Value Village ／ Clothing
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Japanese shoe shops and drugstores (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia, etc.) sell an enormous range of insoles, and people ask us "which should I choose?" and "will they help my foot pain?". This article separates what an off-the-shelf insole can do from what belongs to medicine (prescribed orthotic insoles).
| Category | What it is | Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shop-bought insole (general goods) | Cushioning, arch support, size adjustment (thickness), odour and sweat absorption, heel-height adjustment | Comfort, fit, hygiene | A few hundred to a few thousand yen |
| Shop-bought (classed as a medical device) | Some products sold as "orthotic insoles" are notified as Class I (general) medical devices | Spreading pressure under the sole | A few thousand yen up to the ¥10,000s |
| Medical orthotic insole (an orthosis) | Made by a certified prosthetist-orthotist to a doctor's prescription, from a mould of the foot | Correction and off-loading for deformities and conditions (flat feet, bunions, plantar fasciitis, etc.) | Covered by health insurance (you pay 10–30% of a cost in the tens of thousands of yen) |
[Verify] Check the classification of shop-bought insoles (general goods / Class I medical device) in the PMDA medical-device database, and the insurance coverage of orthotic insoles in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's reimbursement documents.
Shop-bought products have no such effect and may not claim one. If pain continues, see an orthopaedic clinic, and if needed get orthotic insoles (insured).
Instep height varies a great deal between people, and support that does not fit causes pain. Try it for short periods and stop if it feels wrong.
Too thick and the shoe becomes tight, the heel lifts and you get blisters. Take out the shoe's original insole and replace it, or choose a thin one.
Sweat and skin oil make it unhygienic, and the cushioning flattens. Take it out and dry it every day, and replace it every few months to a year.
It works for half a size, but a difference of a full size or more affects how you walk. Get the shoe size right first (see the article on how to wear shoes).
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https://www.pmda.go.jp/
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iryouhoken/
https://www.kutsuigaku.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Follow the care label and the maker's instructions for any garment, shoe or bag. For expensive or sentimental items, ask a specialist cleaner or repairer.
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