Weapons — Japan
What travelers need to know about weapons in Japan. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.
Weapons in Japan: restricted — there are real limits travelers must follow.
Japan catches knives twice over, and the second rule has no length limit. Carrying a blade over 6 cm without a justifiable reason is an offence - and separately, carrying ANY blade concealed without a justifiable reason is an offence at any size. A switchblade is illegal to even possess.
Firearm and Sword Control Law art. 31-18(2)(ii) - carrying a blade over 6 cm in violation of art. 22: up to 2 years' imprisonment or a fine up to 300,000 yen. Art. 31-16(1)(i) - possessing a sword-class blade (including a switchblade) in violation of art. 3(1): up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine up to 500,000 yen. Minor Offences Act art. 1 - penal detention of 1 to 29 days (Penal Code art. 16) or a petty fine of 1,000 to 9,999 yen (Penal Code art. 17); under art. 2 a court may impose both cumulatively or waive punishment.
§ e-Gov Law Search (Digital Agency, Government of Japan) - Firearm and Sword Control Law (Act No. 6 of 1958) arts. 2(2), 3(1), 22, 31-16(1)(i), 31-18(2)(ii), revision in force 2025-09-01; Cabinet Order No. 33 of 1958 art. 43, in force 2026-05-25; Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 16 of 1958 art. 101, in force 2026-05-21; Minor Offences Act (Act No. 39 of 1948) arts. 1(ii), 2; Penal Code arts. 16, 17