Is paracetamol (acetaminophen) available OTC in Japan?

Yes. Acetaminophen (called アセトアミノフェン, acetaminophen) is available OTC at pharmacies and drug stores in Japan, typically marketed under brand names such as Tylenol (available at some stores) or as a component in Japanese combination cold medicines. Check the active ingredients on the packaging.

Are ibuprofen and other NSAIDs available?

Yes. Ibuprofen is available OTC in Japan under several brand names. The standard adult dose products are sold in pharmacies and drug stores. NSAIDs are labeled under different brand names than those used in some countries — check for イブプロフェン (ibuprofen) in the active ingredients list.

What about common allergy medicines (antihistamines)?

Non-sedating antihistamines including loratadine (Claritin equivalent) and cetirizine are available OTC at Japanese pharmacies. Some require a pharmacist consultation (Category 1 or 2). Older sedating antihistamines are often components of cold combination products and are widely available.

Can I bring OTC medicines into Japan from abroad?

Personal use quantities of most OTC medicines can be brought in. MHLW sets limits (typically a one-month supply) and some active ingredients common in foreign OTCs — certain stimulants, codeine in some formulations — require declaration or are prohibited. Check the MHLW importation rules before traveling with medications.

Getting Care

Over-the-Counter Medicine in Japan

A guide to navigating Japanese pharmacies and drug stores for non-prescription medicines — what is available, how products are categorized, and what common OTC items treat.

Who this is for

Foreign residents looking for non-prescription remedies for common conditions such as colds, fever, pain, allergies, and digestive symptoms.

Japan’s OTC system and drug store landscape

Non-prescription medicines in Japan are sold at two types of retail outlets: pharmacies (薬局, yakkyoku), which have a licensed pharmacist on premises, and drug stores (ドラッグストア, doraggusutoa), which may or may not have a pharmacist and can sell a subset of OTC medications. Both carry the common drugstore items — personal care, vitamins, cosmetics, and lower-risk OTC medicines. Higher-risk or more potent OTC medicines require a pharmacist to be present at sale.

Japan’s market is dominated by combination products rather than single-ingredient medications. A Japanese cold medicine typically contains a decongestant, an antihistamine, an analgesic/antipyretic, and sometimes a cough suppressant in a single tablet. Knowing which active ingredients treat which symptoms helps you choose correctly.

OTC medicine categories

MHLW classifies OTC medicines into three categories based on risk:

Category 1 (第一類, dai-ichi-rui): Highest-risk OTC products, requiring a pharmacist to be present and to offer an explanation before purchase. These include some stomach acid reducers (PPIs) and certain hair loss treatments. A licensed pharmacist must explain the medicine to you.

Category 2 (第二類, dai-ni-rui): Most common cold medicines, antihistamines, analgesics, and antifungal creams fall here. These must be sold in a pharmacy with a pharmacist available. The pharmacist provides consultation if requested.

Category 3 (第三類, dai-san-rui): Lower-risk products — vitamins, mild digestive enzymes, some topical antiseptics — that can be sold in drug stores without pharmacist consultation.

Finding common remedies

For fever and pain. Look for products labeled 解熱鎮痛薬 (kanetsu chintsu-yaku). Active ingredients to look for include アセトアミノフェン (acetaminophen/paracetamol) and イブプロフェン (ibuprofen). Popular brands include Bufferin, Ibuprofen A (by various manufacturers), and various acetaminophen-only products.

For colds and nasal congestion. Look for 風邪薬 (kazeyaku). Japanese cold medicines are almost always combination products. Read the active ingredients (成分, seibun) panel to check whether the product matches your symptoms. Decongestants include pseudoephedrine in some products.

For allergies. Non-sedating antihistamines for hay fever and allergic rhinitis (花粉症, kafunshō) are widely available in Category 2. Japanese drug stores stock these prominently from late winter through spring. Look for products labeled for アレルギー性鼻炎 (arerugi-sei bienien, allergic rhinitis).

For stomach symptoms. Japanese pharmacies carry a range of digestive products. 整腸薬 (seichō-yaku) are probiotic-based products for digestive regulation. 胃腸薬 (ichō-yaku) are broader digestive symptom treatments covering nausea, indigestion, and bloating.

Reading Japanese packaging

Look for the 成分 (seibun, ingredients) section on the package — this lists all active components by Japanese name and dosage. The 用法・用量 (yōhō/yōryō, usage/dosage) section gives the dose and schedule by age group. If you cannot read the packaging, the pharmacist is required by law to provide an explanation; asking for help at the counter is always appropriate.

Last reviewed: September 2026

Key terms

English	Japanese	Romaji
Over-the-counter medicine	市販薬 / 一般用医薬品	sihan'yaku / ippan'yō iyakuhin
Drug store / pharmacy	ドラッグストア / 薬局	doraggusutoa / yakkyoku
Category 1 OTC	第一類医薬品	dai-ichi-rui iyakuhin
Category 2 OTC	第二類医薬品	dai-ni-rui iyakuhin
Non-active ingredient ingredient notice	添付文書	tenpubunshō
Cold medicine	風邪薬	kazeyaku
Antihistamine	抗ヒスタミン薬	kō-histamin'yaku
Antipyretic/analgesic	解熱鎮痛薬	kanetsu chintsu-yaku

Common questions

Is paracetamol (acetaminophen) available OTC in Japan?: Yes. Acetaminophen (called アセトアミノフェン, acetaminophen) is available OTC at pharmacies and drug stores in Japan, typically marketed under brand names such as Tylenol (available at some stores) or as a component in Japanese combination cold medicines. Check the active ingredients on the packaging.
Are ibuprofen and other NSAIDs available?: Yes. Ibuprofen is available OTC in Japan under several brand names. The standard adult dose products are sold in pharmacies and drug stores. NSAIDs are labeled under different brand names than those used in some countries — check for イブプロフェン (ibuprofen) in the active ingredients list.
What about common allergy medicines (antihistamines)?: Non-sedating antihistamines including loratadine (Claritin equivalent) and cetirizine are available OTC at Japanese pharmacies. Some require a pharmacist consultation (Category 1 or 2). Older sedating antihistamines are often components of cold combination products and are widely available.
Can I bring OTC medicines into Japan from abroad?: Personal use quantities of most OTC medicines can be brought in. MHLW sets limits (typically a one-month supply) and some active ingredients common in foreign OTCs — certain stimulants, codeine in some formulations — require declaration or are prohibited. Check the MHLW importation rules before traveling with medications.

Sources