Japan is one of the riskiest places to take CBD (cannabidiol). As of November 2026, Japanese law treats any product with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound that causes a high) above extremely low limits as a narcotic, and using cannabis is now a crime in its own right. Australia’s Smartraveller lists CBD oil as banned medication for travellers to Japan.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Check the official sources in the footnotes before you travel.
What changed in Japan’s cannabis law in 2024?
Amendments to Japan’s Cannabis Control Act and its Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act took effect in stages. The first stage began on 12 December 2024, and further parts on 1 March 2025.1
Two changes matter most for travellers:
- Cannabis is now treated as a “narcotic” under the narcotics law, and unlawful use is subject to a use offence and penalties.1 Before the change, possession was an offence but use was not.2
- Products are judged by their THC content. Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) says products containing delta-9 THC above set residue limits count as narcotics.1
What are Japan’s THC limits for CBD products?
The MHLW sets these maximum levels of delta-9 THC:1
| Product type | Maximum delta-9 THC |
|---|---|
| Oils and fats (liquid at room temperature) and powders | 10 ppm (10 mg per kg) |
| Water-based solutions | 0.1 ppm (0.1 mg per kg) |
| Everything else | 1 ppm (1 mg per kg) |
One part per million is 0.0001%. A product over the limit is a narcotic under Japanese law.1
These limits are far lower than the trace THC many CBD products contain. Full-spectrum products, which include THC by design, are very unlikely to comply, and even “THC-free” labels are not proof at this level. See full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs isolate. We could not confirm from an official page whether THCA (the acid form of THC) counts towards the limit.
What does Smartraveller say about CBD in Japan?
Smartraveller’s Japan page says:3
- “Some medication is banned, including: … marijuana, including medicinal cannabis or CBD oil. Authorities could detain you if you’re found with them.”
- “Authorities can arrest and charge you if they find trace amounts of illegal drugs in your blood or urine.”
- “You can also be detained for up to 23 days without charge.”
The MHLW’s own wording allows CBD products that meet the residue limits, while Smartraveller lists CBD oil as banned. A traveller cannot show at the airport that a product is under 10 ppm. In practice, treat CBD as something not to bring.
Can you bring prescribed medicines into Japan?
The MHLW says you can bring general prescription medicine for personal use without special procedures if it is not a prohibited or specially controlled drug and you bring no more than one month’s supply. More than that needs an Import Confirmation before you arrive.4
Narcotics need permission before you enter or leave Japan, applied for at least 14 days before travel. The MHLW Narcotics Control Department lists cannabis among the controlled categories.5 We could not confirm whether a traveller can get permission for any cannabis-based medicine. Smartraveller lists medicinal cannabis as banned.3
Are cannabis medicines allowed in Japan now?
The 2024 changes opened a path for cannabis-derived medicines that are proven safe and effective, under a licensing system, according to a Japanese news agency report.2 The MHLW describes a clinical study so that some patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy can keep using cannabis-derived products.1 We could not confirm whether any cannabis-derived medicine has been approved in Japan as of November 2026. None of this creates a right for a visitor to bring CBD.
What are the penalties?
A report by Kyodo News, a Japanese news agency, said violations of the new use ban carry up to seven years in prison, and that possession, transfer and cultivation were already banned.2 We could not confirm the exact penalty terms from an official Japanese page. Smartraveller notes detention of up to 23 days without charge.3
Because use is now an offence, a positive drug test matters. CBD products can contain THC that shows up in urine; see CBD and drug tests.
What is the safest approach?
- Do not take CBD to Japan unless Japanese authorities have confirmed in writing that you may.
- Contact the MHLW or the Embassy of Japan in Australia well before you travel.
- If you stop a prescribed medicine for the trip, plan that with your prescriber.
- Check the CBD laws overseas guide for any country you transit.
Footnotes
-
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan). Amendments to the Cannabis Control Act and the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act (Japanese). https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_43079.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6
-
The Star, republishing Kyodo News via Bernama (secondary source). Japan criminalises cannabis use as revised laws come into effect, 12 December 2024. https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/12/12/japan-criminalises-cannabis-use-as-revised-laws-come-into-effect ↩ ↩2 ↩3
-
Smartraveller (DFAT). Japan travel advice, updated 25 August 2026. https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/japan ↩ ↩2 ↩3
-
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan). Q and A for those who are importing medicines into Japan. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001686827.pdf ↩
-
Narcotics Control Department, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan). Application for bringing medicines into or out of Japan. https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html ↩
Common questions
Is CBD legal in Japan?
Japan's health ministry says CBD products that stay under its THC residue limits are not narcotics, and those over the limits are. The limits are tiny, measured in parts per million. Smartraveller separately lists CBD oil as banned medication for travellers to Japan.
Can I take my Australian prescribed CBD to Japan?
Smartraveller lists medicinal cannabis and CBD oil among banned medications and warns that authorities could detain you. Japan's own limits depend on lab-measured THC levels, which most travellers cannot prove. Contact Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare before you travel and do not rely on an Australian prescription.
What are the penalties for cannabis in Japan?
Since December 2024, using cannabis is an offence as well as possessing it. A Japanese news agency report said use carries up to seven years in prison. Smartraveller also warns that you can be detained for up to 23 days without charge.
This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. Laws and evidence change; we show the date we last checked the facts at the top of every page. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
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