Value Village ／ Before you come to Japan
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Falling ill on holiday means a drugstore visit, and the Japanese system sorts medicines into legal classes that decide where and how you can buy them. Knowing the classes saves a wasted trip.
| Class | Who can sell | Examples | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guidance-required (要指導医薬品) | Pharmacist only, in person or (since May 2026) by video consultation for most items | Recently switched from prescription; the emergency contraceptive (since Feb 2026) | Pharmacies with a pharmacist on duty |
| Class 1 (第1類) | Pharmacist only | Some strong antacids (H2 blockers), loxoprofen tablets (Loxonin S), some hair-growth and anti-fungal products | Behind the counter |
| Class 2 (第2類) | Pharmacist or registered seller | Most cold medicines, painkillers (ibuprofen, acetaminophen), loxoprofen patches, antihistamines | Open shelves, marked ② |
| Class 3 (第3類) | Pharmacist or registered seller | Vitamins, eye drops, mild digestives | Open shelves, marked ③ |
[Verify] Class assignments change as products are reclassified; confirm examples with the MHLW OTC classification list before publication. Dose comparisons are indicative.
Class 1 and guidance-required medicines need a pharmacist. Many drugstores have one only during set hours; late at night the counter may be closed while the shop is open.
Japanese cold medicines are typically combination products with several active ingredients at modest doses. Read the ingredient list — they may include an antihistamine that causes drowsiness, or caffeine.
Products with pseudoephedrine above 10% are treated as stimulant raw materials; OTC nasal products here mostly use other ingredients. Do not expect the same decongestants as at home.
Large chains in tourist areas often have English-speaking staff or translation devices, and the MHLW has published a multilingual pharmacy guide. Showing the name of the active ingredient on your phone works well.
Airport shops stock a limited range at higher prices. Drugstores in town (chains are on almost every street) are cheaper and better stocked.
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https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000092820.html
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/index.html
https://www.jacds.gr.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.
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