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If you're living in Japan, sooner or later you'll probably need to visit a pharmacy—whether to pick up medicine prescribed by a doctor or simply buy something for a headache, cold, allergy, or stomachache.

But here's something that can confuse newcomers : Not every place selling medicine works the same way.

In Japan, you'll commonly encounter dispensing pharmacies（調剤薬局 / Chōzai Yakkyoku） and drugstores（ドラッグストア / Doraggu Sutoa）.

For Filipino OFWs, understanding the difference can make getting medicine much easier.

1. What Is a Pharmacy in Japan?

The general Japanese word for pharmacy is :

薬局（Yakkyoku）

But if a doctor gives you a prescription, you'll usually need a pharmacy that handles prescriptions :

調剤薬局（Chōzai Yakkyoku）

Dispensing pharmacy

These pharmacies have pharmacists who prepare and dispense prescription medicines. 

You can often find them near :

• Hospitals

• Clinics

• Medical buildings

• Train stations

• Shopping areas

2. Pharmacy vs. Drugstore: What's the Difference?

This is important.

調剤薬局（Chōzai Yakkyoku）

Dispensing Pharmacy

This is where you can have a doctor's prescription filled.

ドラッグストア（Doraggu Sutoa）

Drugstore

Drugstores commonly sell :

• Over-the-counter medicines

• Toiletries

• Cosmetics

• Shampoo

• Toothpaste

• Supplements

• Household products

• Snacks and drinks at some stores

Some drugstores also have a prescription counter, but not all do.

So if you have a prescription, look for :

処方せん受付（Shohōsen Uketsuke）

“Prescriptions accepted”

3. What Happens After You Visit the Doctor?

After your consultation, the doctor may issue a :

処方箋（Shohōsen）

Prescription

In many cases, you don't receive your medicine directly from the clinic.

Instead, the process is :

1. Visit the hospital or clinic

↓

2. Doctor examines you

↓

3. Receive a prescription

↓

4. Take it to a dispensing pharmacy

↓

5. Pharmacist prepares your medicine

↓

6. Receive instructions and pay

This system is commonly known as the separation of medical practice and dispensing :

医薬分業（Iyaku Bungyō）

4. Can You Use Any Pharmacy?

In general, you can take your prescription to a pharmacy that accepts prescriptions rather than being limited only to the pharmacy beside your hospital.

This is useful because you might prefer a pharmacy :

• Near your home

• Near your workplace

• Near your station

• Where staff already know your medication history

However, availability of particular medicines can differ.

If a pharmacy doesn't have the prescribed medicine in stock, staff may need to order it or advise you about your options.

5. Don't Wait Too Long to Use Your Prescription

This is very important.

Under Japan's rules, a standard prescription is generally valid for :

4 days

This includes :

The day the prescription was issued + weekends + national holidays.

For example, if your prescription is issued on Monday, it will normally be valid through Thursday unless the doctor has specified a different valid period for a particular reason.

So don't put it in your bag and think :

“Next week ko na kunin.”

It may already be invalid by then.

6. What Should You Bring to the Pharmacy?

If you're filling a prescription, prepare :

• 処方箋（Shohōsen） – Prescription

• Your health-insurance eligibility information when requested

• お薬手帳（Okusuri Techō） – Medication notebook

• Identification if necessary

• Cash or another accepted payment method

If it's your first visit, you may also be asked to complete a short questionnaire.

7. What Is an Okusuri Techō?

One very useful item in Japan is :

お薬手帳（おくすりてちょう / Okusuri Techō）

Medication notebook

This keeps a record of medicines you've received.

Your pharmacy may attach stickers or record information showing :

• Medicine name

• Dosage

• Date prescribed

• Pharmacy

• Instructions

Bring it whenever you visit a doctor or pharmacy.

8. Why Is the Medication Notebook Important?

Imagine you receive medicine from one hospital and later visit another doctor.

Without knowing your current medications, healthcare professionals may have difficulty checking for :

• Duplicate medicines

• Drug interactions

• Allergies

• Previous prescriptions

Your Okusuri Techō helps healthcare professionals see your medication history.

Try to use one medication record consistently rather than keeping several incomplete notebooks.

9. Tell the Pharmacist About Other Medicines

When asked about medications, don't mention only medicines prescribed in Japan.

