Medicine without a prescription in Japan

Your usual prescription can't be bought here, but a lot of it exists over the counter under a different name. Find the generic name you already know, then look for the Japanese box.

Where to buy

Look for the kanji 薬 (kusuri, medicine) on the sign. A ドラッグストア (drugstore) sells everyday medicine and cosmetics; a 薬局 (pharmacy) always has a pharmacist and can also fill prescriptions. Big chains: マツモトキヨシ, ウエルシア, サンドラッグ, ココカラファイン.

Why some medicine is behind the counter

Class 1 (第1類): only a pharmacist may sell it, so it disappears when the pharmacist goes home — often unavailable late at night.
Class 2 and 3 (第2類・第3類): you can pick these off the shelf yourself.

Before you buy

Tell the staff your allergies and any medicine you already take. Show your medical card or the box from home.
Read the ingredient, not the brand. Japanese brands sell several different drugs under one name.
Don't combine two products with the same ingredient — overdose is the most common traveler mistake.
Pregnant, breastfeeding, or buying for a child? Say so first: 妊娠しています / 子ども用をください.

Find what you need

Pain & fever

Fever, headache — the gentlest option, and the safer choice with flu
Ingredient: Acetaminophen / Paracetamol
Look for: タイレノールA
Self-service shelf
If you have a high fever and might have flu, this is preferred over ibuprofen-type drugs.
Show this at the counter
アセトアミノフェンの解熱鎮痛薬はありますか？
Headache, period pain, sore throat, general aches
Ingredient: Ibuprofen
Look for: イブA錠 / イブクイック
Self-service shelf
Show this at the counter
イブプロフェンの痛み止めはありますか？
Stronger pain relief (common in Japan, rare abroad)
Ingredient: Loxoprofen
Look for: ロキソニンS
Pharmacist required
Class 1: a pharmacist must be on duty to sell it, so it may be unavailable late at night.
Show this at the counter
ロキソプロフェンの痛み止めはありますか？
Aspirin
Ingredient: Aspirin
Look for: バファリンA
Self-service shelf
Brand-name trap: バファリンA is aspirin, but バファリンプレミアム is ibuprofen + acetaminophen. Read the ingredients, not the brand. Never give aspirin to a child.
Show this at the counter
アスピリンの痛み止めはありますか？

Stomach & gut

Heartburn, acid reflux, too much stomach acid
Ingredient: Famotidine
Look for: ガスター10
Pharmacist required
Class 1: pharmacist required, so it may be unavailable at night.
Show this at the counter
ファモチジンの胃薬はありますか？
Indigestion, bloating, ate too much
Ingredient: Digestive enzymes / herbal stomach powder
Look for: 太田胃散
Self-service shelf
Show this at the counter
胃もたれに効く胃薬はありますか？
Diarrhoea (sudden, need it to stop)
Ingredient: Anti-diarrhoeal
Look for: ストッパ下痢止め / 正露丸
Self-service shelf
If you have a high fever or blood in the stool, do NOT just stop the diarrhoea — see a doctor.
Show this at the counter
下痢止めはありますか？熱はありません。
Unsettled stomach, want to settle the gut gently
Ingredient: Probiotics (lactic acid bacteria)
Look for: ビオフェルミン
Self-service shelf
Show this at the counter
整腸剤はありますか？

Allergy & cold

Hay fever, runny nose, itchy eyes — without drowsiness
Ingredient: Fexofenadine
Look for: アレグラFX
Self-service shelf
Same active ingredient and dose as the prescription version. Loratadine (クラリチンEX) is another non-drowsy option.
Show this at the counter
フェキソフェナジンのアレルギー薬はありますか？
Cold: runny nose, sore throat and cough together
Ingredient: Combination cold remedy
Look for: パブロン / ルル
Self-service shelf
Japanese combination cold medicines often contain codeine. That is fine to buy and use here, but do NOT carry leftovers home — codeine is restricted or banned in some countries.
Show this at the counter
かぜの薬はありますか？のどと鼻の症状があります。
Insect bites, itchy rash
Ingredient: Antihistamine / steroid cream
Look for: ムヒ / キンカン
Self-service shelf
Show this at the counter
虫刺されのかゆみ止めはありますか？
Motion sickness (buses, boats, mountain roads)
Ingredient: Motion sickness tablets
Look for: アネロン / トラベルミン
Self-service shelf
Show this at the counter
乗り物酔いの薬はありますか？

Not enough? Find the right clinic

Information verified: 2026-07-31

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