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Moving to Japan: customs & quarantine checklist

Japan Customs clears your household effects; the Plant Protection Station and the Animal Quarantine Service check anything of plant or animal origin before Customs even looks at it. Answer five questions to see whether your goods qualify as duty-free household effects (used by your family, you are staying more than one year, the shipment reaches you within six months of arrival and is declared on your entry form), then check every item against the quarantine and prohibited lists before you pack.

Form C-5360-B — Declaration of Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles (two copies on arrival, or Visit Japan Web) · Japan Customs (Ministry of Finance, Customs and Tariff Bureau) + Plant Protection Station (MAFF) / Animal Quarantine Service (MAFF) · last reviewed 15 October 2026 against the official sources below

1. Do my goods clear duty-free? (Duty- and tax-free household effects of persons moving to Japan (Customs Tariff Act, Article 14(8)))

Which of these describes you?
Are the goods your own personal and household property, not for sale or business use?
Does your shipment fit the time limits (your arrival and the shipment close together)?
Does the shipment include any of these?

Documents to clear your shipment

  • Declaration of Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles (Form C-5360-B, English) submitted in duplicate at your port of entry — or the Visit Japan Web electronic declaration — with the unaccompanied-articles section completed; Customs stamps one copy and returns it to you
  • The Customs-stamped copy of that declaration plus your passport, presented when the shipment clears at the port of arrival; if the stamped copy is lost or the shipment was not declared on entry, the goods go through ordinary import procedures and are taxed
  • Proof that you are moving to Japan for more than one year — residence status or visa, and your employer's, university's or family's documents showing the length of stay
  • Detailed packing list (inventory) in English: one numbered box per line, materials described, used household goods separated from anything new, with the overseas market value of new items, alcohol, tobacco and gold
  • Bill of lading or air waybill and the arrival notice from the carrier's Japanese agent; the shipment and its documents must be marked 'Unaccompanied Baggage (別送品)' and addressed to you, the person entering Japan, as consignee
  • Authorisation for the customs broker — the import declaration is made by the importer or by a registered customs broker (Flyto's Japanese partner) on your behalf; a copy of your passport and entry stamp or landing permission is needed with it
  • For a vehicle: the foreign registration certificate or sales receipt proving the car is used (a boat must have been in use for more than one year); for medicines containing narcotics or stimulants' raw materials, the Narcotics Control Department's import permission obtained before travel with a doctor's certificate issued within the previous three months
  • For a dog or cat: the Animal Quarantine Service's approval of your advance notification (filed at least 40 days before arrival via NACCS) and the exporting government's certificate (Form AC) recording the ISO microchip, two or more rabies vaccinations, the rabies antibody result and the clinical inspection within 10 days of departure

What is taxed and what is not

  • Qualifying used household effects (in use by your family, mover staying more than one year, received within six months, declared on entry): no customs duty, no consumption tax, within the limit Japan Customs deems reasonable.
  • New goods and goods beyond personal use: items under ¥10,000 each are free; the rest shares the ¥200,000 allowance with your accompanied baggage, and the excess is taxed — in most cases at the simplified rate of 15 % for general goods. Where the full tariff applies, customs duty is charged at the item's rate and 10 % consumption tax (8 % reduced rate for most food) on the customs value plus duty and any excise. Dutiable goods worth over ¥300,000 are cleared as commercial cargo.
  • Alcohol and tobacco beyond the per-adult allowance: simplified rates of ¥800 per litre (whisky, brandy), ¥500 (rum, gin, vodka), ¥400 (liqueurs), ¥300 (other distilled spirits), ¥200 (wine, beer and other liquor); ¥15 per cigarette or heat-not-burn stick and ¥50 per capsule or cartridge. Perfume above 2 ounces (about 56 ml) is also taxed.
  • Quarantine: inspection by the Plant Protection Station and Animal Quarantine Service is free, but non-compliant animal products are disposed of, plants may be treated, destroyed or returned, and a dog or cat that fails the import requirements is detained at an AQS facility for up to 180 days at the owner's expense.

