Kratom → 🇯🇵 Japan

Full details

Kratom prohibited; penalties for import. Enforcement in Japan carries fines from JPY 5,000,000 to JPY 30,000,000 and imprisonment up to 10 years in aggravated cases under Customs Law Art. 109; Narcotics Control Law; Cannabis Control Law. Because kratom is prohibited rather than restricted, there is no permit route for an ordinary traveller — attempted import is treated as smuggling regardless of intent. Arrival checks are carried out by Japan Customs (Ministry of Finance); when in doubt use the declare (red) channel — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods attract penalties. Leaving Japan with kratom is a separate question: prohibited — Kratom is a controlled substance in Japan — possession is unlawful, so there is no lawful personal export.

ENFORCEMENT

Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.

Leaving Japan with kratom

Japan controls kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) under its drugs legislation (Narcotics Control Law; Yakkan Shoumei personal-export authorisation). Because possession is unlawful, there is no personal-export pathway — kratom found at departure screening is seized and the traveller risks prosecution. Most neighbouring and destination jurisdictions also control kratom; do not carry it across any border without verifying both sides.

OFFICIAL SOURCES · VERIFIED 2026-08-22