Japanese Pharmacies for Tourists: What You Can & Can't Buy

Finding a Pharmacy in Japan

Pharmacies everywhere:

• Drug stores: Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Tsuruha Drugstore, Sugi Pharmacy
• Convenience stores: FamilyMart, Lawson, 7-Eleven (limited selection)
• Hospital pharmacies: If you see a doctor
• Chain drugstores: Every shopping district

Hours: Usually 10 AM–8 PM (some 24-hour)

Availability: Easy to find. Use Google Maps "pharmacy" or "yakkyoku" (薬局).

What You CAN Buy Without Prescription

Pain Relief & Fever

Available over the counter:

• Ibuprofen (¥500–1,500 for 10 tablets)
• Acetaminophen (¥400–1,200)
• Naproxen (some brands available)
• Japanese brands: Loxonin, Bufferin (recognize the names)

Typical prices:

• Generic ibuprofen: ¥500 (cheap!)
• Name brand: ¥1,000–1,500
• Less than 1/3 price of USA

Cold & Flu Medicine

Available:

• Decongestants (pseudoephedrine, some brands)
• Antihistamines (for allergies, cold)
• Cough syrups (dextromethorphan-based)
• Multi-symptom cold meds (Japanese brands, work well)

Pro brands:

• Contac: Works well, ¥1,200
• Robitussin: Available in Japan
• Japanese brands: Often better and cheaper

Typical price: ¥1,000–2,000 for full course

Stomach & Digestive

Available:

• Antacids (calcium carbonate, aluminum)
• Anti-diarrhea (loperamide / Imodium equivalent)
• Constipation aids (stool softeners)
• Nausea medicine

Brands:

• Tums-equivalent (¥400–800)
• Imodium-equivalent (¥800–1,500)
• Japanese brands often better

Eye & Ear

Available:

• Eye drops (for dry eyes, allergies)
• Allergy eye drops
• Antibiotic eye ointment
• Ear drops

Typical price: ¥800–1,500 per product

Skin Care & Topicals

Available:

• Antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin)
• Anti-itch cream (hydrocortisone)
• Antifungal creams (for athlete's foot, jock itch)
• Burn cream
• Lip balm & moisturizers

Important: Some topical steroids stronger than your home country.

Allergy Medication

Available:

• Antihistamines (cetirizine, loratadine)
• Allergy nasal sprays
• Allergy eye drops
• Oral allergy tablets

Good news: Many are 1/2 the cost of USA

Example: Allegra equivalent (¥600) vs. USA ($15+)

Vitamins & Supplements

Available:

• Multivitamins (Japanese brands are good)
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• B-complex vitamins
• Herbal supplements

Limited: Some Western supplements not available. Bring if essential.

Feminine Products & Birth Control

Available:

• Pads & tampons (limited selection; buy at drugstore)
• Over-the-counter yeast infection treatments (limited)
• Emergency contraception (prescription required)

Heads-up: Tampon selection limited. Pads widely available.

What You CANNOT Buy Without Prescription

Antibiotics

Require prescription:

• Penicillins
• Cephalosporins
• Fluoroquinolones
• Tetracyclines
• Macrolides
• Any antibiotic

You must: See a doctor for any infection

Strong Pain Relief

Require prescription:

• Opioids (codeine, morphine)
• Prescription-strength NSAIDs
• Muscle relaxants
• Tramadol

Available OTC:

• Ibuprofen (up to standard dose)
• Acetaminophen

Allergy Medications (Prescription Strength)

Require prescription:

• Certain antihistamines (prescription formulations)
• Some nasal steroids
• Prescription asthma inhalers

Available OTC:

• Standard antihistamines (cetirizine, loratadine)
• Basic nasal sprays

Hormonal Medications

Require prescription:

• Birth control pills (no OTC hormonal contraception)
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Thyroid medications
• Diabetes medications

Psychiatric Medications

Require prescription:

• Antidepressants
• Anti-anxiety medications
• Sleep aids (most)
• Mood stabilizers

Specific Controlled Substances

Very restricted in Japan:

• Pseudoephedrine (limited to one package per person)
• Some antihistamines (older formulations)
• Codeine (in any form)

Language at the Pharmacy

Key Phrases

"I have a headache" — 頭痛があります (Atama ga itai desu)

"I need cold medicine" — 風邪薬が欲しいです (Kaze-gusuri ga hoshii desu)

"What do you recommend?" — 何をお勧めしますか？ (Nani wo osusume shimasu ka?)

"Is this available?" — これは利用可能ですか？ (Kore wa riyō kanou desu ka?)

"How much does this cost?" — これはいくらですか？ (Kore wa ikura desu ka?)

Better Option: Google Translate

1. Type medication name in Translate
2. Show Japanese translation to pharmacist
3. They'll nod and find it
4. Problem solved

Example: Type "ibuprofen" → Japanese → show to pharmacist

Pricing Comparisons

How Cheap is Japan Medicine?

