🏥Health & Medical

What You Can Buy at a Pharmacy or Drugstore

Understand what kinds of over-the-counter medicine you can buy in Japan and how this differs from prescription medicine.

At pharmacies and drugstores in Japan, you can buy many cold medicines, pain relievers, stomach medicines, and other products without a prescription. The challenge for many newcomers is that the product names are different from what they are used to in the US.

The difference between a pharmacy and a drugstore

Pharmacy:

Has a licensed pharmacist on site
Can fill prescriptions
Also sells over-the-counter medicine

Drugstore:

Sells over-the-counter medicine, toiletries, and everyday goods
Some medicines may only be available when a pharmacist is present

Over-the-counter medicine you can usually buy

Cold and fever:

Multi-symptom cold medicine such as Pabron or Lulu
Pain and fever medicine such as Bufferin or store versions of Loxonin S
Throat medicine and lozenges such as Ryukakusan products

Stomach and digestion:

Acid reducers such as store versions of Gaster 10
Stomach medicine for indigestion such as Ohta Isan
Probiotics such as Biofermin

Allergy and hay fever:

OTC versions of Allegra or Claritin-type medicines
Eye drops such as Alguard

Topical medicine:

Ointments and wound products such as Oronine or hydrocolloid bandages
Insect-bite medicine such as Muhi or Kinkan

Buying tips

Most packages are only in Japanese. If you explain your symptoms to the pharmacist, they can usually guide you to the right product. Using a translation app while asking questions is also common.

Prescription medicine

If a doctor gives you a prescription, take it to a dispensing pharmacy. These are often located near clinics and hospitals. If you show your insurance card, prescription medicine is usually also covered at the normal co-payment rate.

Medicine brought from the US