7 Types of Japanese Medicine To Know When Living In Japan

You can stop by any Japanese drugstore for over-the-counter medicine, whether you have headaches, sore throats, fevers, or allergies. 

But with so many types of Japanese medicine, which one do you choose?

Here, we discuss the most common and popular Japanese medicine that you can buy to stay healthy in Japan.

Pro tip: Not sure exactly what to grab when your throat hurts? Start with a throat spray or lozenge for quick relief. Move to tablets if the pain lasts more than a day.

Types of Japanese medicine: how they're classified

Japan sorts medicine into risk tiers, not just symptom categories. Knowing these tiers helps you understand why some drugs sit behind the counter.

The main tiers, from most to least restricted:

• 要指導医薬品 (Instruction-required medicine): brand-new OTC drugs. A pharmacist must explain these to you in person before you buy.

• 第1類医薬品 (Class 1): higher-risk OTC drugs. Only a pharmacist can sell these to you.

• 第2類医薬品 (Class 2): most cold medicine and pain relievers fall here. A pharmacist or registered seller can help you.

• 指定第2類医薬品 (Designated Class 2): a stricter subset of Class 2. Stores must shelve these close to a staffed information counter, since they carry extra caution.

• 第3類医薬品 (Class 3): lower-risk products like vitamins, with mild side effects. You can often grab these off the shelf yourself.

A rule update took effect in May 2026. Japan now flags certain drugs as "designated abuse-prevention medicine." Stores must lock these up or place them where you can't grab them directly. If a staff member asks extra questions or checks your ID before selling you cough medicine, this new rule is why.

Prescription medicine sits in a separate category entirely. You can't buy it without a doctor's prescription, no matter which drugstore you visit.

Prescription medicine in Japan

Prescription medicine works differently from OTC medicine. You can't buy it off a shelf, no matter which drugstore you visit.

How to get a prescription:

• See a doctor first. A physician writes you a 処方箋 (shohousen), a prescription slip, after your visit.

• Take it to a dispensing pharmacy. Look for a 調剤薬局 (chouzai yakkyoku). Many sit right next to hospitals and clinics.

• Bring your insurance card. National Health Insurance covers a large part of the cost for residents, so your final bill drops significantly.

Regular drugstores can't fill your prescription. Only a licensed dispensing pharmacy handles prescription medicine in Japan.

A key point for anyone moving from abroad: Japan doesn't honor overseas prescriptions. If you need an ongoing prescription filled here, you'll need to see a local doctor first, even if you already have a valid prescription from home.

Kampo formulas can count as prescription medicine too, covered by National Health Insurance the same way conventional drugs are. More on how Kampo works is just below..

Kampo and traditional Japanese medicine

Not all medicine in Japan comes from a Western-style pharmacy. Kampo is Japan's traditional herbal and pharmaceutical system.

Kampo shares roots with Chinese herbal medicine. But it developed independently during the Edo period into its own streamlined system.

How Kampo differs from Western medicine:

• Whole-body focus: Kampo treats body balance, not just one specific disease.

• Individualized treatment: A practitioner adjusts your formula to your specific diagnostic pattern, not just your symptom.

• Multi-herb formulas: Most Kampo preparations combine several medicinal plants into one standardized mixture.

Kampo isn't a fringe practice in Japan. Over 80% of Japanese physicians prescribe Kampo formulas, right alongside modern biomedicine.

Any licensed physician in Japan can prescribe both. You don't need a separate specialist to access Kampo treatment.

Bodywork therapies you'll also find in Japan:

• Acupuncture (鍼, hari): Japanese acupuncture typically uses thinner needles and gentler insertions than traditional Chinese styles.

• Moxibustion (灸, kyu): practitioners burn mugwort on or near acupuncture points. The heat stimulates healing in the surrounding area.

• Shiatsu (指圧): sustained hand pressure applied to specific points on the body, based on East Asian medicine concepts.

• Anma (按摩): a hands-on therapy using rubbing and pressing on muscles, similar to Western massage.

Japan runs a genuinely integrated system. Traditional therapies and modern clinical medicine work side by side, not as separate tracks.

Different types of oral Japanese medicine

There are many ways to intake medicine (内服薬, naifukuyaku) in Japan. On the Japanese medicine package, you can see a small icon to indicate the type of oral medicine to take and instructions on how to do so.

Tips on buying Japanese medicine

Here are a couple of helpful tips when you buy over-the-counter medicine in Japan. 

Tip 1: Look at the packaging image

新コンタックかぜEX: Japanese medicine that targets throat and head symptoms.

Many Japanese medicine packages will have illustrations or diagrams to show where the medicine will take effect. 

For example, the 新コンタックかぜEX is medicine to relieve sore throats and headaches, especially illustrating targets towards the throat and the head. 

