Buying medicine in Japan can feel difficult when you are not sure how to explain your symptoms or ask safety questions in Japanese.
This guide gives you simple English explanations and Japanese text you can show at a pharmacy or drugstore. The goal is not to choose a medicine for you. The goal is to help you communicate the information that pharmacy staff need before giving advice about OTC medicine.
You can use these cards together with a translation app. The cards help organize the important information first, and a translation app can help with follow-up questions.
This guide is for general information and communication support. It does not diagnose symptoms, recommend a specific medicine, or replace medical care. If your symptoms are severe, unusual, getting worse, or not improving, consider seeking medical care instead of relying only on OTC medicine.
- How to Use This Guide
- Quick Show-This Card: Start Here
- Tell the Staff Who Will Use the Medicine
- Explain Your Symptoms and How Long They Have Lasted
- Share Important Safety Information
- Questions to Ask Before Taking the Medicine
- Pharmacists, Registered Sellers, and OTC Medicine Categories in Japan
- When OTC Medicine May Not Be Enough
- How to Use This Card With a Translation App
- FAQ
- References
How to Use This Guide
Start with the quick card below. Then add the cards that match your situation:
- Who will use the medicine?
- What symptoms do you have, and how long have they lasted?
- Are you pregnant, breastfeeding, taking other medicines, or living with a chronic condition?
- What do you need to check before taking the medicine?
You do not need to show every card. Choose only the lines that apply to you.
Quick Show-This Card: Start Here
Use this card if you do not know how to start the conversation.
| What you mean | Japanese to show |
| I am looking for OTC medicine. | 市販薬を探しています。 |
| I am not sure which medicine is appropriate. | どの薬が自分に合うか分かりません。 |
| Could I ask a pharmacist or registered seller? | 薬剤師または登録販売者に相談できますか？ |
| I would like to check whether this medicine is safe for me. | この薬を使っても大丈夫か確認したいです。 |
| If OTC medicine is not appropriate, please tell me. | 市販薬では対応しない方がよい場合は教えてください。 |
Tell the Staff Who Will Use the Medicine
Before asking for medicine, tell the staff who will use it. This matters because age, pregnancy, chronic conditions, and other medicines can change what may be appropriate.
| What you mean | Japanese to show |
| This medicine is for me. | 自分用の薬です。 |
| This medicine is for my child. | 子どもが使う薬です。 |
| My child is ___ years old. | 子どもは___歳です。 |
| This medicine is for an older adult. | 高齢者が使う薬です。 |
| This medicine is for someone else. | 自分ではなく、別の人が使う薬です。 |
| I am pregnant. | 妊娠中です。 |
| I may be pregnant. | 妊娠している可能性があります。 |
| I am breastfeeding. | 授乳中です。 |
If the medicine is for a child, a pregnant person, an older adult, or someone with a chronic condition, ask pharmacy staff before buying or taking it.
Explain Your Symptoms and How Long They Have Lasted
These cards are for explaining symptoms, not for diagnosing yourself. If symptoms are severe, unusual, getting worse, or not improving, consider medical care.
| What you mean | Japanese to show |
| I have a fever. | 熱があります。 |
| I have a cough. | 咳があります。 |
| I have a sore throat. | のどが痛いです。 |
| I have a runny nose. | 鼻水が出ます。 |
| I have a headache. | 頭が痛いです。 |
| I have stomach pain. | お腹が痛いです。 |
| I have diarrhea. | 下痢があります。 |
| I feel nauseous. | 吐き気があります。 |
| I have a rash. | 発疹があります。 |
| I feel itchy. | かゆみがあります。 |
| I have allergy-like symptoms. | アレルギーのような症状があります。 |
| These symptoms started today. | 今日から症状があります。 |
| These symptoms started ___ days ago. | ___日前から症状があります。 |
| The symptoms are getting worse. | 症状が悪くなっています。 |
| The symptoms are not improving. | 症状が良くなりません。 |
For fever or cold-like symptoms, you may also want to read our guide: Fever in Japan: How to Choose OTC Medicine Safely as a Traveler or Resident.