2. Can I ship it? — MAFF quarantine item checker

Japan inspects household shipments for anything that came from, or touched, plants, soil, meat, animals or untreated wood — the Plant Protection Station guards against pests such as fruit flies, and the Animal Quarantine Service against African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza; both must clear your items before Customs examines them. Japan Customs separately prohibits narcotics, firearms, explosives, counterfeit money, obscene material and goods infringing intellectual property, and restricts medicines, cosmetics, hunting guns, air guns and swords. Search an item or filter by category. Statuses follow the official Japan Customs and MAFF pages linked below.

Don't ship — Prohibited or assessed separately — leave it outDeclare + clean — Declare, clean/dry it, expect inspection or treatmentDeclare — Declare and list it clearlyNo concern — No specific concern
No match — if it is made of wood, plant or animal material, is food, or has been outdoors, declare it and check with the authority before packing.
Don't ship
Fresh fruit, vegetables, salad, potatoesPlant-quarantine items — the Animal Quarantine Service states plainly that bringing fruit and vegetables into Japan without inspection and certificates is illegal. Leave fresh produce out of the shipment.
Food
Don't ship
Meat and meat products — beef, pork, ham, sausages, jerky, canned meat, dried meatAnimal products need an inspection certificate from the exporting government, which is almost impossible to obtain for personal goods — so most cannot enter, whether shop-bought, home-made, heat-processed or vacuum-packed. Penalty: up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥3 million.
Food
Don't ship
Dairy — milk, cheese, butter; eggs and egg productsDairy products have been subject to animal quarantine since 1 November 2017 and poultry products including eggs are inspected; without an official export certificate they are disposed of. Not worth shipping.
Food
Declare
Honey, bee products, pet food and treats, animal-derived supplementsProducts derived from bees, cloven-hoofed animals, horses, poultry, dogs or rabbits fall under animal quarantine. Declare them to the Animal Quarantine Service and expect refusal without an export certificate — ship as little as possible.
Food
Declare
RiceRice is a plant-quarantine item and the duty-free limit is 100 kg a year; you must submit a Report for the Import of Rice to the Local Food Office and hand a returned copy to Customs.
Food
Declare + clean
Grains, beans, pulses, nuts, dried herbs, spices, seeds for eatingGrains and beans are inspected by the Plant Protection Station; keep to small, sealed, commercially packed quantities and present them to the quarantine officer before Customs.
Food
Declare
Processed and cooked foods — biscuits, chocolate, pasta, tinned vegetables, instant noodles, processed teaHighly processed plant products such as processed tea are outside plant quarantine, but food is not a household effect in use — list it clearly and keep it to personal quantities; anything with meat or dairy content is an animal product.
Food
Declare
Alcohol — wine, spirits, beerAllowance 3 bottles (about 760 ml) per adult across luggage and shipment; every bottle beyond that is taxed at ¥200–800 per litre depending on the type.
Food
Declare
Tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, heat-not-burn sticksAllowance per adult: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250 g other tobacco or 10 heat-not-burn packages; excess at ¥15 per cigarette or stick.
Food
Declare
Dogs and catsISO 11784/11785 microchip, two or more rabies vaccinations (first at 91 days old or older, second at least 30 days later), antibody test of 0.5 IU/ml or more at a designated laboratory, 180-day wait from the blood sample, advance notification to AQS at least 40 days before arrival, clinical inspection within 10 days of departure and a government certificate (Form AC). Compliant animals clear within 12 hours; others are detained for up to 180 days.
Pets & animals
Declare
Rabbits, birds, poultry, other petsRabbits, chickens, quail, ducks and other listed animals go through Animal Quarantine Service import inspection with the exporting government's health certificate; a new rabbit import notification system starts on 1 January 2027. Confirm your species with AQS before booking.