While not all Japanese medicine packages will have these visual guides, they help indicate the intended use of the product for your specific symptoms.

Tip 2: Translation app

Specifically use any real-time translation app. These apps can scan and translate the text on the packaging to understand what the medicine is for, its ingredients, the dosage instructions, and any potential warnings. 

Tip 3: Consult with the pharmacist

Some drugstores will require you to check out at the pharmacy register when buying over-the-counter medicine. 

Additionally, you can ask the staff for their recommendation on the specific medicine you want to help relieve your pain or symptoms.

What else you'll find at a Japanese drugstore

Japanese drugstores sell more than medicine. Most stock health foods, like vitamin drinks and herbal supplements, near the register.

You'll also find basic medical devices on the shelves. Thermometers, blood pressure monitors, and first-aid supplies sit near the medicine aisle.

Many drugstores round out the store with beauty care products too. Skincare, sunscreen, and haircare often fill an entire aisle.

7 different types of Japanese medicine to know

Most Japanese medicines on this list are over-the-counter, meaning you do not need a prescription.

1. Throat medicine in Japan

Which throat medicine should you pick?

If your throat hurts, look for のど on the packaging. This word appears on almost all throat medicine in Japan.

Japanese sore throat medicine

For Japanese medicine for sore throat, look for のどの痛み on Japanese medicine packaging.

Here are two common sore throat Japanese medicines that people use in Japan.

• ペラックT錠a (Perac T Tablets a): Great for treating sore and swollen throats. It has anti-inflammatory ingredients to relieve pain and swelling. It won't make you drowsy, since it skips the sleep-inducing ingredients some throat medicine uses.

• ルルのどスプレー (Lulu Throat Spray): Lulu series throat spray. For sore throat, swelling, and discomfort. 

Japanese cough medicine

For Japanese cough medicine, look for "咳止め" on the packaging.

• ペラックスイート ブルーベリーS (Perak Sweet Blueberry S): Contains ingredients that are effective against coughs, phlegm, and sore and swollen throats.

• アネトンせき止め錠 (Aneton Cough Suppressant Tablets): Cough suppressants that relieve shortness of breath from coughing but may cause drowsiness.

• クールワン去たんソフトカプセルＲＮ (Cool One Expectorant Soft Capsules RN): great for those with coughs and clear-up phlegm.

• ベンザブロックせき止め錠 (Benzablock Cough Suppressant Tablets): helps with sore throats and persistent coughs and clears up phlegm.

2. Japanese cough drops

Look for "せきどめ" or "咳止め" on the packaging for cough drops in Japan. 

• 新コルゲンコーワトローチA (New Colgen Kowa Troche A): helps with a sore throat, swelling, and hoarseness.

• ルルトローチ (Lulu Lozenges): helps relieve sore throats.

• アイストローチ (Ice Lozenge): Most effective for sore throats, swelling, and discomfort.

3. Fever and cold medicine in Japan

Japanese fever medicine

Specifically, look for the Japanese "熱" (netsu) which means fever. 

• タイレノール (Tylenol): Helps to reduce fever with one tablet. It can also help relieve menstrual pain (period pain), toothache, back pain, muscle pain, stiff shoulders, and sprains.

• ラックル速溶錠(副反応用) (Rakuru fast dissolving tablets (for side effects)): helps reduce fever without needing to take a pill.

• (小児用バファリンチュアブル) Bufferin Chewable for Children: specifically to help reduce fever and pain for children. 

Japanese cold medicine

Look for "風邪" (kaze) on Japanese medicine packaging. Here are a couple of the best Japanese cold medicines.

• ロキソプロフェン錠『クニヒロ』(Loxoprofen tablets "Kunihiro" ): Helps relieve pain and fever as well as those suffering sore throat and headaches.

•  ベンザブロックＬ錠 (Benzablock L Tablets): great cold medicine that relieves cold symptoms such as fever, runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat, and cough.

• アネトンアルメディ鼻炎錠 (Aneton Almedi Rhinitis Tablets): specifically to help relieve sneezing, runny nose, and other nasal symptoms.

4. Head medicine in japan

In Japan, medicine for the head includes itchiness, headaches, tension relief, and more. Look for "頭" (atama) on the packaging for any Japanese medicine pertaining to the head.

Scalp itch relief medication

Specifically, look for "頭のかゆみ" on the packaging for scalp relief. 

• メディクイックＨゴールド (Medic Quick H Gold): it acts on the affected area to suppress inflammation and itching.

• ムヒＨＤｍ (Muhi HDm): it does not contain ethanol, so it doesn't sting when you apply it. It helps with suppressing itchiness and inflammation and soothes the area.

• リンデロンVsローション (Rinderon Vs Lotion): effective in dealing with skin problems and dermatitis.

