7 Types of Japanese Medicine To Know When Living In Japan

You can stop by any Japanese drugstore for over-the-counter medicine, whether you have headaches, sore throats, fevers, or allergies. 

But with so many types of Japanese medicine, which one do you choose?

Here, we discuss the most common and popular Japanese medicine that you can buy to stay healthy in Japan.

Different types of oral Japanese medicine

There are many ways to intake medicine (内服薬, naifukuyaku) in Japan. On the Japanese medicine package, you can see a small icon to indicate the type of oral medicine to take and instructions on how to do so.

Tips on buying Japanese medicine

Here are a couple of helpful tips when you buy over-the-counter medicine in Japan. 

Tip 1: Look at the packaging image

新コンタックかぜEX: Japanese medicine that targets throat and head symptoms.

Many Japanese medicine packages will have illustrations or diagrams to show where the medicine will take effect. 

For example, the 新コンタックかぜEX is medicine to relieve sore throats and headaches, especially illustrating targets towards the throat and the head. 

While not all Japanese medicine packages will have these visual guides, they help indicate the intended use of the product for your specific symptoms.

Tip 2: Translation app

Specifically use any real-time translation app. These apps can scan and translate the text on the packaging to understand what the medicine is for, its ingredients, the dosage instructions, and any potential warnings. 

Tip 3: Consult with the pharmacist

Some drugstores will require you to check out at the pharmacy register when buying over-the-counter medicine. 

Additionally, you can ask the staff for their recommendation on the specific medicine you want to help relieve your pain or symptoms.

7 different types of Japanese medicine to know

Most Japanese medicines on this list are over-the-counter, meaning you do not need a prescription.

1. Head medicine in japan

In Japan, medicine for the head includes itchiness, headaches, tension relief, and more. Look for "頭" (atama) on the packaging for any Japanese medicine pertaining to the head.

Scalp itch relief medication

Specifically, look for "頭のかゆみ" on the packaging for scalp relief. 

• メディクイックＨゴールド (Medic Quick H Gold): it acts on the affected area to suppress inflammation and itching.

• ムヒＨＤｍ (Muhi HDm): it does not contain ethanol, so it doesn't sting when you apply it. It helps with suppressing itchiness and inflammation and soothes the area.

• リンデロンVsローション (Rinderon Vs Lotion): effective in dealing with skin problems and dermatitis.

Japanese headache medicine

Most of these medicines can also act as general pain relievers. Still, they also work for any headache you may have.

Look for "頭痛" on the Japanese medicine packaging for any headache relief. 

• ロキソニンＳ (Loxonin S): All you need is one tablet for relief. It reduced any pain and fever.

• イブクイックＤＸ (Eve Quick DX): It quickly deals with any headaches you may have. One of its active ingredients is ibuprofen, which suppresses the source of pain.

• バファリンA (Bufferin A): Great for those who can not ingest large tablets. It also contains ibuprofen and is highly effective against pain, including headaches.

2. Throat medicine in japan

For any medicine for your throat, look for のど in Japan on the packaging

Japanese sore throat medicine

For Japanese medicine for sore throat, look for のどの痛み on Japanese medicine packaging.

Here are two common sore throat Japanese medicines that people use in Japan.

• ペラックT錠 (Perac T Tablets): Great for treating sore and swollen throats. It has anti-inflammatory ingredients to relieve pain and swelling.

• ルルのどスプレー (Lulu Throat Spray): Lulu series throat spray. For sore throat, swelling, and discomfort. 

Japanese cough medicine

For Japanese cough medicine, look for "咳止め" on the packaging.

• ペラックスイート ブルーベリーS (Perak Sweet Blueberry S): Contains ingredients that are effective against coughs, phlegm, and sore and swollen throats.

• アネトンせき止め錠 (Aneton Cough Suppressant Tablets): Cough suppressants that relieve shortness of breath from coughing but may cause drowsiness.

