Hash in Japan

Cannabis in Japan is highly illegal. It is legal only for cultivation where licensed holders can grow the plant, those people being researchers with a permit. For the rest of you casual, recreational users: good luck finding some.

I had heard if you do manage to get hash (or bud), it would be from the yakuza - Japan’s underground and violent mafia. And when you do finally get it, from a friend of a friend of a friend (ad nauseum), never ever travel with it and always consume it in a safe place.

Friends of mine are Japanese locals and reside in Tokyo but despite vain attempts to score some hash, they kept telling me their source is dry right now. You either got it or you wait.

I gave up. It wasn’t necessary to have it even though I did enjoy the medicinal qualities of the plant, particularly in relaxing me after a long day exploring a new city. But it wasn’t worth the hassle and bringing it up to people is a tricky matter seeing as most people avoid the topic altogether; fear of the police is extremely potent and Japanese people are very courteous of the law.

The Japanese government states that anyone involved in marijuana related activities such as: import, export, dealing, or smoking could be liable to 7-10 years in prison and a fine of 2-3,000,000 yen. However, police must ask before searching you. Yes, you can say no but they might do it anyways, so walk away and do not allow them to scan your passport or identify you. If you’re driving, it is advisable to speak to them as they’ll grab your license plate anyways. Also, be extra cautious buying weed from the streets.

Shibuya in Tokyo has tight law enforcement though it is still possible to acquire some herb. Locate the middle-eastern men standing by jewelry stands and try your luck with them. They aren’t narcs, they just have shitty weed. [edit: be careful when dealing with these men as some are bought off by the cops].

In fact, quality bud or hash is next to impossible. I ended up traveling to Lake Biwa on one of my days off and crashed a party of drunken Japanese friends with an Israeli local. They smoked me up on hash they claimed was from the mafia and though I must’ve smoked 4 joints with them, I felt no buzz. Just a comfortable layer of booze in my gut.

All in all, it is possible, like anywhere in the world, to find bud. But hash is much easier to locate in Japan than your top (or middle) grade kush or sativas. Before you go off on your own, speak to locals or travelers at your hostel that you feel safe mentioning it to, and after some research and good connections, toke up in a protected indoor/outdoor space (never smoke in public) far from law enforcement. Every precaution is a wise one.

Prices vary and seeing as you’ll probably get it from someone who knows someone, I can only give an estimate of the cost. 3,000-5,000 yen ($25-45USD) is standard for average weed per gram. If you know people, you could get a good deal on hash and the more you revisit the dealer, the better quality you’ll get.

It's expensive and risky but entirely achievable, so happy (and safe) toking!