Where to Buy Modafinil in Japan in 2024

Modafinil is one of the most popular drugs used medically to treat certain types of sleep disorders and off-label to enhance cognitive function. It is available in Japan, and there are countless places you can get it, but you need to present a prescription.

Although it is not recommended, there are a handful of places you can get the pills without one, but you must know certain things. In this guide, you will discover everything you need to know about getting modafinil in Japan in 2024. You will also learn about its benefits and side effects, its legality, and the best places to get it.

What Is Modafinil?

Modafinil is a wakefulness-promoting medication commonly used off-label by healthy individuals to enhance their cognitive abilities and ultimately increase productivity on whatever task they set out to do. Some of its cognitive-enhancing benefits include:

• increased alertness;
• enhanced memory;
• increased focus;
• faster mental processing speeds;
• 12+ hours of concentration.

Although the drug provides the above benefits, they are not the main purpose for which it was created. A neurophysiologist, professor Michel Jouvet, developed it in collaboration with Lafon Laboratories in the 1970s to treat excessive daytime sleepiness caused by narcolepsy. In 1998, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also approved it for use to treat narcolepsy in the United States. Later in 2003, it extended the approval to cover treatment for shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) [1].

Modafinil is safe and effective. Its relatively low risk of adverse effects and dependence makes it stand out from similar drugs such as Adderall, among others. Researchers at Harvard and Oxford universities have termed it “the world’s first safe ‘smart drug’” for this reason [2].

Be sure to consult your doctor before taking modafinil or any other drug.

Does Nootropic Have Side Effects?

Yes, modafinil has side effects: all drugs do. In a few cases, some people may experience mild side effects when they take the pill for the first time. If you happen to fall within this category of people, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms [3]:

• headache;
• stomach upset;
• nausea;
• dizziness;
• dehydration;
• dry mouth.

This occurs because the body is unfamiliar with the drug, but the effects are usually short-lived and tend to fade away without any treatment. It is worth noting that more serious adverse effects can also result from modafinil use. Some of them include insomnia, anxiety, depression, hallucination, ringing in one or both ears, rash, etc. It is rare for these sorts of adverse effects to occur; they are caused mostly by misuse of the drug. Seek urgent medical help if you notice any of these symptoms.

Is Modafinil Legal in Japan?

Yes, modafinil is legal in Japan. However, it is classified as a Schedule I psychotic medication; this means that strict guidelines must be followed to get it [1]. Information on Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare specifies that it is illegal to import scheduled psychotropics — this applies to modafinil. Based on this directive, the government had some people arrested for importing the drug for their personal use.

In a nutshell, while the drug is legal in Japan, it should be treated with care as it is not an over-the-counter medication.

Do You Need a Prescription to Buy This Drug?

Yes, you need a prescription to buy this drug because it is classified as a Schedule I psychotic drug. The country has strict laws in place to ensure that this directive stands. If you live in the country, you will need to obtain a valid prescription from a Japan-licensed doctor to get it. On the other hand, if you are visiting the country for business purposes or vacation and need to enter with modafinil, you will need to come along with a valid prescription from a doctor in your country [4].

Recall that modafinil is approved to treat OSA, SWSD, and narcolepsy. Thus, a doctor will only write you a prescription for the drug if you are suffering from one of the conditions. The process involved in getting the prescription includes:

1. Book an appointment and visit a doctor;
2. The doctor will ask certain questions to understand your symptoms and identify the nature of your illness;
3. In some cases, the doctor may refer you to a somnologist (sleep expert) to conduct more specific tests on you;
4. The somnologist will write you a prescription if they find that you are truly suffering from one of the aforementioned sleep disorders. Note that they can decide not to write you a prescription if they feel you are not mature enough to adhere to the recommended usage. For example, they will be less willing to write you one if you have a history of drug abuse;
5. If you do get a prescription, you may take it to a pharmacy to get the pills.

It is worth noting that regardless of the strict rules, many healthy individuals still get modafinil pills without a prescription. But how do they do this, especially since the country often arrests people who import the drugs? Well, their little trick is in the number of pills they buy from overseas vendors per sitting. In many of the cases where people who imported modafinil were busted, they were attempting to import huge amounts (more than 100 pills) [5].

Most individuals who successfully buy the pills from online pharmacies operating out of the country typically buy no more than 90 pills — a 3-month supply.

Where to Purchase Modafinil Online Without Rx in Japan?

A good number of online pharmacies sell modafinil without Rx, but the problem is that only a handful of them ship to Japan. However, we were able to find 3 reputable and trustworthy vendors that ship high-quality pills to the country. Here they are:

HighStreetPharma.com

HighStreetPharma (HSP) is one of the best places you can purchase high-quality modafinil and have it shipped directly to your doorstep without hassles. It sells meds at reasonable prices and provides fast shipping and excellent customer service.

The pharmacy ships to Japan from either India or Singapore, using Post/Swiss Post/DHL for Express and Airmail for Standard shipping. Although its shipping time for deliveries to the USA, Australia, the UK, and Europe is 7 to 12 business days, it is slightly longer for Japan — may take any time between 14 and 30 days to arrive.

Generally, it provides a 100% money-back guarantee to customers. Thus, they will get either a full refund or have their parcels reshipped if it goes missing or gets damaged during delivery. However, it does not apply to orders from Japan because of the strict customs laws. While the pharmacy fulfills orders in most cases, it is important to keep that in mind.

