Guide · Before you fly
What to pack for Japan: a practical list, and the rules behind it
Pack light, and pack for the rules. Japan runs on 100 V with Type A plugs (two flat pins). Bring prescription medicine for up to a month without paperwork; more, or anything with a narcotic or stimulant, needs approval before you leave, and Adderall is banned outright. Power banks go in your carry-on, at most two. Leave the beef jerky at home. Bring shoes you can slip off, a coin purse, and a suitcase you can lift: bags over 160 cm in total need a reserved luggage seat on the Tokyo–Osaka Shinkansen.
Sources: JNTO, JR Central, the transport and health ministries, the Narcotics Control Department, Japan Customs, the Animal Quarantine Service and the Japan Meteorological Agency, listed at the end · checked 24 October 2026
The short list
Everything here is either required, restricted, or easy to get wrong in Japan.
Documents
- Passport, and your Visit Japan Web QR codes saved offline
- Travel insurance details and the insurer’s 24-hour number
- Prescriptions or a doctor’s letter for any medicine
- Import Confirmation or narcotics permit, if you need one
Phone and power
- Type A plug adapter, if your plugs aren’t two flat pins
- Chargers marked 100–240 V
- Power bank, in your carry-on (at most two)
- An eSIM, installed at home on Wi-Fi
Money
- Some yen in cash, and a coin purse
- Two cards from different networks
- An IC card (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) or one on your phone
Clothes and shoes
- Walking shoes that slip on and off
- Socks you don’t mind being seen
- Layers for the season, and a compact umbrella
- A small bag for your rubbish: public bins are scarce
Leave at home: meat snacks (jerky, sausages), Adderall or any amphetamine medicine, more than a month of prescription medicine without an Import Confirmation, and power banks in your checked bag. Details below.
Plugs, voltage and power banks
The voltage is 100 V everywhere in Japan, and sockets take Type A plugs with two flat pins (JNTO). The frequency is 50 Hz in eastern Japan, including Tokyo, and 60 Hz in the west, including Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka. What that means for what you bring:
| Your device | What you need in Japan |
|---|---|
| Phone, laptop or camera charger marked “100–240 V” | Nothing, if the plug has two flat pins; otherwise a plug adapter |
| Dual-voltage hair dryer, shaver or travel iron | Works anywhere in Japan, with a plug adapter if needed (JNTO) |
| Appliance made only for 220–240 V | A step-down transformer, or leave it at home |
Read the label on the charger itself. JNTO: adapters and transformers are easy to find in Akihabara (Tokyo), Nipponbashi (Osaka) and at large electronics stores such as Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera. On the Tokaido Shinkansen, the newest N700S trains have an outlet at every seat; older N700 trains have them at window seats and at the front and back rows (JR Central).
Power banks on the flight
From 24 April 2026, Japan’s transport ministry applies new international rules to power banks on flights:
- Carry-on only. Never in checked baggage.
- At most 2 per passenger, each 160 Wh or less. Wh = mAh × V ÷ 1,000; a 20,000 mAh, 3.7 V bank is 74 Wh.
- Not in the overhead bin: keep it in the seat pocket or near you, with the terminals protected (tape, a case or a separate bag).
- No charging on board: you may not charge the power bank from the seat outlet, or charge your phone from it during the flight.
Airlines can be stricter. JAL notes that the limit may fall to 100 Wh from January 2027, following expected IATA changes; check your airline before you fly.
Money, IC card and phone
- Cash and a coin purse. JNTO still calls Japan “very much a cash-based society” and suggests a purse for coins, which add up quickly. Cards work widely in cities. Where to get yen and which ATMs take foreign cards: cash, ATMs and cards in Japan.
- An IC card. One tap for trains, buses, lockers and convenience stores (JNTO). Which one, and how to add it to your phone before you fly: Suica, PASMO and ICOCA.
- Data from the moment you land. Install an eSIM at home, on Wi-Fi: best eSIM for Japan.
Carrying more than ¥1 million in cash or equivalent? Declare it to customs on arrival and departure (Japan Customs). The customs and immigration QR codes are in Visit Japan Web.
Medicine: what you can bring
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare lets you bring medicine for your own use without any application, up to these amounts:
| What | Without paperwork |
|---|---|
| Prescription medicine (and poisonous or powerful drugs) | Up to a 1-month supply |
| Pre-filled syringes and self-injection kits (for example insulin pens) | Up to a 1-month supply |
| Other medicine and quasi-drugs (over the counter) | Up to a 2-month supply |
| Creams, eye drops and other external-use medicine (not prescription) | Up to 24 of each item |
| Cosmetics | Up to 24 of each item |
| Disposable contact lenses | Up to a 2-month supply |
From the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s page for visitors, checked 24 October 2026. The supply is counted from the dose on the label.
