Your hotel room is sweltering, jet lag has you wide awake at 3am, and that street food isn’t sitting well.
A Japanese pharmacy (open until late and two blocks away) has solutions for all three problems.
For just ¥1,000, you’re sorted.
Japanese pharmacies solve three things fast.
Minor health issues, seasonal comfort, and practical souvenirs at local prices.
With over 22,000 locations nationwide, these shops solve travel problems you didn’t know you’d have.
They provide solutions for motion sickness on bullet trains.
They also have cooling patches for the summer heat in Kyoto.
Plus, they offer beauty products that your friends can’t find at home.
Understanding how these pharmacies work can improve your visit.
You might need mosquito repellent for summer festivals or authentic Japanese skincare.
Understanding the Two Types
Yakkyoku (調剤薬局): Prescription Pharmacies
Look for: The kanji 調剤 (chōzai) or 薬局 (yakkyoku) on signs, typically near hospitals and clinics.
What they do: Fill prescriptions from doctors and provide pharmaceutical consultations.
Pharmacists here are trained medical experts.
They can help with dosages and warn about possible drug interactions.
Critical detail: Prescriptions are valid for 4 calendar days including the date of issue.
After that, you’ll need to see the doctor again for a new prescription.
Bring: Your health insurance card, ID, and prescription.
If you have one, bring your okusuri techo (お薬手帳), a small booklet where pharmacists record your prescription history.
Pharmacies provide these free if you don’t have one.
Most accept cards and IC cards, but small clinics near hospitals may prefer cash.
Carry some yen.
Hours: Usually weekdays 9:00 to 18:00, limited weekends; hours vary by clinic location.
Drugstores (ドラッグストア)
Type: Retailers selling non-prescription items.
Many have a licensed pharmacist on duty during set hours.
Look for: Bright signs with “Drug” or “ドラッグ” in katakana, colourful storefronts, and window displays of cosmetics.
What they sell: Painkillers, shampoo, snacks, skincare, health supplements, and even alcoholic beverages.
Essentially a hybrid between a pharmacy and convenience shop.
No prescription needed: Perfect for travellers’ immediate needs.
Many larger chains also have prescription counters that operate during limited hours (typically until 6pm).
Hours: Often open late; some 24 hours.
Pharmacist counters may close earlier.
Major Chains and What Makes Them Special
Matsumoto Kiyoshi: Those canary-yellow signs dominate tourist areas for good reason.
Founded over 90 years ago, they’re Japan’s largest drugstore chain with branches in every major city.
Many staff speak basic English, and they’re your best bet for tax-free shopping with helpful service.
Some locations stay open until 10pm.
Welcia: Focuses on pharmaceutical expertise with qualified pharmacists always available during business hours.
Excellent if you need advice about symptoms or which over the counter medicine to choose.
Their pharmacists take time to ensure you get the right product.
Don Quijote: A discount megastore chain known for chaotic, towering shelves and blaring announcements.
Many locations are open 24 hours and offer pharmacy items too.
However, full pharmacy counters might have limited hours.
Great for travel essentials at competitive prices.
Sun Drug: Over 1,200 stores nationwide offering beauty consultations from trained advisors, registered dietitians for supplement guidance, and discount coupons of up to 17% off.
Strong for cosmetics advice and specialised skincare recommendations.
Cocokara Fine: “Service comes first” is their motto, with around 1,300 domestic stores.
Staff receive extensive product training and can provide detailed guidance.
Many locations in major cities stay open late into the evening, a lifesaver when you need something after dinner.
Services That Save You Money
Pharmaceutical Consultations
Drugstore pharmacists provide free consultations about symptoms and over the counter remedies.
Approach the pharmacy counter (often marked 薬剤師 or yakuzaishi) and describe your symptoms.
They’ll recommend appropriate products and explain dosages.
This service can save you a costly doctor’s visit for minor ailments.
At prescription pharmacies (yakkyoku), pharmacists spend significant time counselling you about your medications.
They’ll explain when to take each medicine, potential side effects, and what to avoid.
This thorough consultation is included in your pharmacy fee.
Beauty Advisor Services
Larger drugstores like Sun Drug offer complimentary beauty consultations.
Trained advisors can suggest products for your skin issues.
They can show you how to apply them and guide you through Japan’s wide range of skincare choices.
Some stores have skin analysers that assess moisture levels and recommend targeted products.
Generic Medicine Options
When filling prescriptions, pharmacists will ask if you’d like generic alternatives (後発品, kohatsu-hin) to brand-name drugs (先発品, senpatsu-hin).
Generics contain identical active ingredients but cost significantly less.
If you’re paying out of pocket, this can reduce your medication costs by 30% to 50%.
Essential Travel Health Items
Immediate Relief Medicines
If pregnant, breastfeeding, on blood thinners, or with chronic conditions, ask the pharmacist first.
Bring your medicine notebook if you have one.
Motion sickness: Look for 乗り物酔い (norimono-yoi) on packages.
Popular brands include Aneron and Traval-1 (¥600 to ¥1,000), formulated to work on trains, boats, and buses without causing excessive drowsiness.
Painkillers: Bufferin and Loxonin S (¥700 to ¥1,500) handle headaches from jet lag or long walking days. Loxonin S (loxoprofen) is a common option for pain and fever.
Follow the box dosage and ask the pharmacist if you use other pain medicines.
Stomach troubles: Seirogan’s distinctive black herbal pills (¥800 to ¥1,200) used for diarrhoea and stomach upset.
The herbal scent is strong.
Alternative options include Biofermin for rebalancing intestinal flora and Stoppa for acute diarrhoea.
