Pills, Here!💊: A Guide to Drugstores in Japan

Unless you’ve lived in Japan long-term before, it’s safe to say that browsing through the drug store here, in Japan, is no walk in the park. Actually, despite everyone probably having their drugstore go-tos back home, it’s still low-key kind of intimidating to sort through all the brands and different medicinal ingredients in any drugstore－at home, or abroad.

Hopefully, with this guide, you can get a bit of a baseline for what to expect when you walk through the drugstore along with some common household favorites.

NOTE: This guide is in no way professional medical advice. Please seek the advice of a professional (a doctor or pharmacist) in all cases but especially if you:

are currently on prescribed medication and/or are undergoing medical treatment
have allergies
are pregnant or breastfeeding
are elderly or under 15 years old

On that note, let’s get into it!

Consulting a Professional 🥼

Here are some questions and phrases you can use when talking to a doctor or a pharmacist:

〇〇薬をください。
〇〇 kusuri o kudasai.
I would like some 〇〇 medicine.

何日分になりますか。
Nan’nichibun ni narimasu ka.
How many days’ worth is this?

ここが痛いです。
Koko ga itai desu.
I have pain here.

熱があります。
Netsu ga arimasu.
I have a fever.

風邪を引きました。
Kaze o hikimashita.
I have a cold.

咳が出ます。
Seki ga demasu.
I have a cough.

喉が痛いです。
Nodo ga itai desu.
My throat hurts.

腹痛がします。
Fukutsū ga shimasu.
I have a stomachache.

アレルギーがあります。
Arerugī ga arimasu.
I have allergies.

おすすめはありますか。
Osusume wa arimasu ka.
Do you have any recommendations?

副作用はありますか。
Fukusayō wa arimasu ka?
Are there any side effects?

眠気を起こさない薬はありますか？
Nemuke o okosanai kusuri wa arimasu ka?
Is there any non-drowsy medication?

**Remember, it’s important to take into consideration if it’s safe to drive when taking certain medications!

Need to go to the doctor’s office or the hospital?

Helpful guides:

Clinics/hospitals with English-speaking services (from EPIC):

Looking for more English-speaking doctors in Ehime/near you? Search here or here!

When you go to a clinic, you have to fill out a questionnaire. Here’s the English version of questionnaires for a variety of clinic types/medical departments: https://kifjp.org/medical/english

Check the Label: Drug Classifications

On medication packaging, you’ll see this: 第○類医薬品

This indicates the drug’s “class”. Drugs are rated from 1-3 based on side effects & strength.

Class 1 ・第1類医薬品 (dai-ichi-rui): strong with various side effects. You need to get these directly from a pharmacistー they are required to explain the side effects and dosage.

Class 2・第2類医薬品 (dai-ni-rui iyakuhin): not as strong as class 1, but side effects can still affect your day-to-day. These are stocked on shelves but only where a pharmacist is present to consult with you. *** Designated Class 2 Drugs 指定第2類医薬品 (shitei dai ni-rui iyakuhin) is a special classification. These drugs are advised not to be taken… 🙅by pregnant women, 🙅children or 🙅with other medications.

Class 3 Drugs・第3類医薬品 (dai-san-rui iyakuhin): low-risk, mild side effects (if any) and available at any drug store, over the counter, no consultation with the pharmacist necessary.

i-yakubu gaihin (医薬部外品) or shitei i-yakubu gaihin (指定医薬部外品) = “quasi-drugs” or “supplements” such as vitamins, probiotics, cough drops, etc. available at drug stores, supermarkets and convenience stores.

*Information from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (view the entire pdf here)

Medication 💊

カプセル・kapuseru
capsule

錠劑・jōzai
pill

粉薬・konagusuri
powder medicine

ローション・rōshon
lotion

クリーム・kurīmu
cream

Check here for a list of various ailment & body part vocabulary words in Japanese.

Click the images to be linked to the Amazon listings of each medication. There, you’ll find active ingredients & their effects so you can compare accordingly.

Cold & Flu