From NZ to Japan - All you need to know.

International Travel & Import Guide

Vaping in Japan

Everything you need to know about personal import limits, flight rules, and local vaping laws for tourists and residents.

💡 Key Rules at a Glance

Domestic Sales Prohibited Nicotine e-liquid cannot be legally sold inside Japan. Local shops only sell 0 mg hardware and flavours.
120 mL Import Limit You are legally allowed to bring or import up to 120 mL of nicotine e-liquid per month for personal use.
Strictly No Resale Imported nicotine is strictly for personal use. Sharing, gifting, or selling it locally is illegal.
Public Etiquette Vaping is treated like smoking. Only vape in designated public smoking areas (Kitsuenjo).

1. The Core Rule: Nicotine vs. Non-Nicotine

Under Japan’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Act (PMDA), nicotine-containing e-liquids are regulated as medicinal products, creating a distinct two-tier system:

0 mg (Nicotine-Free) E-Liquid

Completely unrestricted. Legal to purchase, sell, import, and possess anywhere in Japan without volume limits.

Nicotine E-Liquid

Illegal to sell commercially within Japan, but legal to import from overseas or bring through customs for personal use within strict volume caps.

2. Travelling to Japan: Flight & Airport Rules

If you are travelling to Japan, you are permitted to bring your vape hardware and nicotine e-liquid through customs provided you follow standard international regulations:

🛃 Customs & Volume Allowance

  • Maximum E-Liquid Allowance: You can enter Japan with a maximum of 120 mL of nicotine-containing e-liquid per person.
  • Customs Declarations: Staying at or under 120 mL falls within your personal allowance. Exceeding 120 mL risks confiscation at customs without an official import certificate (Yunyu Kakunin-sho).

✈️ Airline Luggage Rules

  • Batteries & Devices (Carry-On Only): All vape devices, pod systems, and spare lithium-ion batteries MUST be kept in your carry-on luggage. They are strictly banned in checked baggage.
  • E-Liquids in Carry-On: Carry-on e-liquid bottles must comply with standard 100 mL liquid limits in clear, sealable bags. Larger bottles can be stowed in checked luggage as long as your total nicotine e-liquid across all bags stays under 120 mL.
  • Prevent Leaks: Cabin pressure changes cause tanks and pods to leak. Empty your tanks before flying or pack pods in sealed ziplock bags.

3. Importing E-Liquid as a Resident in Japan

If you reside in Japan, you can legally buy nicotine e-liquids online from overseas stores like Vapoureyes NZ and have them delivered directly to your home address.

Personal Import Guidelines:

  • The 120 mL Monthly Cap: Japanese customs allows individuals to import up to 120 mL of nicotine e-liquid per month for personal use.
  • Space Out Your Orders: Keep your orders spaced out by at least 3–4 weeks. Multiple shipments arriving in a short window that exceed 120 mL combined may be held by customs.
  • Residential Address Required: Orders must be addressed to your personal residential address under your legal name. Nicotine shipments cannot be sent to commercial business addresses or schools.
  • Zero Resale Allowance: Personal imports are exclusively for your own consumption. Gifting or selling imported nicotine e-liquid to others in Japan violates federal law.

4. Vaping Etiquette & Local Laws in Japan

Although vaping is regulated differently from tobacco under health laws, municipalities and private businesses in Japan treat vaping identically to cigarette smoking.

  • No Walking & Vaping: Major cities (including Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto) enforce strict bans on smoking or vaping while walking on public streets.
  • Use Designated Smoking Areas (Kitsuenjo): Always use dedicated public smoking rooms or designated outdoor zones, commonly located outside train stations, near convenience stores, or inside designated restaurant areas.
  • Public Transport Bans: Vaping is strictly prohibited on all trains, buses, and station platforms throughout Japan.
  • Japanese Vape Shops: Local vape shops in Japan are excellent for purchasing replacement coils, hardware, and 0 mg flavor concentrates—however, they do not stock or sell nicotine e-liquids or nicotine shots.
⚠️ Important Customs Disclaimer:
Customs regulations and import restrictions are subject to change. The information provided above is for general guidance based on current Japanese personal import laws. Customers purchasing from Vapoureyes NZ for delivery to Japan assume full responsibility for complying with local customs regulations and import limits.