Japanese headache medicine

Most of these medicines can also act as general pain relievers. Still, they also work for any headache you may have.

Look for "頭痛" on the Japanese medicine packaging for any headache relief. 

• ロキソニンＳ (Loxonin S): All you need is one tablet for relief. It reduced any pain and fever.

• イブクイックＤＸ (Eve Quick DX): It quickly deals with any headaches you may have. One of its active ingredients is ibuprofen, which suppresses the source of pain.

• バファリンA (Bufferin A): Great for those who can not ingest large tablets. It also contains ibuprofen and is highly effective against pain, including headaches.

5. Painkillers in Japan

On the packaging, look for "痛" on the packaging to relieve pain.

• イブクイックＤＸ (Eve Quick DX): mainly helps with headaches but can also relieve other pains such as stiff shoulders, toothaches, menstrual pain (period pain), etc.

• イブＡ(Eve A): for easy-to-swallow painkillers with ibuprofen for pain relief.

• ディパシオIPa (Dipacio IPa): Dissolves quickly and fast pain-relieving effect after consumption.

6. Japanese allergy medicine

Allergies affect millions of people in Japan every year, especially during pollen season. Look for "アレルギー" on the packaging to find allergy medicine.

• エージーアレルカットEXc (AG Allergy Cut EXc): It's a nasal spray for those with runny or stuffy noses.

• マイティアアルピタットN EXα7 (Mytear Alpitat N EXα7): To help with itchy eyes and other eye irritation. 

• メジコンせき止め錠Pro (Mejicon Cough Suppressant Tablets): Helps soothe coughs caused by allergies.

7. Antibiotics in Japan

Generally, the only antibiotics you can buy over the counter in Japan are topical medications such as ointments and eye drops.

• テラマイシン軟膏a (Terramycin Ointment A): To help with skin infections, burns, and surgical wounds.

• ロートクリニカル抗菌目薬i (Rohto Clinical Antibacterial Eye Drops i): Antibiotic eye drops (目薬, megusuri) to help with styes, conjunctivitis, itchy eyes, etc.

• ハレナース (Hare Nurse): to help relieve swollen and painful tonsils.

Bringing medicine into Japan: what travelers need to know

Planning to bring your own medicine from home? Japan has clear limits on what you can carry in.

OTC medicine and prescription medicine follow different rules:

• OTC medicine: you can bring up to a two-month supply without extra paperwork.

• Prescription medicine: the limit drops to a one-month supply, and it must be for personal use only.

• Medical devices: items like inhalers or insulin pumps generally need to stay within a similar personal-use limit.

Need more than these limits allow? You'll need a Yunyu Kakunin-sho, an official import certificate, before you travel.

A few substances are banned outright. Opium and cannabis are strictly prohibited in Japan, even with a valid foreign prescription. Some common ADHD medications fall under this same strict category, so check before you pack.

Apply for a Yunyu Kakunin-sho well before your trip. Processing can take several weeks, so don't wait until the week you fly.

Frequently asked questions

Can you buy over the counter antibiotics in Japan?

Only topical medications (ointments) such as ointments and eye drops can be bought over the counter in Japan. Otherwise, you will need a doctor's prescription for other antibiotics.

What is medicine in Japanese?

The word for "medicine" in Japanese is 薬 (kusuri).

Can I bring my prescription medicine from home?

Yes, up to a one-month supply for personal use. Bring your prescription and a doctor's letter if you can.

Need more than one month's supply? You'll need a Yunyu Kakunin-sho, an official import certificate, before you travel.

Will my home country's prescription work at a Japanese pharmacy?

No. Japan doesn't honor prescriptions written outside the country.

You'll need to see a local doctor first. They'll write a new prescription you can take to a dispensing pharmacy.

Can a regular doctor in Japan prescribe Kampo?

Yes. Any licensed physician in Japan can prescribe Kampo formulas, not just a specialist.

Over 80% of Japanese doctors prescribe Kampo today. National Health Insurance often covers it the same way it covers conventional medicine.

What's the difference between a drugstore and a dispensing pharmacy?

A regular drugstore sells OTC medicine, health foods, and beauty care products. Anyone can walk in and buy what they need.

A dispensing pharmacy (調剤薬局) only fills prescriptions. You need a prescription slip from a doctor before they can help you.

Do I need special paperwork for medical devices like inhalers?

Often, yes, if you're carrying more than one for personal use. Devices like inhalers and insulin pumps generally follow the same personal-use limits as medication.

Check with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare before you travel if you're unsure.

In closing

Getting Japanese medicine is easy once you know where to look, whether that's an OTC shelf, a dispensing pharmacy, or a Kampo prescription. Pay attention to packaging keywords, classification labels, and the tips above to find what you need.

When in doubt, use a translation app or ask the staff for help finding the Japanese medicine you need.