I’ve had some language tips for when shopping for period products and over the counter medication but I thought I would put it in one spot here.
Buying Pads & Tampons in Japan
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.”
I have always found Japanese pads to be of excellent quality – tampons are not as popular in Japan as they are in some other countries – and I feel like I never ever hear about menstrual cups.
Tampons sold in Japan are similar to those sold in the US – they come with the plastic applicator. If this doesn’t appeal then you can remove the plastic packaging. Anyway, there isn’t anything bad about them.. they are just different and this might be particularly daunting for teenagers. I do include tampons in my packing list for this reason though.
The word for tampons is タンポン ( pronounced “tampon”) so thats an easy one to remember.
Pads or sanitary napkins are most often referred to as ナプキン (pronounced “napkin”) but if you were in the supermarket or convenience store and needed help finding them, you’d be best to ask for 生理用ナプキン(pronounced seiriyou napkin) This is similar to asking for the “period related products”.
FYI: Seiri = period/menstruation and to say ” I have my period right now” you can say “ima wa seirichu desu”
Buying medication for Period Pain
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.
Eve Ex A (pink box) is also a pain relief medication for period pain.
See here for my tips for purchasing other over the counter meds in Japan.
Disposing of pads and tampons in Japan
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.
What is the protocol for using an onsen or public bath while menstruating in Japan?
This advice is based on my experience in Japan as well as my own personal opinion (and questions I have asked of Japanese female friends and colleagues.) You don’t have to take my exact advice – but this is what I would tell you if we were having coffee and you asked.
My first time using a public bath in Japan was when I was an exchange student in high school and we went on a school trip to Hokkaido for a few days. I was gobsmacked to see a sign at the bath asking women not to use the bath while on their period (the teachers also gave us all those instructions too. This was an all girls’ school, by the way.)
For the most part – it is seen as unsanitary and that is the reason for women being advised not to use the bath while on their period. If you dig deeper into reasons some people will tell you “facts” about how it poses a risk of infection to the woman menstruating and women are more likely to get light headed in the warm water during that time of the month ….. I’m not so convinced about those – but I know that Japan isn’t the only country to hold these beliefs as the standard.
The standard answer to not using a public bath or onsen while menstruating is no.
However, investigating a little further, my friends and colleagues say that they usually just don’t use a public bath on their heaviest days- particularly as an onsen requires washing before bathing. Some friends say they just have a bath in their hotel room instead.
My friends who have lived overseas said they use a tampon on their lighter days (some Japanese tampon companies do say on the box that they are such high-performance/no leak products that are ok for the onsen – but this is definitely not the norm and I, personally, haven’t heard of Japanese women saying casually that this is just what they will do then – I think it’s just a “I’ll just do this if I have to and won’t mention it to anyone, type of thing.)
The few people who I have spoken with who said they have used a tampon for light days – said that they were careful to make sure the string was hidden at all times.
As mentioned above- the use of tampons and menstrual cups in Japan is not so common.
See my other tips on using an onsen in Japan here.
