Need to ask about OTC medicine in Japan? Start by showing what symptom you have, who will use the medicine, what you already took, and whether you have allergies, pregnancy, or chronic conditions.
Quick answer: do not start with a product name. Start with your situation. Pharmacy staff can help much more safely if they know your symptoms, age, other medicines, allergies, and whether medical care may be better than OTC medicine.
You can show the Japanese phrases below at a pharmacy or drugstore. Use only the lines that apply to you.
This guide is for communication support. It does not diagnose symptoms, recommend a specific medicine, or replace medical care.
- Fastest Way to Use This Page
- Quick Show-This Card: Start Here
- Tell Staff Who Will Use the Medicine
- Symptom Phrases to Show
- Safety Information to Share
- Questions to Ask Before Taking OTC Medicine
- Pharmacist, Registered Seller, or Clinic?
- When OTC Medicine May Not Be Enough
- Using This With a Translation App
- FAQ
- Related Guides
- References
Fastest Way to Use This Page
- Show the quick card first.
- Add your symptom phrase and how long it has lasted.
- Show any safety information, such as pregnancy, allergies, chronic conditions, or other medicines.
- Ask about active ingredients, drowsiness, age limits, and medicine overlap.
- If staff says OTC medicine is not suitable, look for a clinic.
For a full buying guide, see: Drugstore Basics in Japan
Quick Show-This Card: Start Here
| What you mean | Japanese to show |
|---|---|
| I am looking for OTC medicine. | 市販薬を探しています。 |
| My main symptom is ___. | 主な症状は___です。 |
| These symptoms started ___ days ago. | ___日前から症状があります。 |
| I already took this medicine today. | 今日、この薬を飲みました。 |
| 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。 |
| Can I speak with a pharmacist or registered seller? | 薬剤師または登録販売者に相談できますか？ |
Tell Staff Who Will Use the Medicine
Age, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the person who will use the medicine can change what is 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。 |
Symptom Phrases to Show
These phrases help explain your symptoms. They are not for diagnosing yourself.
| What you mean | Japanese to show |
|---|---|
| I have a fever. | 熱があります。 |
| I have a headache. | 頭が痛いです。 |
| I have a sore throat. | のどが痛いです。 |
| I have a cough. | 咳があります。 |
| I have phlegm. | たんが出ます。 |
| I have a runny nose. | 鼻水が出ます。 |
| 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 heartburn or acid reflux. | 胸やけや胃酸の逆流があります。 |
| I have a rash. | 発疹があります。 |
| I feel itchy. | かゆみがあります。 |
| My eyes are red or irritated. | 目が赤い／違和感があります。 |
| My ear hurts. | 耳が痛いです。 |
| I have a toothache. | 歯が痛いです。 |
| I have period pain. | 生理痛があります。 |
| It hurts when I urinate. | 排尿時に痛みがあります。 |
| 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 symptom-specific guides, see:
- Fever in Japan
- Cold Medicine in Japan
- Stomach and Digestive Problems in Japan
- Skin Rash and Itching Medicine in Japan
- UTI Symptoms in Japan
Safety Information to Share
Show these before buying or taking medicine if they 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 glaucoma. | 緑内障があります。 |
| I have difficulty urinating. | 尿が出にくいです。 |
| 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 possible, show the actual medicine package, prescription record, medicine notebook, or a clear photo of the label.
Questions to Ask Before Taking OTC Medicine
Many Japanese OTC medicines are combination products. Check the active ingredient, not only the brand name or package color.
| What you want to ask | Japanese to show |
|---|---|
| What is the active ingredient? | 有効成分は何ですか？ |
| Does this contain acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or loxoprofen? | アセトアミノフェン、イブプロフェン、ロキソプロフェンは入っていますか？ |
| Does this contain the same ingredient as medicine I already took? | すでに飲んだ薬と同じ成分が入っていますか？ |
| 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？ |
| Is there an age limit? | 年齢制限はありますか？ |
| 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, cycle, or drink alcohol after taking this? | 服用後に運転、自転車、お酒は大丈夫ですか？ |
| 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？ |
| When should I stop using it and see a doctor? | どのような場合に使用をやめて受診すべきですか？ |
For medicine overlap, see: Can I Combine Japanese OTC Medicines?
Pharmacist, Registered Seller, or Clinic?
In Japan, some non-prescription medicines require pharmacist involvement. Many Class 2 and Class 3 OTC medicines can be handled by pharmacists or registered sellers, but registered sellers are not the same as pharmacists.
Also, not every drugstore has a pharmacist available at every moment. If the pharmacist is not there, some products may not be available.
| What you want to ask | Japanese to show |
|---|---|
| Is a pharmacist available now? | 今、薬剤師さんはいますか？ |
| Is this a Class 1 OTC medicine? | これは第1類医薬品ですか？ |
| Do I need pharmacist explanation for this? | これは薬剤師の説明が必要ですか？ |
| 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？ |
| Should I go to a clinic instead? | 市販薬ではなく受診した方がよいですか？ |
If staff asks about your age, symptoms, quantity, other medicines, or why you need a product, answer honestly. Some medicines require extra purchase checks in Japan.
When OTC Medicine May Not Be Enough
Consider medical care instead of only buying OTC medicine if symptoms are severe, unusual, getting worse, or not improving.
Be especially careful with:
- trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or severe allergic reaction signs
- chest pain, severe headache, confusion, fainting, or weakness on one side
- high fever, fever with rash, stiff neck, or very unwell feeling
- severe abdominal pain, black stool, blood in stool, repeated vomiting, or dehydration
- eye pain, vision changes, strong ear pain, or severe tooth pain
- urinary symptoms with fever, back pain, blood in urine, pregnancy, or symptoms in men
- symptoms after an injury
- symptoms in a baby, older adult, pregnant person, or someone with serious chronic disease
If you think it may be an emergency in Japan, call 119. For medical care basics, see: How to See a Doctor in Japan as a Traveler and Emergency Numbers in Japan.
Using This With a Translation App
Translation apps are useful, but they work better when you give clear information first.
Use this order:
- Who will use the medicine
- Main symptom and how long it has lasted
- Other medicines, allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or chronic conditions
- Questions about ingredients, drowsiness, age limits, and overlap
- Whether medical care may be safer
If pharmacy staff 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. Clear Japanese text can help, especially if you are not confident speaking Japanese. 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. These cards can help you communicate key safety information even when English support is limited.
Can tourists buy OTC medicine in Japan?
In many cases, yes. However, some medicines require pharmacist involvement, and some products may not be appropriate depending on age, pregnancy, allergies, health conditions, or other medicines.
Should I rely only on a translation app?
No. A translation app can help, but it may not organize medical safety information for you. Use the cards to show the key points first.
Related Guides
- Drugstore Basics in Japan
- Can I Combine Japanese OTC Medicines?
- How to See a Doctor in Japan as a Traveler
- Emergency Numbers in Japan
- Medical Costs and Travel Insurance in Japan
References
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Information on Japan’s medicine sales system. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000082514.html
- Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). Drug safety information. https://www.pmda.go.jp/english/safety/info-services/drugs/0001.html
- Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). OTC medicine package insert search. https://www.pmda.go.jp/PmdaSearch/otcSearch/
- Japan National Tourism Organization. Guide for when you are feeling ill in Japan. https://www.jnto.go.jp/emergency/eng/mi_guide.html