If your main concern is stomach or digestive symptoms, see our guide: Stomach and Digestive Problems in Japan: OTC Medicine Ingredients and Safety Checks.
For cough, sore throat, runny nose, or other cold-like symptoms, see our cold medicine guide: Cold Medicine in Japan: What to Check Before Buying OTC Medicine.
For cough, phlegm, wheezing, or a cough that is not improving, see our cough medicine guide: Cough Medicine in Japan: What to Check Before Buying OTC Medicine.
If symptoms may be related to hot weather, heat illness may need cooling and medical care rather than OTC medicine alone. Read our heat illness guide: Heat Illness in Japan: What Travelers Should Check Before Taking Fever Medicine.
If your main concern is rash, itching, insect bites, or athlete’s foot, see our guide: Skin Rash and Itching Medicine in Japan: OTC Creams and Safety Checks.
Share Important Safety Information
Some OTC medicines may not be appropriate depending on your health condition, allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, or other medicines you take. Show any lines that apply to you.
| What you mean | Japanese to show |
| I have a chronic condition. | 持病があります。 |
| I have asthma. | 喘息があります。 |
| I have kidney disease. | 腎臓病があります。 |
| I have liver disease. | 肝臓病があります。 |
| I have heart disease. | 心臓病があります。 |
| I have high blood pressure. | 高血圧があります。 |
| I have diabetes. | 糖尿病があります。 |
| I have had a stomach ulcer or duodenal ulcer. | 胃潰瘍または十二指腸潰瘍になったことがあります。 |
| I have a drug allergy. | 薬のアレルギーがあります。 |
| I have a food allergy. | 食物アレルギーがあります。 |
| I take medicine prescribed by a doctor. | 医師から処方された薬を飲んでいます。 |
| I take other OTC medicines. | 他の市販薬を飲んでいます。 |
| I take supplements. | サプリメントを飲んでいます。 |
If you take other medicines, it can help to show the actual medicine package, prescription record, or medicine notebook if you have one.
Questions to Ask Before Taking the Medicine
Do not choose medicine only by the product name or package design. Ask about the active ingredient, dose, age limit, warnings, and possible overlap with other medicines.
| What you want to ask | Japanese to show |
| What is the active ingredient? | 有効成分は何ですか？ |
| How much should I take? | 1回にどのくらい飲めばよいですか？ |
| How many times a day can I take it? | 1日に何回まで飲めますか？ |
| How many days can I use it? | 何日くらい使ってもよいですか？ |
| Is there an age limit? | 年齢制限はありますか？ |
| Can I take this with my current medicine? | 今飲んでいる薬と一緒に使っても大丈夫ですか？ |
| Can I take this with other cold medicine? | 他の風邪薬と一緒に使っても大丈夫ですか？ |
| Will this medicine make me sleepy? | この薬で眠くなることはありますか？ |
| Can I drive after taking this? | この薬を飲んだ後に運転しても大丈夫ですか？ |
| Can I drink alcohol while taking this? | この薬を飲んでいる間、お酒を飲んでも大丈夫ですか？ |
| What side effects should I watch for? | どのような副作用に注意すればよいですか？ |
| When should I stop taking it and seek medical care? | どのような場合に服用をやめて受診すべきですか？ |
If you are unsure, ask before taking the medicine. Many OTC cold, fever, pain, and allergy products can contain overlapping ingredients.
Pharmacists, Registered Sellers, and OTC Medicine Categories in Japan
In Japan, some medicines sold without a prescription require pharmacist involvement. Others may be handled by pharmacists or registered sellers.
In general:
- Class 1 OTC medicines are sold by pharmacists.
- Class 2 and Class 3 OTC medicines can be sold by pharmacists or registered sellers.
