How to Use a Japanese Pharmacy: Drugstores, Prescriptions and What to Expect

Pharmacy or drugstore: which one you need

Japan separates dispensing pharmacies (yakkyoku) from drugstores. A pharmacy has a licensed pharmacist on duty and fills prescriptions written by doctors licensed in Japan. A drugstore sells over-the-counter medicines, cosmetics and daily goods; many larger branches also have a pharmacy counter. If you need a prescription filled, look for the word 薬局 on the sign. ^[1]

Can you use a foreign prescription at a Japanese pharmacy?

A prescription from your home country cannot be dispensed in Japan. To obtain prescription medicine you must see a doctor in Japan, who will issue a Japanese prescription. Bring your original prescription or a doctor's letter listing the generic names of your medicines, since brand names differ between countries. Visitors pay the full cost of the consultation at the time of the visit. ^[1]

How OTC medicines are classified

Non-prescription medicines are sorted by risk. Pharmacist-guided drugs and Class 1 drugs can be sold only after a pharmacist has explained them to you. Class 2 covers common cold, pain and allergy remedies, and Class 3 covers low-risk products such as vitamins and some digestive aids. Class 2 and 3 products can be sold by a registered seller as well as a pharmacist, and all three classes can be bought online from licensed pharmacies and drugstores (Class 1 only through a pharmacist). Since May 1, 2026, cold, cough and allergy products containing designated abuse-prone ingredients such as codeine, dihydrocodeine, dextromethorphan, pseudoephedrine or diphenhydramine come with extra checks: staff ask about your age and other purchases, people under 18 can buy only one small pack, and larger or multiple packs are sold only face to face or by video call. ^[1][6]

Reading the package

Packaging is mostly in Japanese, but the active ingredients are printed on the box and are usually written with their international names in katakana. Showing a pharmacist the generic name of what you take at home is the fastest way to find an equivalent. Larger drugstores in tourist areas often have staff who speak English or Chinese, and many use translation apps at the counter.

Can you buy medicine tax-free?

Medicines count as consumables for tax-free purposes. Until October 31, 2026, visitors can buy tax-free when their consumables at one store on one day total between ¥5,000 and ¥500,000 before tax. The goods are sealed in a bag that must stay closed until you leave Japan. From November 1, 2026, Japan moves to a refund system: you pay the tax-inclusive price at the store, customs confirms at departure, within 90 days of purchase, that you are taking the goods out of Japan, and the store then refunds the tax. The sealed bag and the ¥500,000 ceiling are abolished from that date, while the ¥5,000 minimum remains. ^[2][5]

Before you take medicines home

Some Japanese OTC products contain ingredients that are restricted in other countries, such as codeine derivatives in cough medicines or pseudoephedrine in cold remedies. Check the rules of your home country before packing them. The reverse also applies: some medicines that are legal at home are prohibited in Japan, including products containing amphetamine-type stimulants. ^[3]