Can I bring kimchi or pickles into Japan?

What the rule says

Decided at the border, not at the airport you fly from.

The rule

Processed and preserved vegetables are usually accepted; anything still recognisable as fresh vegetable is not.

What that means in practice

Kimchi made with seafood is fine. Kimchi containing pork is banned under the meat rules. Declare it if you are not sure.

Where to declare it

• Quarantine counters are in the arrivals hall, before customs. Animal products go to animal quarantine, plants to plant quarantine.
• There is no penalty for declaring something that turns out to be banned — it is taken and destroyed, and that is the end of it.
• Japan Customs recommends filing your declaration in advance through Visit Japan Web.

Why Japan checks this

Quarantine exists to keep livestock disease and crop pests out of Japan. Foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever are present in other countries and travel in meat; fruit flies and fire blight travel in produce. One infected item entering the country can cost Japanese farming billions of yen.

Where it happens

The quarantine counter in the arrivals hall, before customs. Look for the animal and plant quarantine signs — you go there first.

If you declare

The item is taken and disposed of, and you walk on. Declaring is never penalised.

If you do not

Up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 3 million yen, and the police are called if it looks deliberate.

Why Japan is so strict about this

These rules are about disease, not tax, and they are enforced by a separate service with its own counter in the arrivals hall.

• Foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever are present outside Japan and travel in meat. Fruit flies and fire blight travel in produce.
• The penalty was raised on 1 July 2020: up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 3 million yen, and up to 50 million yen for a business.
• Quarantine officers can ask what you are carrying and open your bag. Detector dogs work the arrivals halls at the main airports.
• Declaring costs you nothing. The item is taken and destroyed, and you walk on.

Related items

• Meat and meat products
• Ham, sausage, bacon and salami
• Jerky and dried meat
• Meat buns, dumplings and gimbap
• Leftover in-flight meals
• Fresh fruit