Japan International Travel Information (2024)

Criminal Penalties:You are subject to Japanese law while you are in Japan. If you violate Japanese laws, even unknowingly, you may be arrested, imprisoned, or deported. I f you are arrested in Japan, even for a minor offense, you may be held in detention without bail for several months or more during the investigation and legal proceedings.

Furthermore, some offences are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of Japanese law. For examples, see our website oncrimes against minors abroadand theDepartment of Justicewebsite.

The vast majority of arrests of U.S. citizens in Japan are for drug-related offenses, and arrestees often spend months or years in detention. Japanese authorities aggressively pursue drug smugglers and users, including recreational users with sophisticated detection equipment, "sniffing" dogs, blood tests, “stop and frisk” tactics, and other methods. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking a drug that is illegal in Japan are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and fines. Please note that some drugs which may be legal in certain jurisdictions outside of Japan, including marijuana and synthetic drugs, remain illegal in Japan. This also applies to certain prescription drugs that doctors in the United States may prescribe. Having a prescription for medical marijuana does not exempt you from Japanese law, which makes no distinction between medical and recreational marijuana. Even possession of a small amount for personal use can result in a long jail sentence and fine. Japanese customs officials carefully screen incoming packages, and individuals who are mailed drugs can be arrested and prosecuted as drug traffickers.

Confiscation of Prescription Drugs and Other Medication:It is important to note that some medications that are routinely prescribed in the United States, including Adderall, are strictly prohibited in Japan. The Japanese government decides which medications may be imported legally into Japan. The Embassy and consulates of Japan in the United States have limited information available and do not have a comprehensive list of specific medications or ingredients. Please see moreinformation on importing medicinesinto Japan.

You must carry your U.S. passport or Japanese Residence Card (Zairyu Kado) with you at all times. In Japan, you may be taken in for questioning if you do not have your passport or Japanese residence card to show your identity and status in Japan (e.g., as a visitor, student, worker, or permanent resident).

It is illegal to work in Japan while in tourist or visa-waiver status. Overstaying your visa or working illegally may lead to fines of several thousands of dollars, and in some cases, re-entry bans as long as 10 years, or indefinitely for drug offenders. For additional information please seeJapan’s Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Actand contact the Japanese Embassy or nearest Japanese consulate in the United States for more information.

Laws governing rape, sexual commerce, and other activity involving sexual relations do not apply to same-sex sexual activity. This definition leads to lower penalties for perpetrators of male rape and greater legal ambiguity surrounding same-sex prostitution.

Driving under the influence of alcohol could also land you immediately in jail. The blood-alcohol limit in Japan is 0.03%. Punishments can be up to 10,000 USD in fines and up to five years in prison.

Possession of a gun or ammunition is a crime in Japan. Carrying a knife with a locking blade, or a folding blade that is longer than 5.5 cm (a little more than two inches), is illegal in Japan. U.S. citizens and U.S. military personnel have been arrested and detained for more than 10 days for carrying pocket knives that are legal in the United States but illegal in Japan. The possession of lock-picking tools is illegal in Japan.

Alist of English-speaking lawyerslocated throughout Japan is available on ourwebsite.

Arrest Notification:If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See the Department of State’s webpageand the Embassy’s website for additional information.

Faith-Based Travelers:See our following webpages for details:

Faith-Based Travel Information

International Religious Freedom Report– see country reports

Human Rights Report– see country reports

Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers

Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTQI+ Travelers:There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI+ events in Japan.

SeeourLGBTQI+ Travel Informationpage and section 6 of ourHuman Rights reportfor further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance:Although Japan’s accessibility laws mandate that new construction projects for public use include provisions for persons with disabilities, older buildings are not likely to have been retrofitted for accessibility. At major train stations, airports, and hotels, travelers with disabilities should encounter few accessibility problems. Note that many smaller stations are inaccessible to those who cannot climb stairs. Information on travel in Japan for travelers with disabilities is available atAccessible Japan.

Travelers with disabilities can learn more about resources available in country from the Japan National Tourism Organization’straveling with a disability page.

Students:See ourStudents Abroadpage andFBI travel tips.

Women Travelers:See our travel tips forWomen Travelers.

Conditions at Prisons and Detention Facilities:Japanese prisons and detention facilities maintain internal order through a regime of very strict discipline. U.S. citizen prisoners often complain of stark, austere living conditions and psychological isolation. Heating in winter can be inadequate in some facilities, food portions can be significantly smaller than what many may be accustomed to, and access to specialized medical care, particularly mental health care, at detention facilities and prisons is sometimes limited. Additionalinformation on arrests in Japanis available on our embassy website.

Customs Regulations:Please contact the Japanese Embassy or nearest Japanese consulate in the United States, orvisit the Japanese Customs websitefor specific information regarding import restrictions and customs requirements.

Japanese customs authorities encourage the use of an Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission (ATA) Carnet in order to temporarily import professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and trade fairs into Japan. For additional information, please call (212) 354-4480, oremail the U.S. CIBfor details.

Pets:The JapaneseAnimal Quarantine Service(AQS) sets procedures for importing pets. At a minimum, the process will take seven to eight months, though the process can take up to a year before a pet may enter Japan. Advance planning is critical. You can find more information aboutimporting a pet into Japanor information aboutexporting a pet from Japanon ourEmbassy website.

Employment Issues:U.S. citizens should not come to Japan to work without having the proper employment visa arranged ahead of time. Teaching English, even privately, and serving as hosts/hostesses are both considered "work" in Japan and are illegal without the proper visa.

Some U.S.-based employment agencies and Japanese employers do not fully or correctly represent the true nature of employment terms and conditions. A minimum requirement for effectively seeking the protection of Japanese labor law is a written and signed work contract. If there is no signed contract, Japanese authorities are not able to act on behalf of foreign workers. If you are coming to Japan to work, carefully review your contract and the history and reputation of your Japanese employer before traveling to Japan. Complaints against U.S.-based employment agencies or recruiters may be directed to theBetter Business Bureauor the Office of the Attorney General in that particular state.

Disaster Preparedness:Japan is prone to natural disasters, including earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, and landslides. See theEmbassy’s webpage for recommendations and steps you can take to prepare for an emergency. The Japan Tourism Organization’sSafety Tips appand NHK World app provide Japanese government emergency “J-Alerts” to your cell phone in English through push notifications. “J-Alerts” can provide early warning emergency alerts on earthquakes predicted in a specific area, sometimes seconds before an earthquake hits.

Radiation: f*ckushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant:The Government of Japan continues to closely monitor the conditions at and around the f*ckushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. You should comply with all travel restrictions and cautions put into place by the Government of Japan for areas surrounding the plant. For more information, contact theJapan Nuclear Regulation Authority.