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#Q&A How do I choose OTC medicine at a… Answer ↓

How do I choose OTC medicine at a Japanese drugstore? What do Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 mean?

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Start with the risk class printed on the box: Class 1 drugs (such as Loxonin S) can only be sold while a pharmacist is on duty and after an explanation, and some stores limit quantities; Designated Class 2 and Class 2 drugs can be sold by a pharmacist or a registered seller; Class 3 drugs carry relatively lower risk. As of October 2026, visitors most often buy eye drops, stomach medicine, pain relievers, medicated patches and vitamins, while most combination cold medicines contain ephedrine-type or codeine-type ingredients, so buy only what you need for personal use. Use any medicine according to its package insert or your doctor's instructions; this site does not give medical advice.

Check the class on the box first

In Japan, the box of every non-prescription drug (一般用医薬品) must show its risk class. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW):

Class Meaning Who can sell it Examples
Class 1 (第1類医薬品) Ingredients that need special caution for safety Pharmacists only, with a written explanation Loxonin S (ロキソニンS)
Designated Class 2 (指定第2類医薬品) Class 2 drugs that need extra caution Pharmacist or registered seller Pabron Gold A (パブロンゴールドA), EVE A (イブA錠)
Class 2 (第2類医薬品) May rarely cause serious side effects Pharmacist or registered seller Ohta's Isan (太田胃散), most eye drops
Class 3 (第3類医薬品) Relatively lower risk Pharmacist or registered seller Chocola BB Plus (チョコラBBプラス), Salonpas Ae (サロンパスAe)

There are also quasi-drugs (医薬部外品, milder in effect, between medicines and everyday products) and supplements such as DHC vitamins, which are classified as food.

Why some drugs are unavailable or limited

  • Class 1: You can't buy them when no pharmacist is on duty (common late at night or at some small stores). At checkout, the pharmacist may ask in Japanese or English what it's for and whether you have allergies. This is normal.
  • Drugs with ephedrine-type or codeine-type ingredients: MHLW designates ephedrine, methylephedrine, pseudoephedrine, codeine, dihydrocodeine and similar ingredients as drugs with a risk of misuse. Stores generally limit them to one box per person per type, and you'll be asked why if you want more. Most Japanese combination cold medicines contain these ingredients.

What visitors often buy

  • Eye drops: Santen, Rohto and Lion each have many lines. See How to choose Japanese eye drops.
  • Stomach and digestive medicine: Ohta's Isan (powder), Cabagin Kowa α (キャベジンコーワα, tablets), Seirogan (正露丸, for diarrhea).
  • Pain relievers: EVE A (イブA錠, ibuprofen), Bufferin A (バファリンA, aspirin), Loxonin S (Class 1).
  • Medicated patches: Salonpas Ae, Roihi-tsuboko (ロイヒつぼ膏).
  • Vitamins: Chocola BB Plus and Alinamin EX Plus (アリナミンEXプラス) are drugs; DHC products are supplements.

Tips before you buy

  1. Take a photo of the box or the Japanese name of the product you want and show it to the staff, so you don't buy the wrong version.
  2. One brand often has a dozen or more versions. Check the ingredients and size (number of tablets, mL) on the box.
  3. If you take other medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a chronic condition, ask a doctor or pharmacist first.
  4. Check your own country's rules on bringing medicine home, including quantities and ingredients. For mainland China's rules, see Can I bring medicine from Japan back to China?. Drugstores (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sundrug, Cocokara Fine and others) are everywhere around major stations, and Don Quijote also has a drugstore section. See Where to shop in Tokyo.

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Updated 2026-10-23Prices are for reference only; check in store.Markdown