Tell the pharmacist about relevant :

• Prescription medicines

• Over-the-counter medicines

• Supplements

• Vitamins

• Herbal products

• Medicines brought from the Philippines

If you don't know the exact name, show the packaging or a clear photo if available.

10. Tell Them About Allergies

If you have a medication allergy, tell the pharmacist.

You can say :

薬のアレルギーがあります。

Kusuri no arerugī ga arimasu.

“I have a medicine allergy.”

If you know the medicine that caused the reaction, keep its name recorded on your phone or in your medication notebook.

11. The Pharmacist May Ask Questions

Don't be surprised if the pharmacist asks about :

• Your symptoms

• Other medicines

• Allergies

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding when relevant

• Previous reactions

• How you're taking another medicine

They're not trying to repeat your entire doctor's appointment.

Pharmacists need information to help ensure that medicines are used safely.

12. Listen to the Medication Instructions

The pharmacist will explain how to take your medicine.

Common instructions include :

食前（Shokuzен）

Before meals

食後（Shokugo）

After meals

食間（Shokkan）

Between meals

Be careful with 食間.

It doesn't mean :

“Habang kumakain.”

It generally refers to taking medicine between meals, after enough time has passed since eating.

Follow the instructions printed on your medicine package and those given by your doctor or pharmacist.

13. Other Instructions You May See

1日1回（Ichinichi Ikkai）

Once a day

1日2回（Ichinichi Nikai）

Twice a day

1日3回（Ichinichi Sankai）

Three times a day

朝（Asa）

Morning

昼（Hiru）

Noon/daytime

夕（Yū）

Evening

寝る前（Neru Mae）

Before sleeping

必要な時（Hitsuyō na Toki）

When needed

If you don't understand the instructions, ask before leaving.

14. Can You Buy Medicine Without a Prescription?

Yes, for many medicines.

Japan has over-the-counter medicines that can be purchased without a doctor's prescription.

These are called :

一般用医薬品（Ippan-yō Iyakuhin）

Over-the-counter medicines

You may find products for :

• Headaches

• Colds

• Fever

• Allergies

• Stomach problems

• Minor pain

• Motion sickness

However, the way a medicine can be sold depends on its classification, and some products require explanation or involvement from a pharmacist or qualified registered salesperson.

15. Don't Choose Medicine Only by the Packaging

Drugstore shelves can be overwhelming.

You might see 15 boxes that all seem to say :

“For colds!”

But they may contain different active ingredients.

If you're unsure, ask the pharmacist or registered salesperson.

You can say :

風邪の薬を探しています。

Kaze no kusuri o sagashite imasu.

“I'm looking for cold medicine.”

Or :

頭が痛いです。

Atama ga itai desu.

“I have a headache.”

16. Be Careful When Combining Medicines

Don't automatically take several cold, fever, pain, or allergy medicines together.

Different products may contain the same or interacting active ingredients.

Taking multiple medicines without checking can increase the risk of taking too much of a particular ingredient or experiencing side effects.

If you're already taking another medicine, ask :

この薬と一緒に飲んでも大丈夫ですか？

Kono kusuri to issho ni nonde mo daijōbu desu ka?

“Is it okay to take this together with my other medicine?”

17. What About Generic Medicines?

You may be offered :

ジェネリック医薬品（Jenerikku Iyakuhin）

Generic medicines

Generic medicines contain the same active ingredient as the corresponding original medicine after the original product's patent period and are reviewed for quality, efficacy, and safety under Japan's regulatory system.

They can also be less expensive.

If you have questions about whether a generic is appropriate for you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

18. How Much Do Prescription Medicines Cost?

If the medicine is covered by Japan's public health insurance, you normally pay your applicable patient share rather than the entire insured cost.

For many working-age insured adults, this is generally 30%, although the percentage can vary depending on factors such as age and income.

The amount you pay at the pharmacy can include more than just the physical cost of the tablets. The calculation can also include dispensing-related and pharmacy-service fees under Japan's health-insurance system.

19. What If the Pharmacy Is Closed?

Pharmacies don't all operate 24 hours.

Hours can differ significantly, especially :

• At night

• On Sundays

• On national holidays

If you receive a prescription late in the day, check the pharmacy's hours—particularly because the standard prescription validity period is short.

