Even if you are just bringing medications or medical devices for your own use, prescription or sometimes non-prescription medications must be accompany by a certificate to bring the into the country.

>30 day supply of prescription only medication needs an import certificate

<60 day supply of non-prescription items like vitamins and over the counter medications do NOT need an import certificate

What your host country considers over-the-counter or prescription may differ in Japan. The destination country wins no matter what so always error on the side of caution.

Some medications are strictly forbidden to import even if you have a prescription. Be sure to make sure you can bring your medication into the country at all. Adderall is forbidden in any amount in many countries.

Ministry of Health Website will provide details on what needs an import form and what does not and which medications can be imported at all. However, some of the language is difficult to understand even though it is in english again error on the side of caution and if you dont need an import certificate, the approving official will let you know when you apply.

At the time of writing this the link for the application is in section 5. Import Application Website

After going to the import application website create an account incase it is necessary to submit multiple requests. It also made things a bit easier as the forms are hard to understand for the lay person and might require starting and stopping a few times to gather information.

Obtaining an import certificate is now done via online submission although it is possible to mail in paper forms it is