Pets & animals
Don't ship
Straw, hay, grain straw and forageStraw from grain and forage for feed is subject to animal quarantine and banned from listed regions; never use straw or hay as packing or pet bedding.
Pets & animals
Declare + clean
Hides, feathers, antlers, bones, animal hair, taxidermyGoods made from cloven-hoofed animals, horses, poultry or rabbits are animal-quarantine items — declare them; untreated items may be refused or disposed of.
Pets & animals
Declare
Wooden furniture — tables, chairs, beds, dressers, antiquesFinished furniture from processed timber is outside plant quarantine; raw wood with bark is not. Describe each piece on the packing list so the quarantine officer can see it is finished.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare + clean
Wooden crates, pallets and dunnage used to pack the shipmentUnprocessed wood is a plant-quarantine item while highly processed sawn timber is not. Use clean, bark-free, processed packaging and expect it to be checked.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare + clean
Logs, firewood, bark, carvings with bark, sawdustTimber is inspected by the Plant Protection Station and infested or bark-bearing wood may be treated, destroyed or returned. Do not use sawdust or shavings as filler.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare + clean
Bamboo, rattan, wicker, cane and straw baskets or furniturePlant materials subject to inspection unless highly processed; they must be clean, dry and free of live insects.
Wood, cane & bamboo
No concern
Musical instruments — piano, guitar, violin, drumsUsed instruments are household effects and clear duty-free; keep purchase or ownership papers for a high-value instrument.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare + clean
Dried flowers, wreaths, potpourri, pinecones, moss, straw decorationsPlant material is inspected by the Plant Protection Station and may be treated or destroyed; cut flowers and seeds are plant-quarantine items. Present them to the quarantine officer.
Decor & ornaments
Declare
Gold jewellery, gold coins, gold bullionTick the gold box on the declaration whatever the quantity, value or age; over 1 kg of bullion of 90 % purity or more also needs the Declaration of Carrying of Means of Payment.
Decor & ornaments
Declare
Ivory, tortoiseshell, exotic skins, hunting trophies and other protected-wildlife itemsRestricted under laws other than the Customs Law — permits or approvals must be obtained before clearance. Confirm the species status before shipping; without the permit the item is refused.
Decor & ornaments
Don't ship
Counterfeit or fake-brand goods, pirated media, forged currencyProhibited — articles infringing intellectual property rights and counterfeit coins, notes, securities or credit cards cannot enter; importing them carries up to 10 years' imprisonment.
Decor & ornaments
Declare + clean
Hiking boots, football and golf shoes, farm and garden footwearScrub soles and treads until no soil or plant matter remains, then dry — soil and plants with soil are plant-quarantine items.
Outdoor, sport & camping
No concern
Bicycles, skis, golf clubs, fishing rods, camping gear, kayaksUsed sports equipment is a household effect and clears duty-free; clean tyres and bases of soil before packing.
Outdoor, sport & camping
Don't ship
Pistols, firearms, ammunition, pistol partsProhibited by law — importing firearms, ammunition or pistol parts carries up to 10 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥30 million, or both.
Outdoor, sport & camping
Declare
Hunting guns, air guns, swords (katana), large bladesRestricted — no one may bring hunting guns, air guns or swords into Japan without a permit to possess them. Obtain the permit first or leave them behind.
Outdoor, sport & camping
Don't ship
Fireworks, flares, gunpowder, gas canisters, fuelExplosives (dynamite, gunpowder and the like) are prohibited imports; sea carriers refuse fuel and pressurised canisters in household goods.
Outdoor, sport & camping
Declare + clean
