Can You Bring ADHD Medication to Japan? Adderall, Vyvanse, Concerta and the Law
Adderall cannot be brought into Japan at all, under any paperwork, in any amount. Vyvanse can be brought in for personal use, but only with permission obtained before you travel. Concerta travels with you under Japan's psychotropic rules, with no advance permit needed within the personal-use allowance. Atomoxetine and guanfacine are ordinary prescription drugs here, so a month's supply crosses with no procedure at all. A valid prescription from home does not change any of this.
Which legal category is your medication in?
One of four, and the category decides what you can do, not your prescription.
Stimulants (覚醒剤, kakuseizai): prohibited
Amphetamine and its salts, meaning Adderall, Dexedrine, and other amphetamine products, are controlled under Japan's Stimulants Control Act, the same law that covers methamphetamine. There is no personal-use exemption, no import permit, and no doctor's-letter workaround. The Act prohibits any import, and bringing them in is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment; a prescription from home is not a defense.
Stimulant raw materials (覚醒剤原料, kakuseizai genryo): advance permission required, always
Lisdexamfetamine, meaning Vyvanse, falls here. You may bring a personal supply only after obtaining advance permission from the Narcotics Control Department, supported by a doctor's certificate. It publishes the application forms in English and asks for applications at least 14 days before travel; allow more than that, since you cannot travel with the medication until the permission is granted.
Class 1 psychotropics (第一種向精神薬, dai-isshu koseishin-yaku): allowed with quantity limits
Methylphenidate, meaning Concerta and Ritalin, sits here, not in the stimulant categories. You may carry a personal supply without any advance permit as long as the total stays within the official quantity table (up to about a month's supply), and it is sensible to carry your prescription. Two further rules apply:
- Above the table quantity, or any injectable form: carry a certificate from your doctor stating the diagnosis, why you need the medicine, and the names and quantities prescribed.
- More than one month's supply: the Narcotics Control Department asks you to contact the health ministry's import desk before you travel. That is the office that issues the import certificate, Yunyu Kakunin-sho (輸入確認証), which prescription medicines above one month's supply need; our guide to bringing medication explains the application.
Sending it to Japan by post is not allowed; it travels with you.
Ordinary prescription drugs: the one-month rule
Atomoxetine and guanfacine are none of the above. Like antidepressants, up to one month's personal supply crosses the border with no procedure; larger amounts need the import certificate arranged in advance (how to apply).
In every category, it is sensible to keep everything in original packaging with your prescription label, and controlled ADHD medication must never be sent to Japan by post. A 2015 case reported by UPI involved Adderall sent by post rather than carried.
What should you do if you take Adderall?
Talk to your prescriber well before the move, because the answer is a medication change, and changes take time to settle. The usual candidates: methylphenidate, the one stimulant that adults can be prescribed here, available as Concerta (see the supply situation); or a non-stimulant, atomoxetine or guanfacine. One option is to trial the new medication at home before moving, so you arrive on something that is both legal and known to work for you.
Bringing "just a little" Adderall does not work: quantity does not change the classification.
What should you do if you take Vyvanse or Concerta?
Apply for the Vyvanse permission as soon as your travel dates are set; for Concerta there is no application to make.
- Vyvanse: plan for a change of medication later as well, because Vyvanse cannot be started in adults in Japan, so the long-term destination will be Concerta or a non-stimulant.
- Concerta or Ritalin: use the transition weeks to get assessed and registered in Japan's domestic system, and start early rather than running your carried supply to the last tablet, given the current supply conditions.
Frequently asked questions
This article is general information, not medical advice for your individual situation. Import rules change; confirm current requirements on the health ministry's official pages before travel.
Medically reviewed by our psychiatrist (M.D.). Updated October 16, 2026.