Health

How to buy medicine at a pharmacy or drugstore in Japan

Explain your symptoms, choose the right pharmacy counter and use over-the-counter medicine safely.

Last updated: August 19, 2026

10-second answer

What to do right now

Ask a pharmacist or registered salesperson instead of choosing by the package picture. Show your symptoms, allergies and every medicine or supplement you already use.

1Choose the right place
2Tell staff the information that changes what is safe
3Check the active ingredients and instructions

Show the Japanese phrase Open official help

Detailed steps

Follow these steps

Choose the right place

A drugstore may sell over-the-counter medicine. A prescription from a Japanese clinic is filled at a dispensing pharmacy; prescription medicines are not ordinary shelf products.

Tell staff the information that changes what is safe

Give the symptom, when it started, age, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, allergies, medical conditions and all current medicines and supplements.

Check the active ingredients and instructions

Follow the Japanese package insert and staff explanation. Do not combine products with overlapping ingredients, and seek medical care if symptoms are severe, worsening or not improving.

Useful Japanese phrase

I would like to speak with a pharmacist.

薬剤師さんに相談したいです。

Yakuzaishi-san ni sōdan shitai desu.

Ask qualified staff—do not choose from the picture alone

Japanese products may use different brand names and combinations. Show your symptoms, age, allergies and current medicines before buying.

Choose the right counter

Drugstore, pharmacy or clinic?

Drugstore

For non-prescription OTC medicine and everyday health products. A pharmacist or registered salesperson handles medicine sales, depending on the product class.

Dispensing pharmacy

Look for 処方せん受付 when you have a prescription from a Japanese clinic or hospital. Medicine is normally paid for separately from the medical visit.

Clinic or hospital

Use medical care for severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, serious injury, persistent or worsening illness, or when staff say self-treatment is unsuitable.

Ask by symptom, not by brand

What travelers commonly ask about

Headache or feverTell staff your temperature, when symptoms began and any pain medicines already taken. Cold, cough or sore throatSay which symptom is strongest. Multi-symptom products can contain overlapping ingredients. Stomach or bowel symptomsExplain pain location, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and how long it has continued. Allergy symptomsExplain whether symptoms affect the nose, eyes, skin or breathing. Breathing difficulty needs urgent medical assessment.

Information staff need

Show this checklist before choosing a medicine

Symptoms: what hurts, how severe it is and when it started
Age: and a child’s approximate weight when relevant
Pregnancy or breastfeeding: some medicines may be unsuitable
Medical conditions: including asthma, high blood pressure, glaucoma, kidney, liver or stomach problems
Allergies and previous reactions: to medicines, foods or other substances
Everything already taken: prescriptions, OTC medicines, vitamins and supplements; show photos of labels or active ingredients

Japan’s OTC sales system

Why staff may stop you and ask questions

Guidance-required medicine

A pharmacist must provide face-to-face information before sale.

Class 1 OTC

A pharmacist must provide the required information.

Class 2 or Class 3 OTC

A pharmacist or registered salesperson can sell these products under the applicable rules.

Designated abuse-prevention medicine

From May 1, 2026, staff may verify age, intended use and recent purchases and may limit the quantity sold.

Before taking anything

Read the package insert and follow the dose, interval, age limit, warnings and storage instructions.
Do not combine cold, cough, allergy or pain products until staff confirm that active ingredients do not overlap.
Ask about alcohol, driving and drowsiness warnings.
Stop using the medicine and seek medical advice if you develop a reaction, symptoms worsen or the expected improvement does not occur.

At the counter

Questions are part of the safety check—not a refusal

Why do they ask your age?

Age can change the permitted product or dose. Under the May 1, 2026 rules, designated abuse-prevention medicines also require additional checks and quantity controls, particularly for younger purchasers.

Why do they ask what else you bought?

Products containing designated ingredients such as codeine, pseudoephedrine or ephedrine can trigger questions about recent purchases, intended use and the requested amount.

Why can the shelf be open but the medicine unavailable?

Some products require a pharmacist or registered salesperson. Store opening hours do not guarantee that the qualified person required for that product is currently available.

PHARMACY FAQ

What travelers should confirm before taking a product

Can I buy the same brand I use at home?

Do not rely on the brand name or package color. A Japanese product can contain different active ingredients, combinations or strengths. Show the generic ingredient list, dose and a photo of your current product to qualified staff.

Can I buy prescription medicine without seeing a doctor?

Ordinary OTC products are sold without a prescription, but prescription medicine is not an ordinary shelf purchase. A prescription from a Japanese medical institution is normally filled at a dispensing pharmacy.

Can I give my medicine to a child or another traveler?

Do not share it automatically. Age, weight, medical conditions, allergies and other medicines can change what is safe. PMDA advises checking child age limits and asking a pharmacist when choosing a child’s medicine.

What if the symptoms do not improve?

Read the package insert for the stated use period. PMDA advises stopping and seeking medical care when there is an abnormal reaction, inadequate effect or worsening symptoms; urgent symptoms require emergency help.

Useful Japanese

Show these phrases to staff

この症状に使える市販薬はありますか？Kono shōjō ni tsukaeru shihanyaku wa arimasu ka?

Is there an over-the-counter medicine for these symptoms?

この薬と一緒に飲んでも大丈夫ですか？Kono kusuri to issho ni nondemo daijōbu desu ka?

Is it safe to take this with my current medicine?

薬のアレルギーがあります。Kusuri no arerugī ga arimasu.

I have a medicine allergy.

妊娠中です。／授乳中です。Ninshin-chū desu. / Junyū-chū desu.

I am pregnant. / I am breastfeeding.

Checked against Ministry of Health, PMDA and JNTO official guidance on September 19, 2026, including the medicine-sales rules effective May 1, 2026. This guide does not diagnose symptoms or recommend a specific product; ask qualified staff and use medical care when needed.

Useful links

Use official medicine guidance and ask qualified staff

Official resources come first. Links open in a new tab.

Official medicine rules How OTC medicines are sold in Japan The Ministry of Health explains guidance-required medicines, Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 OTC products and the sales rules effective May 1, 2026. Read the official rules → Official safety advice Use non-prescription medicine safely PMDA explains what to tell a pharmacist, why package inserts matter and when to stop self-treatment and seek medical care. Read the medicine advice → Official visitor medical guide Find medical care when a drugstore is not enough JNTO explains clinics, hospitals, prescriptions, pharmacies, payment and multilingual medical support for foreign visitors. Open the medical guide → Multilingual medical tools Show symptoms and medical information clearly The Ministry of Health provides multilingual forms and symptom materials that can help communicate at medical institutions. Open multilingual tools →