Pharmacies in Japan: Prescriptions, Medicine Notebooks and Reading the Labels

A calm, practical walk through the Japanese pharmacy counter, from filling a prescription to decoding the little risk-class boxes on a medicine package.

Published October 26, 2026 at 9:27 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: A Japanese pharmacy (yakkyoku) is a licensed counter where pharmacists fill doctors' prescriptions and sell over-the-counter medicine. Hand over your prescription, answer a short questionnaire, and keep the medication notebook the pharmacist gives you. For store-bought medicine, look for the boxed class on the package: 第1類, 第2類 or 第3類 (Class 1, 2 or 3).

Many visitors notice that Japan has two kinds of medicine shops that look quite different. One is the brightly lit drugstore chain with shampoo, snacks and cosmetics; the other is the quieter yakkyoku, often tucked beside a clinic, where a pharmacist works behind a counter. Knowing which door to open saves time when you feel unwell. This guide focuses on the pharmacy side: how prescriptions are filled, what the medication notebook is for, how the risk-class labels work, and which phrases and kanji help you read a package with confidence.

Pharmacy or drugstore: which door to open

A yakkyoku is a licensed pharmacy whose main job is dispensing prescription medicine, while a drugstore is a retail chain that sells over-the-counter products alongside daily goods. The two overlap, because many drugstores have a pharmacist and a dispensing counter, and many pharmacies stock a shelf of over-the-counter remedies. As a rule of thumb, a pharmacy near a hospital or clinic mainly serves people carrying a prescription. A drugstore in a shopping street or at a station exit is the place for toothpaste, eye drops, plasters and cold remedies.

The sign over the door gives a hint. Pharmacies usually display the character 薬 (kusuri, medicine) or the word 薬局 (yakkyoku),. Drugstores tend to look like a cheerful general store, with promotional music and shelves stacked to the ceiling. Both are normal places for visitors to ask for help, and staff generally appreciate it when you point to a symptom on your phone screen or show a translated note.

How a prescription is filled

A prescription (shohosen) written by a Japanese doctor is normally taken to a pharmacy, which may be a different business from the clinic itself. In many towns a pharmacy sits right beside a clinic, so patients simply walk next door. The pharmacist reads the prescription, checks it against any other medicine you take, prepares the doses and explains how to use them. Pharmacies generally fill prescriptions written by doctors licensed in Japan, so a visitor who needs a prescription medicine usually sees a local doctor first.

Prescriptions are only valid for a short period, commonly a few days counting the day of issue, so it is best to go straight to the pharmacy after your appointment. At the counter you may be asked to fill in a short form about allergies, current medicines and pregnancy, and you may be asked whether you would like a generic version, which is usually less expensive. Costs depend on insurance status. Visitors without Japanese insurance should expect to pay the full price, so ask the clinic for an estimate when possible.

The medication notebook (okusuri techo)

The okusuri techo is a small booklet in which the pharmacist records every prescription you receive, including names, doses and dates. The idea is simple: when a doctor or another pharmacist can see the whole list, the risk of overlapping medicines goes down. Many pharmacies give a paper notebook for free, often with a cheerful cover, and several now offer digital versions in smartphone apps. Residents are encouraged to bring it to every appointment.

For a short-stay visitor, the notebook is still worth keeping if you are prescribed something during a trip. Show it to the pharmacist if you return, and photograph it before you fly home so your own doctor can see exactly what you took. If you are staying longer, many people choose one regular pharmacy, called a kakaritsuke yakkyoku, so the record stays in one place.

What the risk-class box on a package means

Japan sorts non-prescription medicine into risk classes, and the class is printed on the outer package. According to local government guidance, the categories are the newer switch drugs known as 要指導医薬品 (guidance-required medicines), Class 1, Class 2 (with a designated subset that needs extra caution) and Class 3. Look for a small boxed label reading 第1類医薬品, 第2類医薬品 or 第3類医薬品, where only the number changes.

The class describes how the product may be sold, not how effective it is. Guidance-required medicines and Class 1 products are sold only by a pharmacist, kept behind the counter, and come with a short explanation. Class 2 and Class 3 products can be sold by a pharmacist or by a registered seller (登録販売者, toroku hanbaisha), a trained non-pharmacist who has passed a prefectural exam, and they usually sit on open shelves. Class 3 holds items such as vitamins and intestinal remedies, while common cold remedies and painkillers are typically Class 2.

