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Get Medicine in Japan — Quick Guide
Feeling unwell while traveling in Japan is stressful, especially when you cannot read labels or explain symptoms in Japanese. The good news is that Japan has an extremely dense network of drugstores — look for chains such as Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia, Sundrug or Cocokara Fine, usually marked with a large green or red cross and the word 薬 (kusuri, medicine). Most stock effective over-the-counter remedies for headaches, colds, fever, stomach trouble and allergies, and stores in tourist areas increasingly have English-speaking staff and tax-free counters. Pharmacies attached to clinics (調剤薬局) mainly handle prescriptions, so a general drugstore is usually your best first stop. This page finds drugstores near your current location and shows a compass pointing to the closest one, with distance and walking time. You can filter for English support and credit-card payment, open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps, or ask our AI assistant about specific medicines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy medicine in Japan without a prescription?
Yes. Japanese drugstores sell a wide range of over-the-counter medicines for headaches, colds, fever, allergies and stomach problems. Some stronger products are classified as Class 1 drugs and must be handed over by a pharmacist, so you may be asked a few simple questions at the counter.
What time do drugstores in Japan usually open?
Most urban drugstores open from around 10:00 to 21:00 or 22:00, and some large chains in major districts stay open even later. Opening hours are shown on each spot on this page when available, and you can always confirm details on Google Maps before walking over.