Live plants, bulbs, cuttings, seedlings, bonsaiSeedlings, cuttings and bulbs are plant-quarantine items: some are prohibited, some require isolation cultivation after arrival, the rest are inspected and need the exporting country's phytosanitary certificate. Check the Plant Protection Station's import-conditions database before shipping — most movers leave the garden behind.
Garden & plants
Declare + clean
Vegetable and flower seedsSeeds for planting are plant-quarantine items — inspected on arrival and, for some species, prohibited or subject to export-country measures. Declare them and present them to the quarantine officer.
Garden & plants
Don't ship
Soil, compost, potting mix, used plant pots with soilSoil, and plants with soil attached, are on the Plant Protection Station's import-prohibited list. Leave out all soil and clean pots thoroughly.
Garden & plants
Declare + clean
Lawnmower, garden tools, wheelbarrow, used farm machineryUsed agricultural machinery is subject to plant-quarantine measures; remove all caked soil and plant matter and drain fuel before packing.
Garden & plants
Declare
Refrigerator, washing machine, oven, small kitchen appliancesUsed appliances are household effects and clear duty-free; a new boxed unit is assessed with the ¥200,000 allowance. Clean and dry them.
Kitchen
No concern
Tableware, pans, kitchen knives, glasswareNo specific concern as used household effects. Kitchen knives are not swords; only swords and large blades need a permit to possess.
Kitchen
Declare
Sofas, beds, tables, wardrobesUsed furniture clears duty-free within the limit deemed reasonable for one household; new pieces are assessed.
Household
Declare
Televisions, laptops, phones, cameras, games consolesUsed electronics are household effects; new or still-boxed items share the ¥200,000 allowance and the excess is taxed. Keep receipts to show the purchase date.
Household
No concern
Clothing, shoes, books, linen, toysClothes and other personal effects in reasonable quantities are free of duty and tax; items still with tags are assessed as new goods.
Household
Declare
Prescription and over-the-counter medicinesQuantity limit: a 2-month supply of pharmaceuticals and quasi-drugs. Medicines containing narcotics (morphine, oxycodone, codeine, fentanyl) or stimulants' raw materials (lisdexamfetamine, pseudoephedrine) need the Narcotics Control Department's permission before you travel; psychotropics such as methylphenidate, zolpidem or diazepam need no permission. Some foreign prescription medicines cannot be imported at all.
Household
Don't ship
Cannabis, CBD products, stimulants, narcoticsHeroin, cocaine, MDMA, opium, cannabis, stimulants and psychotropic substances are prohibited imports — up to 10 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥30 million. Never ship them.
Household
Declare
Cosmetics, perfume, toiletriesCosmetics are limited to 24 applications per item and perfume to 2 ounces (about 56 ml) duty-free; toiletries for your own use are personal effects.
Household
Don't ship
Obscene material, pornography, child pornographyBooks, drawings and other articles that may harm public safety or morals, and child pornography, are prohibited imports under the Customs Law.
Household
Don't ship
Goods for someone else, commercial samples, stock for saleNot personal effects — dutiable in full, and once the dutiable value passes ¥300,000 Customs requires the commercial cargo procedure.
Household
Declare
Car or motorcycleAdmitted duty- and tax-free with a mover's household effects only with a registration certificate or sales receipt proving it is used; otherwise taxed. Temporary duty-free import is possible if the vehicle is exported again. Japanese registration and inspection follow.
Vehicles & machines
Declare
Boats, jet skis, other watercraftA boat qualifies as a household effect only if it has been in use for more than one year before arrival in Japan, proven by registration or receipts.
Vehicles & machines
Declare
Boxes labelled "misc", "stuff" or not itemisedCustoms may inspect the shipment against your declaration — vague boxes invite a full inspection. Itemise every box with materials and mark used versus new.
Packing
Declare + clean
Straw, hay, sawdust or wood wool as packing fillerStraw and hay are animal-quarantine items and loose wood is a plant-quarantine item — use new paper and bubble wrap instead.
Packing

