Help! Taking Prescription Drugs Into Japan
 

I am packing and as I was putting double my RX pills into my 7 day pill keeper my husband said that he read customs is really picky about bring prescription meds into Japan and that I better keep them in my original bottles. I did a search and I can't find anything. I take several heart and blood pressure medications so quite a few bottles to put in my carry on. If it's not an issue I would rather have them in my little dispenser. Has anyone had experience with this?

It is always smart to carry prescription drugs in their original labeled bottles, Nonetheless, I've never heard of anyone having problems going into Japan - or most other places for that matter.

I carried 6 weeks of my pills into japan last year in small sandwich bags with no problems or questions

Japan is very strict about certain drugs which are in common use by many Americans and do not even require a prescription.
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-medimport.html

Here is some detailed info:
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/import/index.html

For the most part if the prescription drug amount is less than a month's supply, there should not be a problem....

For longer than a month a yakkan shoumei is necessary:
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy...als/dl/qa1.pdf
I had to get those for my meds this spring as I stayed for two months. Of course, chances are one won't be stopped in Immigration....but....

how would they know if you were carrying drugs of any kind?

I think it is an over reaction

If the drugs are legal in Japan then I would not be concerned about bringing in a 2-week supply in one of those pill organizers.

>>how would they know if you were carrying drugs of any kind?<<

By searching your bag(s).

I think it's okay too. I have a list of what I take on my phone, I am going to take pictures of the bottles. It isn't Oxycontin or anything. I don't want to put them in my checked luggage in case it gets lost. I just wondered if anyone had a problem. I guess I will find out!