• クールワン去たんソフトカプセルＲＮ (Cool One Expectorant Soft Capsules RN): great for those with coughs and clear-up phlegm.

• ベンザブロックせき止め錠 (Benzablock Cough Suppressant Tablets): helps with sore throats and persistent coughs and clears up phlegm.

3. Fever and cold medicine in Japan

Japanese fever medicine

Specifically, look for the Japanese "熱" (netsu) which means fever. 

• タイレノール (Tylenol): Helps to reduce fever with one tablet. It can also help relieve menstrual pain (period pain), toothache, back pain, muscle pain, stiff shoulders, and sprains.

• ラックル速溶錠(副反応用) (Rakuru fast dissolving tablets (for side effects)): helps reduce fever without needing to take a pill.

• (小児用バファリンチュアブル) Bufferin Chewable for Children: specifically to help reduce fever and pain for children. 

Japanese cold medicine

Look for "風邪" (kaze) on Japanese medicine packaging. Here are a couple of the best Japanese cold medicines.

• ロキソプロフェン錠『クニヒロ』(Loxoprofen tablets "Kunihiro" ): Helps relieve pain and fever as well as those suffering sore throat and headaches.

•  ベンザブロックＬ錠 (Benzablock L Tablets): great cold medicine that relieves cold symptoms such as fever, runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat, and cough.

• アネトンアルメディ鼻炎錠 (Aneton Almedi Rhinitis Tablets): specifically to help relieve sneezing, runny nose, and other nasal symptoms.

4. Painkillers in Japan

On the packaging, look for "痛" on the packaging to relieve pain.

• イブクイックＤＸ (Eve Quick DX): mainly helps with headaches but can also relieve other pains such as stiff shoulders, toothaches, menstrual pain (period pain), etc.

• イブＡ(Eve A): for easy-to-swallow painkillers with ibuprofen for pain relief.

• ディパシオIPa (Dipacio IPa): Dissolves quickly and fast pain-relieving effect after consumption.

5. Japanese cough drops

Look for "せきどめ" or "咳止め" on the packaging for cough drops in Japan. 

• 新コルゲンコーワトローチA (New Colgen Kowa Troche A): helps with a sore throat, swelling, and hoarseness.

• ルルトローチ (Lulu Lozenges): helps relieve sore throats.

• アイストローチ (Ice Lozenge): Most effective for sore throats, swelling, and discomfort.

6. Japanese allergy medicine

For allergy medicine in Japan, look for "アレルギー" on the packaging to help relieve allergy symptoms you may have.

• エージーアレルカットEXc (AG Allergy Cut EXc): It's a nasal spray for those with runny or stuffy noses.

• マイティアアルピタットN EXα7 (Mytear Alpitat N EXα7): To help with itchy eyes and other eye irritation. 

• メジコンせき止め錠Pro (Mejicon Cough Suppressant Tablets): Helps soothe coughs caused by allergies.

7. Antibiotics in Japan

Generally, the only antibiotics you can buy over the counter in Japan are topical medications such as ointments and eye drops.

• テラマイシン軟膏a (Terramycin Ointment A): To help with skin infections, burns, and surgical wounds.

• ロートクリニカル抗菌目薬i (Rohto Clinical Antibacterial Eye Drops i): Antibiotic eye drops to help with styes, conjunctivitis, itchy eyes, etc.

• ハレナース (Hare Nurse): to help relieve swollen and painful tonsils.

Frequently asked questions

Can you buy over the counter antibiotics in Japan?

Only topical medications (ointments) such as ointments and eye drops can be bought over the counter in Japan. Otherwise, you will need a doctor's prescription for other antibiotics.

What is medicine in Japanese?

The word for "medicine" in Japanese is 薬 (kusuri). 

In closing

Getting Japanese medicine over the counter is easy if you know what you want. Pay attention to keywords and the package illustration to help you out.

When in doubt, use a translation app or ask the staff for help finding the Japanese medicine you need.