How to pack so you clear inspection first time

  1. Separate anything new, still boxed or tagged, plus alcohol, tobacco, gold and medicines, and list them with values — they are assessed against the ¥200,000 allowance, not covered as household effects.
  2. Leave out meat, dairy, eggs, fresh produce, soil and live plants altogether; declare any remaining food, seeds, plant or animal products so the quarantine officers can inspect them before Customs.
  3. Clean every item that touched the outdoors, food, animals or soil until no trace remains, then dry it — soil and plant debris are quarantine items.
  4. Use processed, bark-free wooden crates and pallets and never straw, hay or sawdust as filler; raw wood and straw are quarantine items.
  5. Number every box and write materials on the packing list ("wooden chair ×4", "metal bed frame"); mark the shipment and its paperwork 'Unaccompanied Baggage (別送品)' addressed to you.
  6. Complete the unaccompanied-articles section of Form C-5360-B (or Visit Japan Web) when you land, keep the stamped copy safe and arrange for the shipment to reach you within six months — a shipment you forgot to declare clears as an ordinary taxed import.

Penalties and costs

  • Importing prohibited goods (narcotics, firearms, explosives, chemical-weapon precursors, bio-terror germs, counterfeit currency): up to 10 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥30 million, or both (Customs Act, Article 109); for obscene material, child pornography and goods infringing intellectual property the fine is up to ¥10 million.
  • Evading customs duty by deception or false statements: up to 10 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥10 million (raised to up to ten times the duty where that is higher), or both (Article 110). Importing without a permit or on a false declaration: up to 5 years or a fine of up to ¥10 million (up to five times the goods' value where higher), or both (Article 111).
  • Undeclared meat or other animal products: up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥3 million (up to ¥50 million for a business) under the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control since 1 July 2020; quarantine officers may inspect luggage and dispose of the goods, and arrests have been made over international parcels.
  • A dog brought in without quarantine inspection: up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥3 million (¥50 million for a company); a cat: a fine of up to ¥300,000. Non-compliant animals are detained for up to 180 days at the owner's expense and may be refused entry. Unaccompanied baggage not declared on your entry form loses its duty-free status and is taxed as an ordinary import.

Fees and penalty amounts are revised regularly — confirm current figures on the official pages below before you ship.

FAQ

How long must I have owned my things for them to come in duty-free?

Japan sets no fixed period. Japan Customs admits the household effects you and your family have been using free of duty and tax, within the limit it deems reasonable, if you are moving to Japan for more than one year. New and unused items are not household effects in use: items under ¥10,000 each are free, the rest shares your ¥200,000 allowance, and the excess is taxed. A car needs a registration certificate or sales receipt proving it is used, and a boat must have been in use for more than one year.

Do I have to arrive before my container?

Not necessarily before, but you must declare the shipment as unaccompanied articles on your Form C-5360-B (or Visit Japan Web) when you enter, and the goods must be in your custody within six months of your arrival. Customs stamps one copy of the declaration and returns it; you present it, with your passport, when the shipment clears at the port of arrival.

What happens if I forget to declare the shipment when I land?

Japan Customs does not accept a declaration of unaccompanied articles after entry. A shipment that was not declared, or whose stamped declaration copy is lost, goes through the same import procedure as ordinary cargo and is charged customs duty and 10 % consumption tax. Mark the shipment 'Unaccompanied Baggage (別送品)' and complete the declaration before you reach the Customs hall.

What does my dog or cat need?

From a non-designated country: an ISO microchip, two or more rabies vaccinations (the first at 91 days old or older, the second at least 30 days later), a rabies antibody test of 0.5 IU/ml or more at a designated laboratory (valid two years), a 180-day wait counted from the blood sample, advance notification to the Animal Quarantine Service at least 40 days before arrival, a clinical inspection within 10 days of departure and the exporting government's certificate (Form AC). Compliant animals clear within 12 hours; others are detained for up to 180 days at your expense.

Can I pack food?

Very little. Fruit, vegetables and meat products cannot be brought in — meat and most animal products need an export-government inspection certificate that is practically unobtainable for personal goods, and undeclared meat carries up to 3 years' imprisonment or ¥3 million. Grains, beans and seeds are inspected by the Plant Protection Station; rice is limited to 100 kg a year with a Report for the Import of Rice. Sealed processed food in personal quantities can travel if declared.

Can I bring my medicines?

Up to a 2-month supply of pharmaceuticals and quasi-drugs, and 24 applications of each cosmetic, without special paperwork. Medicines containing narcotics (for example morphine, oxycodone, codeine, fentanyl) or stimulants' raw materials (lisdexamfetamine, pseudoephedrine) need permission from the Narcotics Control Department before you travel, with a doctor's certificate issued within the previous three months. Psychotropics such as methylphenidate, zolpidem or diazepam need no permission, while cannabis and stimulants are prohibited outright — some foreign prescriptions cannot enter Japan at all.

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Official sources

This checker summarises public rules as at the review date for planning purposes. Customs and biosecurity decisions are made by the officers on arrival; your Flyto coordinator confirms the current conditions for your visa and shipment.

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