When traveling in Japan, staying healthy is important to ensure your trip remains smooth and enjoyable.
Fortunately, drugstores are easy to find throughout Japan and offer a wide range of safe and convenient medicines for common issues such as colds, headaches, digestive problems, and allergies.
Medicines You Can Buy at Japanese Drugstores
In this article, you’ll find some of the most popular over-the-counter medicines among tourists in Japan, along with their common uses to help you stay healthy during your trip.
Digestive Medicine
- Seirogan—A traditional Japanese medicine commonly used for diarrhea, stomach discomfort, and bloating caused by food or drinks.
- Biofermin S—A probiotic medicine that helps balance intestinal bacteria, suitable for mild digestive issues or stomach discomfort after unusual eating habits.
- Gaster 10—A medicine that helps reduce stomach acid production, useful for heartburn or acid reflux after meals.
Cold Medicine & Pain Relief
- EVE A—A popular Japanese pain reliever containing ibuprofen, commonly used for headaches, muscle pain, and fever.
- Pabron Gold A—A multi-symptom cold medicine popular among tourists, effective for fever, headaches, sore throat, and nasal congestion.
- Contac 600 Plus—Another common cold medicine designed to relieve multiple symptoms such as cough, fever, and runny nose.
Throat Medicine
- Ryukakusan Direct—A herbal throat medicine in fine powder form that can be taken directly without water.
- Kobayashi Sore Throat Spray—An antiseptic throat spray containing iodine that helps soothe and cleanse a sore throat.
Mouth Ulcer Medicine
- Oronine H Ointment—A multi-purpose ointment that can be used for minor wounds, including mouth ulcers.
Eye Drops
- ROHTO V Premium—Designed to relieve eye fatigue, inflammation, and itchiness.
- ROHTO V Active Premium—Suitable for tired eyes and blurred vision associated with aging.
- ROHTO V Dry Eye Premium—Specifically formulated to relieve dry eyes caused by insufficient tears.
- ROHTO V Funnel Contact Premium—Designed for contact lens users to help reduce eye fatigue and protect the cornea.
- Sante FX—Eye drops that help relieve eye fatigue while providing a refreshing cooling sensation.
Recommended Japanese Health Supplements
In addition to medicines for minor health issues, health supplements are also popular among tourists who want to maintain their energy and immune system during their trip to Japan. Japanese drugstores offer a wide variety of supplements, including collagen products and vitamins.
Collagen
Amino Collagen is a widely recognized collagen supplement in Japan available in tablet, powder, and ready-to-drink forms. It contains fish-derived collagen that is easily absorbed by the body and is enriched with Vitamin C to support natural collagen production.
Vitamins
DHC vitamins are among the most popular supplements for tourists visiting Japan. These products are easy to find at major pharmacies and drugstores such as Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Don Quijote, Sun Drug, and Kokumin.
One of the most popular products is DHC Vitamin C, which typically contains 1000 mg of Vitamin C along with added Vitamin B2. It is commonly used to support skin health, strengthen the immune system, and help the body stay refreshed during travel.
In addition to Vitamin C, DHC also offers other supplements such as Vitamin E, Vitamin B Complex, and Multivitamins, allowing travelers to choose products based on their individual health needs.
