Guides
Practical guides for buying and using medicine in Japan — written for international residents and visitors.
Japanese Drugstore Chains: A Guide for Visitors
What to expect at Matsukiyo, Welcia, Sugi, Sun Drug, Daikoku, and Tomod's — the major chains you'll find across Japan.
Claritin in Japan: Available OTC — Same Loratadine, No Prescription Needed
Claritin EX is Japan's version of Claritin — same loratadine 10 mg, once daily. Available at most drugstores and on Amazon Japan.
Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) in Japan: It's There — You Just Need to Know Where to Look
Can't find Panadol, Tylenol, or DayQuil? The active ingredient is already in many Japanese medicines — hiding under a name you might not recognize.
Ibuprofen in Japan: OTC Medicines That Contain It
Advil and Nurofen are not sold at Japanese drugstores — but ibuprofen is. Here's where to find it.
Codeine in Japanese Cold Medicine: What You Need to Know
Many common Japanese OTC cold medicines contain dihydrocodeine — most people don't realize it.
How to Read the Back of a Japanese Medicine Box
Drug classes, expiry dates, ingredients, and warnings — explained in plain English.
Japan Has a Medicine Class System. What Nobody Tells You When You Move to Japan.
Once you know how it works, buying medicine in Japan gets a lot easier.
Yeast/Thrush Medication Check Sheet
膣カンジダ再発セルフチェックシート — Show this to the pharmacist or print it to bring to the store
That Sign at the Pharmacy Counter
What 指定濫用防止医薬品 Means for You as a Buyer