Carrying cash into or out of Japan: the ¥1,000,000 declaration rule

You must declare to Japan Customs any cash and similar items worth more than ¥1,000,000 in total when you carry them into or out of Japan. As of November 2026 there is no cap on the amount, only a duty to declare it. The rule applies to residents leaving with savings as much as to new arrivals.

What counts toward ¥1,000,000

Customs adds up these items, and applies the yen equivalent for foreign currency:

• Cash, in yen or any foreign currency
• Checks, including traveler’s checks
• Promissory notes
• Securities such as stocks and government bonds

If the total is over ¥1,000,000, declare all of it, not just the part above the line. Customs sets a lower threshold of ¥100,000 for exports with North Korea as the destination.

How to declare

Customs says to submit its payment instruments form (支払手段の携帯輸出・輸入届出書, with an English version) at the customs counter at the airport or port. On departure, submit it before passport control, and before you check your baggage. For unaccompanied baggage, submit it at a customs office. Customs also accepts filing online through its NACCS system, which requires user registration.

Customs warns that false or missing declarations can be punished, citing the Customs Act and the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. The pages do not list penalty amounts.

Who this matters for

• New arrivals bringing savings for a deposit or tuition. A bank account lets you move money without carrying it. See opening a bank account.
• Residents leaving Japan with cash from closing accounts. Our leaving-Japan checklist covers the other steps.
• Families sending money home by hand. A regulated transfer is usually safer. See sending money from Japan.

Safer ways to move large sums

A bank transfer or licensed remittance service leaves a paper trail and needs no customs form. For amounts that large, ask your bank or provider about its limits and what documents it needs before you travel or transfer.