Buying Baby Supplies in Japan: Diapers, Formula and Drugstore Finds

Learn where visiting and newly arrived families usually find diapers, formula and everyday baby items in Japan, and how to shop smoothly at drugstores and department stores.

Published October 19, 2026 at 12:19 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Baby supplies in Japan are sold mainly at drugstores, large baby and kids stores, department stores and supermarkets. Diapers, wipes, powdered formula, baby food and basic toiletries are widely available, with sizes labeled by weight in kilograms. Packaging is usually in Japanese, so photos, size charts and a translation app help when comparing products.

Where baby goods are usually sold

Most families in Japan buy everyday baby items at drugstores, which are found near most stations and on many shopping streets. These shops carry diapers, wipes, bottles, nipples, powdered formula, baby food pouches, and simple health and skin-care products in one aisle, often at lower prices than department stores. Opening hours are long, which suits a late arrival or a sudden need.

Larger stores add more choice. Dedicated baby and kids stores, big supermarkets, and the children's floors of department stores stock strollers, clothing, bottles and gifts, with staff who can help fit a carrier or explain a product. Department stores are also a source of well-made gifts for newborns, which is why many Japanese families visit them before a baby's first outings.

Convenience stores help in a pinch. Many keep a small shelf of diapers, wipes and baby snacks, although the range is narrow. They are best treated as a backup for one night rather than a place for a full resupply, and prices are generally higher than at drugstores.

Diapers: sizes, types and how packs are labeled

Diapers in Japan are commonly sold in two main forms: tape type for babies who are not yet moving much, and pull-on (pants) type for crawling and walking children. Sizes are often named with letters such as NB, S, M, L and Big, together with a weight range in kilograms printed on the pack. A baby who weighs 9 kg usually fits the range that includes 9 kg, and comparing the printed range is more reliable than comparing letters.

Packs come in many counts, from small trial bags to large boxes. Trial packs are handy for travelers, because fit differs between makers and a child may sit between sizes. Thin, close-fitting designs are common, and many have a color-changing line that shows when the diaper is wet.

Disposal is simple on the street but strict at home in some areas. Public baby rooms and many hotels have bins, and in a rented apartment the building or city rules for burnable waste apply. Check the local guidance for how to sort used diapers, since collection days and bag types vary by municipality.

Formula, bottles and baby food

Powdered infant formula is easy to find in drugstores and supermarkets, packed in cans and in small sticks or cubes that are measured in advance. Cans are labeled in Japanese for the age range they suit, and many travelers choose to photograph the label and the feeding chart so a translation app can read the preparation steps. Follow the maker's directions exactly, since these differ between products.

Liquid formula has been introduced in Japan in recent years, and it can be convenient for travel because it needs no mixing. Availability changes, so confirm what a store currently stocks rather than planning a trip around one product. Families who rely on a specific formula for medical reasons should carry enough from home and ask a doctor before switching.

Baby food is sold in jars, retort pouches and freeze-dried packs, usually grouped by stage. Japanese stages follow the idea of rinyu-shoku (weaning food), with names and ages printed on the front. Texture and flavors lean mild, and ingredients such as dashi or rice are common, so read allergen notes on the back.

Wipes, skin care and everyday small items

Wipes are sold as thick, water-based packs for hands and bottoms, and as thinner types for mouths and faces. Some are labeled for use on the body, so reading the front is worthwhile. Japanese families often carry a small pack in every bag, and the habit travels well in a country where public restrooms may not always have towels or soap.

Skin-care items such as gentle soap, lotion and sunscreen for children fill another drugstore shelf. Labels list ingredients in Japanese, and some words to recognize include mukoryo (no added fragrance) and mu-chakushoku (no coloring). Patch testing a small area first is a common precaution for sensitive skin.

Everyday extras include disposable bibs, spoons, bottle brushes and sterilizing tablets, which are all inexpensive and light. A small stock of these can be bought on arrival rather than carried, which leaves room in a suitcase for other things.

Shopping at drugstores and department stores

Drugstores are bright, crowded and well organized, with signs that hang over the aisles. Staff will not always speak English, but pointing to a photo of the item works well. Shelf tags show the tax-inclusive price, sometimes alongside the pre-tax price, and the total at the register may differ when a point card or sale applies.

Some shops offer tax-free shopping for visitors, usually with a passport. The procedures for visitors, including how tax is refunded and how consumables such as diapers are handled, have changed in recent years and can change again, so ask at the register or check the current guidance from the Japan Tourism Agency before relying on it.

Department stores feel different. Floors are quiet, service is attentive, and many have a baby room for feeding and changing. The food hall in the basement is also a practical stop, with ready-to-eat items for a family between errands. Japan's department store tradition runs back more than a century, and the model still shapes how shoppers expect to be treated.

Tips for overseas parents

Plan a small first purchase rather than a big one. Buy one pack of diapers and one container of wipes at the first drugstore, then adjust to what the baby tolerates. Many families keep a note on a phone with the baby's weight in kilograms, since every pack in Japan uses metric units.

Bring any prescription items and special foods from home, and pack extra formula for the first two days. If a baby has allergies, a short note in Japanese listing the allergen is useful at stores and restaurants. A translation app can help create the sentence.

Weight and height in Japan are measured in kilograms and centimeters, and baby products follow this. For a stay of more than a few days, ask the hotel or host where the nearest drugstore is, and which hours it keeps. A short walk to a store is often the quickest way to fill gaps.

Common mistakes and a note on safety

A frequent error is buying a size by age instead of weight. Japanese packs are sized by weight, and babies of the same age may differ a lot. Another is assuming a favorite product is sold everywhere, when ranges differ between stores and regions. A third is skipping the allergen notes on baby food or snacks.

Shops may also sell items that look familiar but are made for a different age or use, so check the pictogram and the stage number. If a label cannot be read, skip the item rather than guess, and ask a staff member or a pharmacist. This guide shares general cultural and shopping information, not professional advice; for a child's health or feeding questions, talk with a pediatrician or local clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy diapers and formula in Japan without speaking Japanese?

Yes. Drugstores display products by category with large pictures, and weight ranges are printed in numbers. Pointing to a photo, showing a phone picture, or using a translation app usually covers the conversation. Staff may not speak English, but the layout makes it easy to find diapers, wipes and powdered formula by sight.

Are Japanese diaper sizes the same as in other countries?

Not exactly. Packs list weight ranges in kilograms along with letter sizes such as S, M and L, and the letters do not match other countries' numbered sizes. Compare the kilogram range to the baby's current weight, and buy a small trial pack first because fit differs between makers.

Is tax-free shopping available for baby items?

Many large stores offer it to visitors who show a passport and meet the store's conditions, but the procedures and eligible items change from time to time. Ask the store before paying, and check the current guidance from the Japan Tourism Agency if the purchase is large.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Japan With a Toddler is available on Amazon.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Nursing Rooms and Baby Rooms in Japan: Where to Find Them, The Japanese-Style Packing List for Traveling With Children and Family Travel in Japan: Fun Stops and Easy Tips for Kids.