Why some medicine is only sold when a pharmacist is on duty

Class 1 and guidance-required products can be sold only while a pharmacist is present in the store. That explains why a drugstore may stay open late at night yet cover a particular shelf or cabinet with a sign saying the pharmacist is away. It is not a sign that you did something wrong; it is simply how the system works.

Some products with ingredients that can be misused are also sold with extra care, whatever their class. Staff may ask about your age, other medicines you use and how much you have bought recently, and they may limit the quantity to a single package. Answer calmly and simply. If you need a medicine urgently, a pharmacy near a hospital often keeps longer hours, and the staff can tell you which nearby shop has a pharmacist on duty.

Reading a Japanese medicine package

The leaflet inside the box is the main source of information, and it is written in Japanese. A handful of kanji unlock most of it. 効能・効果 (konou kouka) lists what the product is for. 用法・用量 (youhou youryou) gives how to take it and how much, often in a small table by age. 成分 (seibun) lists ingredients, and 使用上の注意 (shiyou jou no chui) lists cautions, including who should not use it. Printed expiry dates and dose ages are on the box as well.

If you cannot read the leaflet, a translation app pointed at the box works well, but double-check key points with the pharmacist, because a translation may skip a caution. Japanese adult doses can differ from those on familiar brands from other countries, so do not assume two products with a similar name are identical. Ask directly if you are unsure; pharmacists are used to questions and often keep an English pamphlet or a translation device at the counter.

Everyday items you can find at a pharmacy

Beyond medicine, pharmacies and drugstores sell the small things that make a trip comfortable: plasters, eye drops, throat lozenges, sunscreen, lip balm, masks, thermometers, sanitary products, and basic first-aid supplies. Many sell cooling sheets, warming patches for the lower back and shoulders, and herbal remedies called kanpo, which are classed in the same risk system as other medicines.

Prices are posted on shelf tags, and large drugstores often have English signs and tax-free counters for eligible visitors, though rules for tax-free shopping change, so check the current system at the store. If you take regular prescription medicine from home, bring it in its original container along with a copy of the prescription, and keep it in your carry-on.

Bringing your own medicine into Japan

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare allows travelers to bring a limited supply of personal medicine without special paperwork. Its English guidance says that up to a one-month supply of prescription medicine is allowed without an Import Confirmation certificate (called a Yunyu Kakunin-sho), and other medicines and quasi-drugs are allowed up to a two-month supply. Larger amounts require an application well before you travel, and some stimulant and narcotic ingredients are banned or tightly controlled, even when they are legal in your home country.

Rules can change, and your own pharmacist can tell you whether your medicine contains a controlled ingredient. Check the ministry page before you fly, and keep medicine in its labeled packaging so officers can see what it is.

When to ask for help

Tell the pharmacist the symptom, how long you have had it, any allergies and any medicine you already take. If you are unsure, a short note in Japanese on your phone is often enough. For anything serious, a clinic or hospital is the right place, and a pharmacist will gladly point you toward one. Japan has an emergency number for ambulances (119), and many hotels will call a nearby clinic for you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a yakkyoku and a drugstore in Japan?

A yakkyoku is a licensed pharmacy that mainly fills prescriptions and has a pharmacist on duty. A drugstore is a retail chain that sells over-the-counter medicine with cosmetics, snacks and household items. Some drugstores include a pharmacy counter, and some pharmacies stock over-the-counter products, so the line can blur. Both are safe places to ask for help.

Can a prescription from another country be used at a Japanese pharmacy?

Generally no. Pharmacies fill prescriptions written by doctors licensed in Japan, so a foreign prescription is not normally accepted. If you need a prescription medicine during a trip, a local clinic can examine you and write one, which you then take to a pharmacy. Bring your own medicine in its original packaging and carry a copy of your prescription.

Why does a Japanese pharmacy ask so many questions before selling medicine?

Some medicines are sold only after a pharmacist checks your symptoms, age, allergies and other medicines. That is how Japan's risk-class system works, especially for Class 1 products. The questions are routine, not a sign of suspicion, and they help you get a suitable product. Keep answers short and honest, and ask for a recommendation if you are unsure.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Japanese Drugstores: What to Look For and How to Shop, Bringing Medicine Into Japan: Rules, Limits and Yakkan Shoumei and Medicines and Insurance for Older Travelers in Japan.