Entry into Japan - Rabbits (Leporidae) -

Rabbits being brought into Japan must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the government quarantine authorities in the country of departure. In addition, rabbits must also undergo a 1 day (practically 3 days and 2 nights) quarantine inspection at an Animal Quarantine Station in Japan.

In order to bring rabbits into Japan from foreign countries, it will be necessary to satisfy the requirements in the country of departure as well as the requirements for entry into Japan.

You can import rabbits only at the following 17 seaports and airports:

Sea ports: Tomakomai Port, Keihin Port (Tokyo, Yokohama), Nagoya Port, Hanshin Port (Osaka, Kobe), Kanmon Port, Hakata Port, Kagoshima Port and Naha Port

Airports: Shin(New)-Chitose Airport, Narita International Airport, Tokyo International Airport (Haneda), Chubu International Airport, Kansai International Airport, Kitakyushu Airport, Fukuoka Airport, Kagoshima Airport and Naha Airport

Requirements for departure from foreign countries

Please contact in advance the embassy（External Link） or quarantine department of the country of departure and confirm the requirements for departure from that country. Embassy or quarantine authorities in the foreign country.

Requirements for entry into Japan

Rabbits being brought into Japan must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the government quarantine authorities (corresponding to the Animal Quarantine Service in Japan) in the country of departure. The health certificate must state that it has confirmed or believed, as a result of quarantine inspection, that the rabbits are not likely to spread pathogens of monitored infectious diseases, including tularemia, rabbit hemorrhagic disease, and rabbit myxomatosis. In addition to the obtaining health certificate, rabbits must also undergo a 1 day (practically 3 days and 2 nights) quarantine inspection in detention at an Animal Quarantine Station.

＜Requirements for the imports＞

Importer need a health certificate for rabbit endorsed or issued by the government agency of the exporting country. (This should be done within 10 days before the departure date.)

(※)Health Certificates need an endorsement by the government agency of the exporting country. For a valid endorsement, the signature of the veterinary officer of the government agency, the name and official stamp of the agency, and the signed date are necessary. If the endorsement is not complete, the certificate will not be considered as issued by the government agency of the exporting country.

<Precautions>
1. Do not use a pencil or erasable pen to fill in the certificates.
2. Use of correcting fluid or correction tape is not acceptable. Draw double lines through the words to be corrected, and then write the correct information. The signature of the person making the correction and the correction date are also required.
3. Once the endorsement is obtained, no corrections will be accepted other than those made by the government agency of the exporting country. Corrections should be made before the endorsement is obtained. If a correction is made by the government agency of the exporting country, another endorsement of the correction must be obtained.

Requirements for entry into Japan.

You should contact the Animal Quarantine Service at your port/airport of arrival at least 40 days in advance, and submit a notification(EXCEL : 28KB). In addition, and submit an application(EXCEL : 27KB) for import quarantine at least 10 days in advance by E-mail, etc.

The Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control have been amended, and from January 1, 2027, it will become mandatory to submit an import notification at least 40 days prior to importation (excluding cases where rabbits are imported as accompanied personal effects or postal items).

Requirements have been individually established for entry into Japan from the regions listed below. For details, please check each link.

An Import Quarantine Certificate will be issued after the quarantine period is completed.

Frequently-Asked Questions and Answers

The importation of Ochotonidae into Japan

If you bring Ochotonidae into Japan, the notification to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is required. For details, please refer to following website.
Notification System for the Importation of Animals (Link: the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)