- Registered sellers can help with many OTC medicines, but they are not the same as pharmacists.
- If your situation is complicated, ask whether you can speak with a pharmacist.
Use this card if you are not sure who to ask.
| What you want to ask | Japanese to show |
| Is this medicine a Class 1 OTC medicine? | この薬は第1類医薬品ですか？ |
| Do I need to speak with a pharmacist? | 薬剤師に相談する必要がありますか？ |
| Can a registered seller help me with this medicine? | この薬について登録販売者に相談できますか？ |
| I would like to ask a pharmacist if possible. | 可能であれば薬剤師に相談したいです。 |
Not every store has a pharmacist available at every moment. If staff cannot sell a medicine or recommend medical care, follow their guidance.
For a broader guide to buying OTC medicine in Japan, read: Drugstore Basics in Japan: How to Buy OTC Medicine Safely.
When OTC Medicine May Not Be Enough
OTC medicine is not always the right choice. Consider seeking medical care if symptoms are severe, unusual, getting worse, or not improving.
Be especially careful if you have:
- trouble breathing
- chest pain
- severe dehydration
- severe allergic reaction signs
- confusion or fainting
- severe pain
- symptoms after an injury
- symptoms in an infant, older adult, pregnant person, or someone with a serious chronic condition
If you think it may be an emergency in Japan, call 119 for an ambulance.
Use this card if you want to ask whether medical care may be better.
| What you want to ask | Japanese to show |
| Should I see a doctor instead of taking OTC medicine? | 市販薬ではなく、医療機関を受診した方がよいですか？ |
| Are these symptoms okay to manage with OTC medicine? | この症状は市販薬で対応しても大丈夫ですか？ |
| My symptoms are getting worse. | 症状が悪くなっています。 |
| My symptoms are not improving. | 症状が良くなりません。 |
How to Use This Card With a Translation App
Translation apps are helpful, but they work best when you know what information to provide.
A safe order is:
- Show who will use the medicine.
- Show your symptoms and how long they have lasted.
- Show any safety information, such as pregnancy, allergies, chronic conditions, or other medicines.
- Ask about dose, age limits, warnings, and whether medical care may be better.
- Use a translation app for follow-up questions.
If the staff recommends seeing a doctor or says the medicine may not be appropriate, do not pressure them to sell it.
FAQ
Can I show Japanese text to pharmacy staff in Japan?
Yes. Showing clear Japanese text can help, especially if you are not confident speaking Japanese. However, staff may still need to ask follow-up questions.
Do Japanese pharmacists speak English?
Some do, but not all. English support varies by store and location. A bilingual card can help you communicate basic safety information even when English support is limited.
What is a registered seller in a Japanese drugstore?
A registered seller is a qualified staff member who can sell many OTC medicines, such as Class 2 and Class 3 OTC medicines. A registered seller is not the same as a pharmacist and cannot handle everything a pharmacist can.
Can tourists buy OTC medicine in Japan?
In many cases, tourists can buy OTC medicine in Japan. However, some medicines require pharmacist involvement, and some products may not be appropriate depending on your age, health condition, pregnancy status, allergies, or other medicines.
Should I rely only on a translation app?
No. A translation app can help, but it may not organize the medical safety information for you. Use the cards to make sure you communicate the key points first.
What should I tell pharmacy staff before buying OTC medicine?
Tell them who will use the medicine, symptoms, how long the symptoms have lasted, age, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, allergies, chronic conditions, and any other medicines you take.
When should I see a doctor instead of buying OTC medicine?
Consider medical care if symptoms are severe, unusual, getting worse, or not improving. If you think it may be an emergency in Japan, call 119.
References
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Information on Japan’s medicine sales system.
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Overview of OTC medicine categories and sales by pharmacists or registered sellers.
- Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). Drug information and OTC / guidance-required medicine package insert search.
- Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). Consumer guidance on using OTC medicines safely.
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). Guide for when you are feeling ill in Japan.