Medication  ·  Japan Price  ·  USA Price  ·  Savings

Ibuprofen (10 tablets)  ·  ¥500  ·  $6–8  ·  50%+

Acetaminophen  ·  ¥400  ·  $5–7  ·  60%

Allergy tablets  ·  ¥1,000  ·  $15–20  ·  50%

Cold medicine  ·  ¥1,200  ·  $20  ·  40%

Eye drops  ·  ¥800  ·  $12–15  ·  50%

Japan is cheap for OTC meds. Stock up if heading elsewhere.

Specific Scenarios

Scenario 1: You Have a Headache

What to do:

1. Go to drugstore
2. Show store staff finger to forehead (universal headache gesture)
3. Say or show "headache" on Google Translate
4. They give you ibuprofen or acetaminophen
5. Pay ¥500–800
6. Take with food/water
7. Headache gone in 30 minutes

Scenario 2: You Have a Sore Throat

What to do:

1. Throat lozenges available at pharmacies (¥800)
2. Or: Throat spray (¥800–1,200)
3. Or: See doctor if severe (cost ¥3,000–5,000)

Don't expect: Antibiotic throat spray (requires doctor here)

Scenario 3: You Have Diarrhea

What to do:

1. Buy Imodium-equivalent (¥800–1,500) at drugstore
2. Or: Take over-the-counter bismuth subsalicylate (available)
3. Follow package directions
4. Usually resolves in 24 hours

When to worry: If blood in stool, severe pain, high fever → see doctor

Scenario 4: You Have Allergies

What to do:

1. Buy antihistamine (¥1,000–1,500) at drugstore
2. Available OTC without issues
3. Allegra-equivalent, Claritin-equivalent, etc.
4. Some nasal sprays available too

Pro tip: Buy allergy medicine for entire trip upfront (cheaper than need)

Scenario 5: You Need an Antibiotic

What to do:

1. See a doctor (not pharmacy)
2. Go to clinic (shinryojo) or hospital (byouin)
3. Doctor writes prescription
4. Take prescription to pharmacy
5. Pick up antibiotic
6. Follow doctor's instructions

Cost: Doctor visit ¥2,000–5,000 + medication ¥1,000–3,000

Doctor Visits vs. Pharmacy

When to See a Doctor

Go to doctor if:

• Suspected infection (bacterial, viral)
• Severe pain
• Fever lasting 2+ days
• Prescription needed
• Unsure what's wrong
• Symptoms worsen

Doctor visit cost: ¥2,000–5,000

Where: Walk-in clinics (shinryojo) or hospital (byouin)

When to Use Pharmacy Only

Pharmacy sufficient if:

• Mild headache (OTC pain reliever)
• Minor cold (OTC cold med)
• Minor allergy (OTC antihistamine)
• Minor stomach issue (OTC antacid)
• Known condition, need refill

Pharmacy Chains & Locations

Major Chains

Matsumoto Kiyoshi (Best selection)

• 600+ stores nationwide
• Good English signage
• Prices reasonable
• Hours: Usually 10 AM–9 PM

Tsuruha Drugstore (Good selection)

• 1000+ stores
• Wide variety
• Decent prices
• Open late usually

Sugi Pharmacy (Everywhere)

• Very common
• Smaller selection sometimes
• Reasonable prices
• Open standard hours

Kokumin Drugstore (Cheap)

• Lower prices
• Decent selection
• Good hours
• Fewer stores

Inside Convenience Stores

• 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson have basic pharmacy items
• Limited selection
• Same brands as drugstores
• 24-hour availability
• Slightly higher prices

What to Bring From Home

Definitely Bring

• Prescription medications (in original bottles)
• Medications you rely on (specific brands you prefer)
• Allergy medications (if seasonal)
• Any psychiatric medications

Probably Available, But Can Bring

• Vitamins (available in Japan, cheaper often)
• Pain relievers (cheaper in Japan, leave behind)
• Cold medicine (cheaper in Japan)

Don't Bother Bringing

• Common OTC meds (cheaper in Japan)
• Anti-diarrhea (available Japan)
• Antacids (available Japan)
• Basic allergy meds (available Japan)

Airport Pharmacy

Available at:

• Haneda: Multiple pharmacy booths
• Narita: Pharmacy areas
• Open early/late for travelers

Use airport pharmacy for:

• If you realize you forgot medicine
• Need immediate headache relief
• Don't want to search later

Cost: 20–30% higher than city pharmacies

Final Tips

Pro Tips

1. Store medications in original bottles (shows ingredient list)
2. Know medication names in English and generic form
3. Keep photos of medications (show to pharmacist)
4. Bring prescription copies (if you have prescriptions)
5. Buy cheaply in Japan (OTC meds are 40–50% cheaper)

Emergency

• Serious illness: Go to hospital (byouin)
• Life-threatening: Call 119 (ambulance)
• Mild issues: Pharmacy is fine

Bottom Line

Japan's pharmacies are excellent, cheap, and accessible.

OTC medications are abundant and cheaper than most countries. Pharmacists are professional and helpful. Google Translate solves language barriers.

Just remember: Antibiotics require a doctor. Everything else? Pharmacy has you covered.

Come prepared with prescriptions, leave with a lighter wallet. Japan pharmacy win.