Daily Life Lessons · Shopping
When buying over-the-counter medicine at a drugstore, understand the medicine categories and be able to consult a pharmacist or registered seller by telling them your symptoms and the medicines you are taking.
At drugstores (ドラッグストア) you can buy not only medicine but also daily necessities, cosmetics, food, and more. Medicines you can buy without a doctor's prescription (処方箋), known as over-the-counter medicines (市販薬), fall into categories such as "requires guidance" (要指導医薬品), "Class 1" (第1類医薬品), "Class 2" (第2類医薬品), and "Class 3" (第3類医薬品), which are shown on the box. Medicines requiring guidance and Class 1 medicines are sold with an explanation from a pharmacist, so you cannot buy them when no pharmacist is on duty.
When choosing a medicine, consult a pharmacist (薬剤師) or registered seller (登録販売者) and tell them your symptoms and any medicines you are currently taking. Since May 2026, when you buy some cold medicines, cough medicines, and others (designated medicines for abuse prevention: 指定濫用防止医薬品), you will be asked your age, whether you have bought them at other stores, why you are buying more than one, and so on, and people under 18 can buy only a limited quantity. Prescription medicines are collected at a pharmacy that can fill prescriptions.
ドラッグストアでは、薬（くすり）や 日用品（にちようひん）を 買えます。
- 病院の 紙（処方箋 しょほうせん）が なくても 買える 薬が あります。 - 箱に「第1類（だいいちるい）」などと 書いてあります。 - 第1類の 薬は、薬剤師（やくざいし）が いないと 買えません。
わからないときは、店の 薬剤師や 登録販売者（とうろくはんばいしゃ）に 聞きましょう。
- どこが 痛いか、いつからか。 - 今 飲んでいる 薬。
一部の かぜ薬や せき止めは、年（とし）や 買う 理由を 聞かれます。18さい より 下の 人は、買える 数が 少ないです。
Where can you check the category (Class 1, etc.) of an over-the-counter medicine?
The category is shown on the medicine box (outer box).
Who can sell Class 1 medicines?
Medicines requiring guidance and Class 1 medicines are sold by a pharmacist. Class 2 and Class 3 medicines are sold by a pharmacist or a registered seller.
What is good to tell them when you ask about medicine?
Telling them your symptoms and the medicines you are taking now makes it easier to find a suitable medicine.
Where do you get medicine prescribed at a hospital?
Prescription medicines are collected at a pharmacy that can fill prescriptions. Some drugstores have a prescription counter.
What happens when you buy some cold medicines or cough medicines?
Since May 2026, to prevent abuse, you are asked your age, whether you have bought them at other stores, why you are buying more than one, and so on. People under 18 can buy only a limited quantity.
Q. I'm worried about explaining my symptoms in Japanese.
A. Writing your symptoms and the names of the medicines you take on a note, or showing a translation on your smartphone, makes it easier to communicate.
Q. What is a medicine notebook (お薬手帳)?
A. It is a record of the medicines you take. If you show it at a pharmacy or hospital, they can check things such as whether your medicines are safe to take together.
Q. What if I don't get better after taking over-the-counter medicine?
A. Don't push yourself; see a doctor at a medical institution. Tell them which medicines you took, too.
This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.
Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original