Can I bring flowers to Japan?

Cut flowers at the Japanese border

This is decided when you land in Japan, by the quarantine services. Airport security at your departure airport is a separate check.

Cut flowers are listed among the plants that require an import inspection. A phytosanitary certificate issued by the government of the exporting country is legally required regardless of quantity, and flowers bought at a duty-free shop are not exempt.

Listed as requiring inspection

cut flowers

Certificate

phytosanitary certificate issued by the government of the exporting country, regardless of quantity

Duty-free shop purchases

still need import inspection

Exception

inspection certificates are not required for certain plants: ask a Plant Protection Station

Penalty

up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 3 million yen

A bouquet at the Plant Quarantine Counter, step by step

A bouquet is inspected between immigration and customs, and it needs the certificate tag issued by the exporting country.

Where the flower inspection sits on arrival

The Plant Protection Station gives the order as immigration inspection, imported plant inspection at the Plant Quarantine Counter, then customs inspection. The phytosanitary certificate, which the Station says is issued in tag form, is handed to the plant quarantine officer at that counter together with the flowers.

The stamp that customs looks for

Flowers that pass are given a "plant inspection passed" stamp by the officer. The Station states that any plant not displaying this stamp is ineligible for customs inspections, so a bouquet cannot go to the customs desk first and the plant counter afterwards.

No fee, and most inspections are short

The Station's FAQ says no inspection fee is required and that most inspections take only a short time, depending on plant type and quantities. The certificate is a different matter: it is issued by the exporting country, and the Station tells travellers to acquire it before departure.

Species and origin can rule a flower out

Asked about local flowers and fruit as souvenirs, the Station answers that what can and cannot enter is set in detail by country or region and by type of plant. Its English page adds that some plants require inspection in the country of departure or special quarantine measures. A flower sold in a pot of soil is another case again, because plants attached with soil are prohibited from every origin.

Declaring cut flowers when you arrive

Take the flowers and their phytosanitary certificate to the Plant Quarantine Counter and complete the inspection before going through customs.

If you bring cut flowers into Japan without declaring

Importing plants without a phytosanitary certificate or without import inspection: up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 3 million yen.

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