Some areas have pharmacies providing nighttime or holiday services, but availability varies.

20. What If You Can't Speak Japanese?

Don't avoid getting your medicine simply because you're nervous about Japanese.

Prepare useful information on your phone, such as :

• Your symptoms

• Allergies

• Current medicines

• Medical conditions relevant to the medicine

You can say :

日本語があまり話せません。

Nihongo ga amari hanasemasen.

“I don't speak much Japanese.”

Or :

英語で説明できますか？

Eigo de setsumei dekimasu ka?

“Can you explain it in English?”

Some pharmacies offer multilingual assistance, but availability varies.

21. Don't Give Your Prescription Medicine to Someone Else

If the doctor prescribed medicine specifically for you :

Don't share it with a friend or coworker.

Even if they say :

“Same naman tayo ng symptoms.”

They may have :

• Different allergies

• Different health conditions

• Different medications

• A completely different illness

Prescription medicine should be used according to the instructions provided for the patient.

22. Don't Stop or Change Medicine on Your Own

If your doctor prescribed medicine for a certain period, follow the instructions.

Don't automatically :

• Double the dose

• Skip doses

• Take extra medicine

• Stop early

• Extend treatment using leftovers

If you experience side effects or have concerns, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

23. Keep Medicine Properly Stored

Follow storage instructions carefully.

Generally :

• Keep medicines away from children.

• Don't expose them to unnecessary heat or moisture.

• Don't mix different medicines into unlabeled containers.

• Keep instructions or labels available.

• Check expiration dates for OTC products.

Some medicines have specific storage requirements, so follow the instructions provided.

Useful Japanese Words

薬局（Yakkyoku） – Pharmacy

調剤薬局（Chōzai Yakkyoku） – Dispensing pharmacy

ドラッグストア（Doraggu Sutoa） – Drugstore

薬（Kusuri） – Medicine

処方箋（Shohōsen） – Prescription

処方せん受付（Shohōsen Uketsuke） – Prescriptions accepted

お薬手帳（Okusuri Techō） – Medication notebook

薬剤師（Yakuzaishi） – Pharmacist

ジェネリック医薬品（Jenerikku Iyakuhin） – Generic medicine

食前（Shokuzen） – Before meals

食後（Shokugo） – After meals

食間（Shokkan） – Between meals

副作用（Fukusayō） – Side effect

Pharmacy Checklist for OFWs

When filling a prescription :

• Bring your prescription.

• Remember the standard 4-day validity period.

• Bring your Okusuri Techō.

• Prepare your insurance information if needed.

• Tell the pharmacist about allergies.

• Tell them about other medicines and supplements.

• Listen carefully to dosage instructions.

• Ask questions if something isn't clear.

• Check when and how often to take each medicine.

• Keep your medication record updated.

Tips for Filipinos in Japan

If you remember only three things about pharmacies in Japan, remember these :

1. A prescription usually goes to a dispensing pharmacy—not necessarily back to the hospital.

2. A standard prescription is generally valid for only four days, including the date it was issued.

3. Bring your Okusuri Techō and tell the pharmacist about other medicines you're taking.

And don't be shy about asking questions.

Medicine isn't something where you want to smile, nod, walk away, and then think :

“Wait… three tablets three times a day ba, or one tablet three times a day?”

Ask before leaving.

Pharmacies are an important part of Japan's healthcare system.

After receiving a prescription, you can generally take it to a 調剤薬局（Chōzai Yakkyoku） that accepts prescriptions. Bring your medication record, provide accurate information about allergies and other medicines, and make sure you understand exactly how your medicine should be taken.

For over-the-counter products, don't choose based only on the colorful box or what worked for a friend. If you're unsure which medicine is appropriate, ask a pharmacist or qualified staff member.

Most importantly, remember that a standard Japanese prescription generally has a four-day validity period, so don't leave it sitting in your bag for a week.

Sa PhilMoney, nais naming suportahan ang mga OFW sa Japan hindi lamang sa remittance, kundi pati na rin sa pagbibigay ng practical information tungkol sa healthcare, Japanese systems, safety, at everyday life para mas maging informed, prepared, at confident habang naninirahan sa Japan.

Note : This article is intended for general information only. Regulations and procedures in Japan and the Philippines may change. Please verify the latest information with the appropriate government agency or official institution before taking action.