How many excise-controlled tobacco and alcohol items can I bring into Japan?
- Official classification
- Cigarettes, tobacco and alcoholic beverages (commercial import, Excise Department permit)
Restricted
You can bring excise-controlled tobacco and alcohol items into Japan only within the stated limits.
What you need to know
- No stated quantity
- Value cap: 300,000 JPY
- Channels: Carried with the traveler
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
Questions about Tobacco and alcohol (commercial import, excise permit) in Japan
- How many excise-controlled tobacco and alcohol items can I bring into Japan?
- Japan allows 300,000 JPY per traveller. Above that the goods are treated as an import and duty becomes payable. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
- Do I have to declare excise-controlled tobacco and alcohol items at Japan customs?
- Yes — it has to be declared to Japan customs on arrival.
- What happens if I do not declare excise-controlled tobacco and alcohol items in Japan?
- If you declare the excess yourself, a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess; the normal duty becomes payable on the excess. The normal duty becomes payable on the excess. If it is treated as smuggling, it is prosecuted as a criminal offence; an administrative fine is imposed.
- Can I post or ship excise-controlled tobacco and alcohol items to Japan instead of carrying it?
- Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.
- Can I take excise-controlled tobacco and alcohol items out of Japan?
- Japan publishes no separate rule for taking excise-controlled tobacco and alcohol items out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the Japan limit for excise-controlled tobacco and alcohol items apply per person or per family?
- Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
- Where does this rule come from?
- Japan Customs (Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance) states it in 7109 Procedures for Importing Commercial Goods as Accompanied Baggage or Entrusted Goods (FAQ). CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19.
- How does Japan compare with other countries on excise-controlled tobacco and alcohol items?
- Of the 20 countries covered here, 1 prohibit excise-controlled tobacco and alcohol items, 19 limit it and 0 let it through. Japan is among the ones that set a limit.
Source: Japan Customs (Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance) — 7109 Procedures for Importing Commercial Goods as Accompanied Baggage or Entrusted Goods (FAQ) · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Japan Customs (Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance) — 7109 Procedures for Importing Commercial Goods as Accompanied Baggage or Entrusted Goods (FAQ) · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Japan Customs (Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance) — ข้อควรทราบสำหรับการนำของติดตัวเข้าทางอากาศยานสำหรับผู้โดยสาร · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Japan Customs (Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance) — ข้อควรทราบสำหรับการนำของติดตัวเข้าทางอากาศยานสำหรับผู้โดยสาร · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Japan Customs (Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance) — 7109 Procedures for Importing Commercial Goods as Accompanied Baggage or Entrusted Goods (FAQ) · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Japan Customs (Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance) — 7109 Procedures for Importing Commercial Goods as Accompanied Baggage or Entrusted Goods (FAQ) · verified 2026-09-19