Medicines and Pharmacies in Japan for Indian Travellers

Japanese pharmacies and drugstores can be surprisingly big. And for an Indian traveller, finding the right medicine is harder than it looks.

The short version:

• Bring your regular medicines from India, with prescriptions where needed.
• Know the generic name, not just the Indian brand.
• In Japan, describe the symptom or the generic name.
• Use a translate app or ask the pharmacist.

Why it’s confusing

• Packaging looks very different from what we’re used to in India. Bright colours, lots of design.
• Most information is in Japanese.
• Your Indian brand name won’t mean anything there.

So looking for a familiar name on the shelf usually doesn’t work.

What to do before you fly

• Pack your regular medicines from India, enough for the whole trip plus a few days.
• Carry the prescription for anything prescribed.
• Write down the generic names (like paracetamol, cetirizine) of anything you might need.
• Check Japan’s rules before packing. Some medicines common in India are restricted in Japan, and larger quantities may need approval in advance.

If you need something in Japan

1. Describe the symptom (headache, fever, cold, stomach upset) or the generic name.
2. Use your translate app’s camera mode to read boxes.
3. Ask the pharmacist. Many drugstores have a pharmacist counter.
4. Show the generic name on your phone instead of saying a brand name.

A basic kit I’d carry

• Fever and pain relief
• Something for acidity and stomach upset
• Allergy tablets
• ORS sachets or electrolytes (there’s also Pocari Sweat in every vending machine)
• Band-aids and blister plasters. With the amount of walking, you’ll want them.

My take

Drugstores in Japan are great for everyday things, but don’t count on finding your usual medicine by its name. Bring what you need, know the generic names, and ask for help when you need it.