More than that: the Import Confirmation (Yakkan Shoumei)
For larger amounts you need a Yunyu Kakunin-sho (Import Confirmation), the document that replaced the Yakkan Shoumei from 1 September 2020 (MHLW). Apply before you leave home; the ministry’s online system has taken applications since February 2023 and emails you the certificate, which you show at customs. Applications are handled by the regional health bureau for your arrival airport.
Narcotics and stimulants: separate permission, or not at all
Some everyday prescriptions abroad are tightly controlled in Japan. The Narcotics Control Department sorts them like this:
| Category | Examples (NCD) | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Narcotics | Morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, codeine, tapentadol | Advance permission. Apply at least 14 days before travel |
| Stimulants’ raw materials | Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse, Elvanse), pseudoephedrine | Advance permission. Apply at least 14 days before travel |
| Psychotropics | Methylphenidate, zolpidem, alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam | No permission up to the amounts in the NCD’s table; above that, carry a doctor’s certificate |
| Prohibited | Amphetamine and dexamphetamine (including Adderall), methamphetamine, heroin | Cannot be brought in, even with a prescription |
From the Narcotics Control Department’s application guidance, checked 24 October 2026. Its list uses active ingredients, not brand names; if you are unsure, ask the doctor who prescribed it. With a permit you must carry the medicine yourself (you cannot post it), and you need an export permit too if you will leave Japan with some left. Check cold and allergy tablets for pseudoephedrine before you pack them.
In Japan, show the packet. Our medical cards say “I am taking this medicine” and “Do you have this medicine?” in polite Japanese with furigana. If you get sick, see travel insurance and healthcare for visitors.
What not to pack
- Meat snacks. Jerky, ham, sausages, bacon and meat buns cannot be brought in without a government inspection certificate from the exporting country, which personal purchases rarely have, even vacuum-packed, heat-processed or bought in an airport shop (Animal Quarantine Service). Penalties go up to 3 years in prison or a ¥3 million fine, and quarantine detector dogs check baggage for meat and plants.
- Too much duty-free. An adult may bring in 3 bottles of alcohol (about 760 ml each), 200 cigarettes, 2 ounces of perfume, and other goods worth up to ¥200,000 in total without paying duty (Japan Customs).
- Swords and the like. Japan Customs: hunting guns, air guns and swords need a permit to possess.
Shoes and clothes by season
Shoes you can slip off. JNTO: at some attractions, restaurants and traditional inns you take your shoes off at the entrance, usually leaving them on a rack and putting on slippers; shops may ask you to remove them before a fitting room. Laces you have to undo ten times a day get old fast. How to behave once they are off: Japanese etiquette.
For clothes, these are the Japan Meteorological Agency’s 1991–2020 averages for the daily high and low:
| When | Average high / low | Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (January) | Tokyo 10° / 1°C Sapporo 0° / −6°C Naha 20° / 15°C | A warm coat for Tokyo and Kyoto; snow boots, gloves and thermal layers for Hokkaido; a light jacket for Okinawa |
| Spring (April) | Tokyo 19° / 10°C | Layers and a light jacket: evenings are cool |
| Rainy season (June to mid-July) | Tokyo 26° / 19°C | A compact umbrella and shoes that dry quickly |
| Summer (August) | Tokyo 31° / 24°C Kyoto 34° / 25°C | Light, breathable clothes, a hat, a refillable bottle; a thin layer for air-conditioned trains |
| Autumn (October to November) | Tokyo 22° / 15°C (Oct) Tokyo 17° / 9°C (Nov) | Layers; a warmer jacket by late November |
Averages, not forecasts. In summer, the Ministry of the Environment issues Heat Stroke Alerts with a heat index (WBGT); the 2026 alerts ran until 21 October. Month by month, with rainy-season and typhoon dates: best time to visit Japan. Skiing or the snow monkeys: Japan in winter.
Which suitcase
Pick a bag you can lift onto a rack and carry up station stairs; JNTO’s own advice is to travel hands-free and not block train aisles with large bags. The size that matters is length + width + height:
| Total size | On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen |
|---|---|
| Up to 120 cm (cabin-size) | Usually fits at your feet in an ordinary car |
| Up to 160 cm | Overhead rack (about 42 cm deep) or the deck storage area; no booking |
| 161–250 cm | Reserve a seat with an oversized baggage area at no extra cost; ¥1,000 fee if you board without one |
| Over 250 cm | Not allowed on board |
From JR Central’s luggage page, checked 24 October 2026; the reservation rule also covers the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, but not conventional trains. JR allows two pieces of up to 30 kg each. Large checked suitcases are often close to 160 cm, so measure yours. Step by step, including how to book that seat: Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka by Shinkansen.
The alternative is to send the big case ahead. Yamato’s TA-Q-BIN charges ¥2,510 for a size-160 bag (up to 160 cm and 25 kg) within the Tokyo area or within Kansai, and hotels, convenience stores and airports take them: luggage storage and forwarding. Leave space, too: from 1 November 2026, tax-free goods are checked by customs as you leave, so keep them where you can reach them (what changes).
Quick answers
What plug does Japan use?
