Is Lomotil Legal in Japan?
NCD permit required
Lomotil contains Diphenoxylate and requires a Narcotics Control Department (NCD) import permit before travel to Japan. The permit application must be submitted at least 14 days before arrival, supported by a doctor's letter listing your diagnosis, dosage, and trip length. Lomotil cannot be brought into Japan with just a foreign prescription.
Japan status
Permit Required
Quantity threshold
Not applicable
Substance class
Narcotic
Why is Lomotil controlled in Japan?
Diphenoxylate is structurally related to meperidine and is controlled as a narcotic in Japan despite the atropine adulterant in Lomotil.
How to apply for the NCD import permit
- 1Apply for the NCD import permit at least 14 days before your arrival date.
- 2Doctor's letter (dated within 3 months) must list: your full name, diagnosis, medical necessity, drug name, strength, daily dose, and the prescribing doctor's signature.
- 3Attach photos of original packaging showing drug name and strength.
- 4You must carry the import certificate with you and present it at customs — not in checked baggage.
Application form: Submit through the Japan Narcotics Control Department (NCD).
NCD import permit applicationLegal alternatives in Japan
Discuss these with your prescriber before travel. Switching medications mid-trip is not advisable.
Loperamide (Imodium)
Not controlled. Available OTC in Japan as 'Stoppa' or 'Down Pita'.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lomotil allowed in Japan?▼
Lomotil requires an NCD import permit. Most travelers switch to loperamide (Imodium), which is freely available in Japan.
Related medications
Diphenoxylate is structurally related to meperidine and is controlled as a narcotic in Japan despite the atropine adulterant in Lomotil.
Codeine is a Schedule I narcotic. Japan's law explicitly excludes products containing ≤1% codeine — but this threshold is concentration-based, not dose-based, so check the product carefully.
Check your full travel kit
Lomotil is just one medication — most travelers carry several. Our free checker reviews your entire prescription list against Japan’s import rules.
Check all my medicationsSource: MHLW Narcotics Control Department — Controlled Substances List (12 Dec 2024). Page last reviewed 2026-05-31 by Dr. Lo and Dr. Lee (PharmD). Regulations change — verify with the MHLW Narcotics Control Department before travel. This page is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for advice from your prescribing physician or from a Japanese customs authority.