How do I fill out the Japan customs declaration?

Get a clear walk-through of the Japan customs declaration, from the paper form and its main questions to the Visit Japan Web QR code and e-Gates.

Published October 20, 2026 at 5:23 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: All passengers entering Japan must declare their belongings. Travelers can complete the declaration electronically on Visit Japan Web and scan the QR code at the airport, or fill in the paper Customs Declaration form, which asks about prohibited and restricted items, goods above the duty-free allowance, commercial goods, items carried for others, and cash above 1,000,000 yen.

What the declaration is for

Japan Customs states that all passengers entering Japan must declare their belongings. The declaration helps officers prevent smuggling and speeds up proper clearance, and it covers goods bought abroad, gifts, souvenirs and items bought at duty-free shops. After immigration and baggage claim, travelers present the declaration at the customs inspection area before leaving for the public arrival hall.

There are two ways to make it. The first is the electronic declaration through Visit Japan Web, which Customs recommends and which produces a 2D (QR) code. The second is the paper Customs Declaration of Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles, available on the plane and at the airport. The older Customs Declaration App codes have not been valid since January 2024.

Filling in the paper form

The paper form, known by its code C-5360, is printed in English, Japanese and several other languages. The traveler writes personal details: name, date of birth, nationality, occupation, address in Japan, passport number, flight number, point of departure, arrival date and signature. The form also asks for the number of family members traveling together, grouped by age band, and families traveling together typically fill in one written declaration.

The core is a set of yes or no questions. They ask whether the traveler is bringing prohibited items such as narcotics or firearms, restricted items such as meat, vegetables, fruit, animals and plants, gold bullion or gold products, goods above the duty-free allowance, commercial goods or samples, and any item someone else asked the traveler to bring, including a closed bag. Answering yes to any of these means listing the items on the back of the form.

Filling it in on Visit Japan Web

The online route asks for the same information through screens. After logging in, the traveler enters the customs declaration details and receives a 2D code. At the airport, the traveler goes to an electronic declaration terminal in the customs inspection area, scans the IC passport and the code, and follows the on-screen steps. Follow the on-screen steps, which may include a photo.

After the terminal, the traveler is directed either to an e-Gate or to a customs inspection desk. Japan Customs says e-Gates are available at seven international airports, and that every person in a group, including family members, must complete the terminal procedure individually. Children under 100 centimeters tall can pass the gate with a family member.

Numbers and thresholds that matter

Several figures appear on Japan Customs pages. The duty-free allowance per adult includes three bottles of alcohol of about 760 milliliters each, 200 cigarettes, and other goods with a total overseas market value of up to 200,000 yen, according to the form. Low-value items, valued at under about 10,000 yen each, are not counted toward the other goods total, and different limits apply to children and to travelers under 20.

Cash and similar instruments above 1,000,000 yen, or the equivalent in foreign currency, must be declared on a separate Declaration of Carrying of Means of Payment form, according to Japan Customs. The threshold is lower for travelers bound for North Korea. Allowances, rates and thresholds can change, so check the Japan Customs website for the current figures before packing.

Special items, families and quarantine

Food, plants and animals need extra attention. Japan Customs lists meat products, vegetables, fruit, rice, live animals and plants as restricted, and the guidance says items subject to quarantine must be shown at the Animal or Plant Quarantine counter before customs inspection. Meat products and many plant products are strictly controlled, and penalties can apply for bringing them in without inspection.

Medicine and cosmetics have quantity limits, and customs describes them as limited to about two months of use for pharmaceuticals and quasi-drugs and 24 applications for cosmetics. Japan Customs states that goods bought tax free in Japan must be exported, and consumption tax can be charged if they are not. Families should keep the family size on the form accurate, and parents answer for young children.

Common mistakes

Frequent errors include ticking no for a question where the answer is yes, such as food or souvenirs bought for others, forgetting items carried for friends, and leaving the date or flight number blank. Travelers also forget to list high-value goods bought abroad or mis-estimate the value of several items together. Another is signing the form without reading the back, where the prohibited items are listed.

Some visitors assume that an electronic declaration means no inspection. Officers may still inspect baggage after an electronic declaration. Others lose access to the code when the phone battery dies, so a screenshot or printed copy is a useful backup. Look-alike websites are another risk, so start from official government pages.

Choosing a method, planning tips and next steps

The online method suits travelers who like to prepare ahead and have an IC passport, because the airport terminal and e-Gate speed things up at seven airports. The paper method suits those who prefer pen and paper, travel from a smaller airport, or lack a smartphone. Either is accepted, and staff in the customs area can point to the right desk.

A few habits help in both cases. Keep receipts for large purchases, pack gifts so they can be checked easily, and write down or photograph the description of valuable items. Prepare the first-night address and passport number in advance. If a yes answer applies, be ready to describe the item and its value; officers handle declarations every day, and honest answers are the easy path.

Before departure, decide between Visit Japan Web and paper, check the allowance and the restricted goods list, and leave behind any food or plants that are not allowed. The answers on the form are a legal statement, so accuracy matters more than speed. Rules and allowances change, so confirm figures on the Japan Customs website or ask a customs counselor at the airport. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does each traveler need a separate customs form?

Not usually on paper. Families traveling together typically fill in one written declaration, which records the number of family members traveling with the declarant, but the form's own instructions are the final word. For the electronic route, Japan Customs says every person in a group, including family members, must complete the terminal procedure individually at the airport.

What happens if a traveler answers yes to a question?

The traveler lists the relevant items in the description section on the back of the form and is directed to an inspection desk. Customs may check the goods and assess duty or tax on amounts above the allowance. Items needing quarantine are shown at the quarantine counter first.

Can the customs declaration be completed after leaving the airport?

No. Declarations are made when entering Japan, so they should be completed on arrival rather than later. Travelers should complete it before leaving the customs inspection area, either through the QR code at the terminal or the paper form at the inspection desk.

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