Type A, with two flat pins, at 100 volts (JNTO). The frequency is 50 Hz in eastern Japan, including Tokyo, and 60 Hz in western Japan, including Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka. Phone and laptop chargers marked 100–240 V work with just a plug adapter if your plug is a different shape; devices made only for 220–240 V need a step-down transformer.
Can I bring my prescription medicine to Japan?
Yes, up to a 1-month supply of prescription medicine without any paperwork (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). For more than that, apply online for an Import Confirmation (Yunyu Kakunin-sho, formerly called Yakkan Shoumei) before you leave. Medicines containing narcotics or stimulants’ raw materials need separate permission, and some, such as Adderall, cannot be brought in at all.
Can I bring Adderall or Vyvanse to Japan?
Adderall, no: its active ingredient, amphetamine, is a prohibited stimulant in Japan, even with a prescription. Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is allowed only with advance permission from the Narcotics Control Department; apply at least 14 days before you travel and carry the medicine yourself (Narcotics Control Department, MHLW).
Can I bring a power bank on a flight to Japan?
Yes, in your carry-on only. Under Japan’s rules from 24 April 2026 you may carry up to 2 power banks of 160 Wh or less each, keep them out of the overhead bin, and may not charge them or charge your phone from them during the flight (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism). Airlines can be stricter.
Can I bring snacks or beef jerky into Japan?
Not meat. Jerky, ham, sausages and meat buns cannot be brought into Japan without a government inspection certificate from the exporting country, even if they are vacuum-packed, heat-processed or bought in an airport shop; penalties go up to 3 years in prison or a ¥3 million fine (Animal Quarantine Service). Detector dogs check baggage for meat and plants.
What shoes should I pack for Japan?
Comfortable walking shoes that slip on and off easily. JNTO notes that some attractions, restaurants and traditional inns ask you to take your shoes off at the entrance, and shops may ask you to remove them before a fitting room. Clean socks without holes help.
Useful before you pack
- Japan eSIMA data-only plan you install on Wi-Fi before you fly, so maps and messages work as you land.Get Airalo Japan eSIM or Saily Yesim
- Luggage storageChecked out before an evening flight? Leave your bags near the station for a few hours.Book luggage storage in Tokyo or Osaka
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Sources
Checked against these pages on 24 October 2026. Official pages take precedence over this summary.
- JNTO: Plugs and electricity: 100 V everywhere, 50 Hz in the east and 60 Hz in the west, where to buy adapters
National tourism organisation. - JNTO: FAQ: voltage and plug type (Type A)
National tourism organisation. - JR Central: Shinkansen facilities: power outlets, Wi-Fi, seats
Railway operator. - Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: New rules for power banks on aircraft from 24 April 2026: two per passenger, 160 Wh or less, no charging on board (Japanese)
Government ministry. - Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: To all passengers: bringing power banks on board, from 24 April 2026 (PDF, English)
Government ministry. - Japan Airlines: Updates to the handling of power banks on board (from 24 April 2026), and a possible 100 Wh limit from January 2027
Airline. - Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Information for those bringing medicines for personal use into Japan: quantities without an Import Confirmation
Government ministry. - Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Personal imports of medicines: quantities allowed, and the Import Confirmation that replaced the Yakkan Shoumei on 1 September 2020 (Japanese)
Government ministry. - Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Application for Import Confirmation (Yunyu Kakunin-sho, formerly Yakkan Shoumei), online
Government ministry. - Narcotics Control Department (MHLW): Carrying medicine that contains controlled substances: narcotics, stimulants’ raw materials, psychotropics, prohibited substances
Government ministry. - Japan Customs: Procedures of passenger clearance: duty-free allowances
- Animal Quarantine Service (MAFF): Bringing animal products into Japan: meat products, jerky, sausages and penalties
Government agency. - Japan National Tourism Organization: Currency and currency exchange, ATMs
- JNTO: 10 smart travel tips for Japan (2026): hands-free travel, IC cards, carry a small trash bag (PDF)
National tourism organisation. - Japan National Tourism Organization: Japanese customs and etiquette (responsible travel guide)
- Japan Meteorological Agency: Climate normals 1991–2020, Tokyo: monthly temperature, precipitation, sunshine (Japanese)
National weather agency. - Japan Meteorological Agency: Climate normals 1991–2020, Sapporo, including snowfall and snow depth (Japanese)
National weather agency. - Japan Meteorological Agency: Climate normals 1991–2020, Naha (Okinawa) (Japanese)
National weather agency. - Ministry of the Environment: Heat illness prevention information: Heat Stroke Alerts and the WBGT index
Government ministry. - Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central): Luggage information: oversized baggage on the Shinkansen
Railway operator. - Yamato Transport: TA-Q-BIN rates table (all regions)
Delivery company. - Yamato Transport: What is the maximum size for TA-Q-BIN?
Delivery company.
General information, not legal or medical advice. Rules on medicine and imports change: check the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Narcotics Control Department before you fly. JapanBenri is not affiliated with any airline, railway or government body.