japanese law and cannot be imported by individual travellers, even with a prescription. This is a separate rule from the psychotropic limits that apply to Xanax, Ativan and Ambien.
Can MedicTranslate check whether my quantity is within the limits?
Yes. Our from US$59 medication assessment reviews your ingredient, strength, dosage form and quantity against the published NCD and MHLW guidance and explains the likely next step. We do not give medical advice or guarantee customs approval; the final decision rests with the Japanese authorities.
This article provides general information reviewed on 30 September 2026. It is not medical, pharmaceutical or legal advice. Psychotropic tables, classifications and import procedures change. Confirm current requirements with the Narcotics Control Department and MHLW before you travel, and do not stop or change psychiatric or sleep medication without advice from your doctor. MedicTranslate provides translation and coordination services.