Drugs — Japan
What travelers need to know about drugs in Japan. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.
Drugs in Japan: prohibited — what is legal at home can be a serious crime here.
Any past drug conviction, from any country, is its own separate ground for refusing you entry to Japan - and unlike Japan's general criminal ground it has NO minimum sentence and no expiry written into it. An old US cannabis or possession conviction still engages it. Only the Minister of Justice can grant an exception.
Stimulants Control Act (Act No. 252 of 1951), revision in force 2025-06-01: art. 41-2(1) - simple possession, transfer or receipt of stimulants without justification, up to 10 years' imprisonment, with NO fine alternative; art. 41-3(1)(i) - use in breach of art. 19, up to 10 years. Attempts are punishable. Denial of landing and deportation are administrative consequences, not penalties.
§ e-Gov Law Search (Digital Agency, Government of Japan) - Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Cabinet Order No. 319 of 1951) arts. 5(1)(iv)(v)(vi)(ix)(x), 12(1), 24(1)(iv); revision 326CO0000000319_20260614_507AC0000000039 in force 2026-06-14. Read with Stimulants Control Act (Act No. 252 of 1951) arts. 41-2, 41-3, revision in force 2025-06-01