Hello everyone.
Today, I’d like to explain something that often surprises visitors to Japan.
Many people expect convenience stores to sell common medicines for headaches, colds, stomach problems, or allergies. In reality, however, most Japanese convenience stores do not sell over-the-counter medicines.
From my own experience working in convenience stores, only a very small percentage of stores carry them.
So why is medicine so uncommon at Japanese convenience stores?
One major reason is that the sale of over-the-counter medicine in Japan is regulated. Depending on the type of medicine being sold, stores need qualified staff and must meet certain requirements. For an ordinary convenience store, selling medicine is therefore not as simple as adding another product to the shelves.
However, you may still see products that look like medicine.
For example, convenience stores commonly sell nutritional drinks, vitamin and mineral supplements, and various products marketed for people who have eaten or drunk too much. Some of these products may contain ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, or caffeine.
However, you should not assume that everything that looks medicinal is an over-the-counter medicine.
If you need medicine for a cold, headache, allergies, or another health problem while traveling in Japan, a drugstore or pharmacy is usually a better place to look. Many Japanese drugstores sell a wide variety of over-the-counter medicines.
And if your symptoms are severe or do not improve, consider visiting a medical clinic or hospital.
Traveling can be tiring, especially during a long trip. I hope you stay healthy throughout your visit to Japan and enjoy your journey.
Thank you for reading!
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