🇯🇵 Japan vs 🇺🇸 United States
Side-by-side customs reference: duty-free allowance, de minimis, VAT, restricted and prohibited categories, and customs authority.
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇺🇸 United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs authority | Japan Customs (Ministry of Finance) | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) |
| VAT / GST | 10% | n/a |
| De minimis (USD) | USD 91 | USD 800 |
| Cash declaration (USD) | USD 9000 | USD 10000 |
| Duty-free alcohol (L) | 3 | 1 |
| Duty-free cigarettes | 400 | 200 |
| Duty-free personal goods (USD) | USD 1820 | USD 800 |
| Prohibited categories | Stimulant drugs (kakuseizai — including many cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine above personal limits); Narcotics and psychotropic substances; Counterfeit goods and goods infringing intellectual property; Pornographic material (obscene publications are prohibited); Firearms without proper licensing | Narcotics and controlled substances; Counterfeit goods; Obscene material; Products made with forced or child labor; Endangered species products (CITES) |
| Restricted categories | Firearms and swords (Firearms and Swords Possession Control Act — strict permit required); Certain prescription medications (allowances for personal use, 1–2 month supply); Over-the-counter medicines (up to 2 months supply without import notification); Certain foods and agricultural products (plant quarantine and animal quarantine inspections); Endangered species products (CITES permit) | Firearms and ammunition (requires permits/licenses); Certain agricultural products (fruits, vegetables, meats — inspection required); Trademarked goods (limited personal-use quantities); Prescription medications (personal-use quantities only); Alcohol (state regulations apply; requires importer license for commercial quantities) |
| Known scams | Unofficial Visit Japan Web clones charging an 'application fee'. The official tool is free; the URL is always vjw-lp.digital.go.jp. • Narita airport transport scams by unlicensed taxi solicitors outside arrivals. Use only the official taxi rank or Airport Limousine Bus. | Fake ESTA submission websites that charge inflated fees ($50-$100 instead of the official US$21). Always use the official esta.cbp.dhs.gov domain. • Phishing 'CBP refund' emails or texts claiming a customs payment is owed. CBP does not collect duty by email link. Verify any notice through the official portal. |
Detailed pages: Japan • United States
Want to compare other countries? Browse the country index or use the interactive rule compare.