Hi all!
A reminder that I’m pretty much the furthest thing from a doctor – in the same way that the Dad from my Big Fat Greek Wedding puts Windex on everything.. I’m the same way with paw paw cream ( rash under the nose? Paw Paw! Tumor bulging out from your forehead? Also Paw Paw!)
If bringing your own drugs from home – MAKE SURE ALL MEDICATION IS ALLOWED IN JAPAN. If not, you will need to apply for special permission. Also, to avoid any confusion or hold-ups, ALWAYS keep medication (and vitamins) in their original packaging – also anything that might be seen as suspicious such as baby formula (you don’t want to be carrying random packets of white powder when travelling overseas.)
So I can’t recommend medication at all ( I also don’t know what you or your children will react to and in what way…) but I can share the most popular brands in Japan.
I talk about it in my What to Pack blog post, but I do recommend bringing medication from home wherever possible.
For every item you want to pack though, you will need to check if that medication is allowed in Japan. I don’t want anyone getting into some serious legal trouble. Some of the medications not allowed can surprise you – for example, at the time of typing right now. Claritin-D, Codral Cold & Flu (or anything with pseudoephedrine) is not allowed without prior permission and some Vicks Inhalers are also not allowed. Also items containing codeine are often not allowed (including Tylenol #3, for Americans, which is not allowed into Japan and Panadeine Forte, for the Aussies, is also banned in Japan. Best to check which, even over the counter meds are allowed in Japan, here to be sure – even for something you may not think twice about – better safe than sorry.
Dexamphetamine is most definitely not allowed in Japan.
See here for information on taking ADHD medication into Japan.
Is there somewhere I can find a list of medications allowed into Japan?
Not a specific list but all of the guidelines for which medication is and isn’t allowed in Japan can be found here. This link also has a direct click button to apply for permission to bring certain substances into Japan.
Can’t I just bring a letter from my doctor saying that I’m allowed to have this medication in Japan?
No. A letter from your doctor doesn’t make a medication suddenly “allowed” in Japan (it’s kind of as affective as bringing a letter to school from your Mum.) You need to apply to bring in the medication before entering Japan.
“But my friend said she didn’t declare anything and there were no issues bringing medicine into Japan”
That means your friend broke the law and is lucky they weren’t deported or spent time in a jail in Japan. I don’t ever recommend doing this.
For over the counter medication in Japan – I recommend going to a drug store for assistance and you’ll find that the staff behind the medicine counter will speak at least “medical English” (and written English is understood even more widely so, when in doubt, write it down) but if you are stuck.. here is a short vocab list that you can point to:
Fever 熱
Pain 痛み
Headache 頭痛
Blocked/Congested Nose 鼻詰まり
Rash 発疹
Diaper Rash おむつかぶれ
Constipated 便秘. (I actually have a blog post on how to talk about some awkward things like constipation in Japanese. You may like to have a read.)
便秘薬はありますか？ (bempiyaku wa arimasu ka?) = Do you have medicine for constipation?*
*For children’s constipation medicine ask for 子供用の便秘薬 ( kodomoyou no benpiyaku ).
Basically if you need to ask for a children’s version or a ‘for a child version of ANYTHING put “kodomoyou no” at the beginning. Another example? Children’s fork ? = kodomoyou no foorku
＊In the past, I have bought a product called “Easy Fibre” in a Japanese drugstore and popped it in my kid’s soup of even in with the cornflakes. It’s a tasteless powder.
And if you have…err …the opposite problem?
下痢になりました (geri ni narimashita) = I have diarrhea. * This is very unfortunately if your name is GARY because the pronounciating in Japanese is pretty much the same.*
下痢どめの薬はありますか？ (geri dome no kusuri wa arimasuka?) = Do you have medicine to stop diarrhea ?
Where to buy teething gel for babies in Japan?
*Just touching on a little cultural difference here (regardless of whether you agree of disagree with this approach, I believe this tip will help you with the desired result).. in Japan, “teething” isn’t really seen as something to be medicated. So if you announce that you baby is teething to a Japanese doctor or chemist they will probably recommend a teething toy or a cold towel for a baby to chew on and that is about it. So… if you would like medication – I recommend asking for pain relief instead.)
If you are looking for Ibuprofen in Japan – you can go to the drug store and ask for a brand called EVE.
Most common / popular children’s medicine for fevers and pain relief in Japan (ask at the drugstore if these are right for you and your family)
Pain and fever medicine for children in a Japanese drugstore
Children’s Bufferin CII for fevers and pain (fruit flavoured tablets)
Bufferin CII ingredients and dosage ENGLISH info via the Lion Corporation website here.
Cold and Flu medication for children in a Japanese drugstore
Children’s Bufferin Kids’ Syrup “Netsu” for fevers (strawberry flavoured liquid)
Bufferin Kids NETSU Syrup ingredients and dosage ENGLISH info via the Lion Corporation website here.
Children’s Bufferin Kids’ Syrup “Kaze” for colds (strawberry or peach flavoured liquid)
Bufferin Kids KAZE Syrup ingredients and dosage ENGLISH info via the Lion Corporation website here.
Paracetamol for kids in Japan
This is Paburon Kids. This is like a paracetamol for kids. This is for kids 3 months – 6 years. Please speak to the staff at the drugstore to see if it is right for your child.
Travel sickness medication for children in Japan
This is a popular travel sickness medication in Japan. It is only for children 5 years + and please talk to the staff at the drugstore about dosage and any allergies.
Head Lice medication in Japan
If you or your children have nits in Japan, you can buy these shampoos (show the pictures to the staff) at most drugstores. Use google translate to check for how frequently to use and ask at the drugstore if you have any specific allergies to watch out for.
Migraine medication in Japan
Although it is not an over the counter medication: if you are looking for Migraine Medication called Sumatriptin in Japan – it is sold as Imigran (Glaxo Smith Kline) – and you can make an appointment with a doctor at Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic and request a prescription (if you forgot to bring from home or you have run out of your own supply.)
If you have a dairy intolerance of any sort, please also note that medications like “Lactaid” aren’t easy to get in Japan. Lactase enzyme supplements are only available by medical prescription in Japan.
If you are looking for medication or lotion for wind burn or snow sunburn in Japan, I recommend buying this from the Japanese drugstores or your closest Don Quijote. This is similar to buying bepanthen in Japan.
Period pain is 生理痛 (pronounced ‘seiritsu’)
See in the image below? The Bufferin Luna boxes – those are a period pain brand. Please ask at the drugstore for how many you should take per day and let them know if you have any allergies etc.
It is unusual not to find little rubbish bins in all toilet cubicles but if you’re staying in someone’s home and wanted to ask them where to put your sanitary pads etc after you’ve used the restroom you could show them this 生理用品をどこに捨てれば良いですか？ ( pronounced “seiriyouhin o dokoni sutereba yoi desu ka?” ) This is a polite but to the point way to ask, in case you are wondering. If you’re feeling shy – you can just hold up the Japanese phrase I’ve provided – I hope that helps.
There are limited options of period products sold in convenience stores so I recommend looking at options in drugstores and supermarkets instead. Google “drugstores near me” or “supermarkets near me.”
Plasters and creams for bug bites and mosquito bites in Japan