Transacting on HSP is easy as it accepts multiple payment options. They include e-Check, PayPal, Visa & MasterCard, crypto, and Amazon/Walmart gift cards. It is always a great idea to buy with crypto in cases like this, as it fosters anonymity. The vendor offers some incentives to keep its customers returning, and they can take advantage of it to save money on every purchase. It currently offers free shipping and a 15% discount with 30% extra modafinil tabs for orders paid for in crypto.

BuyModa.org

This is yet another reputable online pharmacy you can source high-quality modafinil pills if you live in Japan. It has been in operation for years and has since gathered impressive reviews from its customers. Its meds are guaranteed high-quality, as it sources them directly from trustworthy pharmaceutical companies that meet all necessary regulatory standards.

BuyModa ships to Japan from Singapore, and the waiting time is typically 2 to 4 weeks. Like HSP, it also offers some incentives to keep its customers loyal. Some of them include:

• free shipping on all orders over $100;
• 20% off all orders paid for in Bitcoin;
• 30 extra modafinil tabs on all orders worth $150 and more;
• 20% more tablets for return customers.

One of the interesting features offered by the vendor is parcel tracking. Once a parcel is shipped out after placing the order, you will be able to track it every step of the way via SingPost.

ModaPharma.org

ModaPharma is our third choice for ordering and receiving high-quality modafinil pills in Japan. Much like BuyModa, it has been in operation for quite some time and has amassed positive feedback from its users. Modafinil pills sourced from this pharmacy are guaranteed 100% authentic as the vendor not only sources them from reputable pharmaceutical industries but also does in-house testing of every new batch.

ModaPharma processes and dispatches orders within 24 hours and employs ultra-fast shipping services to see the timely delivery of parcels to its customers. In most cases, it fulfills deliveries within 12 business days, but this can vary sometimes. It happens to be one of the few pharmacies whose 100% money-back guarantee (SureDelivery) covers Japan and some other countries with strict customs laws.

The pharmacy is known for providing excellent customer service. It provides free shipping, and the parcels it ships can be tracked every step of the way until they arrive at the delivery address.

Modafinil Brand Names in Japan

Modafinil is quite popular in Japan, as many workers take it to increase productivity; students also take it to perform better in school. However, you may not find it under the popular brand name Provigil, which is commonly sold in the United States and some other countries. The drug is marketed by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma in Japan, and the company sells it under the brand name Modiodal [1]. Thus, if you have a prescription and intend to buy it in a local pharmacy, Modiodal is what you should be asking for.

It is worth noting that modafinil is also available under different brand names in the country. If you plan on sourcing the pills from an online store, you must get acquainted with the names:

• Modavinil;
• Modalert;
• Modafil MD;
• Modawake;
• Modvigil;
• Modafresh.

There are a couple of other generic names that are not included in this list, but don’t just go about buying any product that claims to have modafinil as its active ingredient — there is just so much counterfeit on the market. In case you are wondering, there is no difference between generic and brand-name modafinil. Both versions provide the same level of benefits and side effects; only the packaging and information inscribed on the tab may differ.

What Other Nootropics Can You Order in Japan?

Besides modafinil there are a couple of other nootropics you can order in Japan; one of them is armodafinil. Armodafinil is very similar to modafinil in terms of chemical structure, effects, mechanism of action, benefits, and adverse effects. It is kind of like a sister drug to it.

However, it is 1.33 times stronger than modafinil and has a slightly longer half-life (duration of effects) as it was produced much more recently [6]. Although it is commonly marketed under the brand name Nuvigil, it is also available in generic versions under the brand names Armodavinil, ArmodaXL, Artvigil, and Waklert, among others.

Even though armodafinil and modafinil provide remarkable cognitive-enhancing benefits, they are both prescription medications. Thus, it is important to limit their use, especially as they pose a small risk of psychological dependence — 2 to 3 times per week is fair. On days you designate to abstain from modafinil, you can go for a nootropic dietary supplement if you feel like you need some cognitive enhancement. Some of the good brands include Mind Lab Pro, Alpha Brain, and Performance Lab Mind. These products are non-prescription; thus, you can buy them with ease.

Final Thoughts: Modafinil in Japan

Modafinil is available in Japan, but the laws surrounding its use and purchase are quite strict, and getting it can prove incredibly difficult if you do not have a prescription. There’s also the risk of facing legal issues if you import the pills online; however, our findings show that most people who got caught were those who tried to buy more than 100 pills at a go. If you need modafinil in Japan and don’t mind taking risks, be sure to aim for about 90 tabs each time you purchase.

Also, be sure to buy only from trusted pharmacies so you can rest assured that you will get high-quality tabs. HighStreetPharma.com, BuyModa.org, and ModaPharma.org are some of the best online drugstores we found. Do your research, compare prices, and determine which one will give you the best bang for your buck.

References

1. Modafinil. Retrieved: September 9, 2022. Wikipedia.org.
2. Narcolepsy medication modafinil is world’s first safe ‘smart drug.’ By Helen Thompson. Retrieved: September 9, 2022. Theguardian.com.
3. Modafinil: MedlinePlus Drug Information. Retrieved: September 9, 2022. Medlineplus.gov.
4. Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare: Information for those who are bringing medicines for personal use into Japan. Retrieved: September 9, 2022. Mhlw.go.jp.
5. Drug smuggling: RIKEN interns arrested on suspicion of Hyogo Prefectural Police. By Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved: September 9, 2022. Archive.is.
6. Armodafinil versus Modafinil in Patients of Excessive Sleepiness Associated with Shift Work Sleep Disorder: A Randomized Double Blind Multicentric Clinical Trial. By D. V. Tembe, A. Dhavale, et al. Retrieved: September 9, 2022.Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.