Cold symptoms: Pabron Gold A (¥1,000 to ¥1,500) combines multiple ingredients to treat several symptoms simultaneously: congestion, fever, body aches.
For sore throats, Ryukakusan throat lozenges are a top choice.
Tourists often buy them in bulk.
Seasonal and Climate Helpers
Summer essentials: Mosquito repellent patches and sprays (¥300 to ¥800) come in varieties safe for children.
Muhi ointment is the beloved instant-relief treatment for bites.
Cooling gel sheets for hot days (¥200 to ¥500) stick to your forehead and provide blessed relief from humidity.
Electrolyte drinks like Pocari Sweat help you stay hydrated.
Winter warmers: Kairo heat patches (¥100 to ¥500 per pack) provide hours of gentle heat for cold weather.
Body patches stick discreetly to clothes, foot warmers slip into shoes, and hand warmers activate when squeezed.
Perfect for temple visits on chilly days.
Allergy relief: Allegra FX (¥1,500 to ¥2,000) helps with pollen during cherry blossom season or general environmental allergies.
A common non-drowsy option sold without a prescription in Japan.
Eye care: Santen PC eye drops (¥500 to ¥800) refresh tired eyes from air conditioning, screen time, or dry air.
Japanese eye drops are famous for their intense cooling sensation and come in various strengths.
Beauty and Personal Care Highlights
Japanese pharmacies excel at practical beauty solutions that actually work.
Sunscreens are well known for light textures that layer cleanly under makeup (¥1,000 to ¥3,000).
Look for brands like Skin Aqua, Bioré, and Anessa.
Skincare basics centre on gentle, effective products.
These products include:
- Hyaluronic acid lotions for dry skin.
- Quality cleansing oils that remove makeup without drying the skin.
- Sheet masks (¥100 to ¥300 each) for self-care in hotel rooms after a busy day of sightseeing.
Practical toiletries often come in travel sizes with innovative features.
- Compressed towels that expand in water
- Cleansing cloths
- Gentle formulas ideal for sensitive skin
Even simple items like cotton pads are thoughtfully designed with multiple layers for different uses.
Tax-Free Shopping Benefits
Short-term visitor status is required for tax-free purchases.
Current system (until November 2026): Spend over ¥5,000 in one transaction at participating stores.
Show your passport with short-term visitor status for automatic tax exemption.
The 10% discount applies immediately at checkout.
Important thresholds:
- General items (electronics, clothing, cosmetics sold as general goods): minimum ¥5,000
- Consumables (food, drinks, medicine, cosmetics sold as consumables): ¥5,000 to ¥500,000
What you need: Passport showing you entered Japan within the past six months with tourist status.
Some stores now accept Visit Japan Web QR codes for faster processing.
The catch: Tax-free items for consumables get sealed in special bags.
Consumables must remain sealed until you leave Japan; opening voids the exemption.
Coming changes: From November 2026, Japan will switch to a refund system.
You’ll pay full price including tax, then claim refunds at the airport before departure.
The new system will remove spending limits and simplify the process.
Navigating Language Barriers and Etiquette
Getting Help
Approach staff with a slight bow and “Sumimasen” (excuse me).
Many chain stores in tourist areas have basic English speakers, but bringing a translation app helps enormously.
Google Translate’s camera function works brilliantly for reading labels.
Point to your symptoms or affected body part if explaining is difficult.
Most staff are patient and will try to help, even through gestures and pictures.
Pharmacists can be resourceful at understanding what you need.
Useful Phrases and Signs
- “Kusuri wa arimasu ka?” (Do you have medicine?)
- “Kore wo misete kudasai” (Please show me this) whilst pointing
- 痛み (itami) = pain
- 風邪 (kaze) = cold
- お腹 (onaka) = stomach
- 頭 (atama) = head
- 熱 (netsu) = fever
- のど (nodo) = throat
On boxes you may see: 喉 = throat, 目薬 = eye drops, 冷却シート = cooling gel sheet, 乗り物酔い = motion sickness.
Shopping Etiquette
Browse quietly and don’t open packages to examine products.
If you need to see something behind the counter, point and say “kore wo misete kudasai” (please show me this).
Don’t eat or drink whilst shopping.
If you need to try testers (cosmetics, lotions), use the provided samples rather than opening sealed products.
Pharmacists take their role seriously.
When receiving advice or prescriptions, listen attentively and ask questions.
They’re there to ensure you understand exactly how to use your medication safely.
Smart Souvenir Strategy
Focus on items friends actually use.
Japanese eye drops for digital eye strain, traditional herbal medicines (kampo), cool and warm patches, and high-quality sheet masks.
These make thoughtful, practical gifts that showcase Japanese innovation.
Beauty products are perennial favourites.
Japanese sunscreens, cleansing oils, and sheet masks offer quality at drugstore prices.
Hada Labo lotions, Melano CC serums, and Canmake cosmetics are popular options.
Health supplements like collagen drinks, enzyme pills, and eye health vitamins with lutein and blueberry extract are popular with Asian visitors.
They are still new to many Western friends.
Medicinal products like Seirogan for digestion, Salonpas patches for pain, or kairo heat packs are unique gifts.
They’re useful and memorable for everyone.
If You Only Remember This
- Pain: Loxonin S or Bufferin
- Stomach: Seirogan or Biofermin
- Motion sickness: Aneron or Traval-1
- Summer: cooling gel sheets, Muhi roll on, electrolyte drinks
- Winter: kairo heat packs
- Ask the pharmacist if you take regular meds
Making the Most of Your Secret Weapon
Japanese pharmacies make travel easier.
Fast advice, fair prices, and useful souvenirs.
Pop into a nearby branch, ask the pharmacist, and leave with exactly what you need.
