Prescription Medicine in Japan, in English
Unwell during your trip, or left your regular medication at home? Talk to a Japanese doctor by video in English, and we will have the medicine delivered to your hotel — usually the next day.
This is a self-pay (private) service.
Consultations and medication arranged through this English online service are not covered by Japanese public health insurance, and travel insurance is not billed directly. You pay the full amount yourself. We can issue an itemised receipt and a medical certificate in English so that you can claim from your own insurer afterwards.
When This Helps
Getting medical care in Japan as a visitor is difficult: clinics rarely speak English, walk-in waits are long, and pharmacies cannot dispense prescription medicine without a Japanese prescription. This service exists for exactly those situations.
😷 Cold, sore throat, fever
Fever, cough, sore throat or a chest infection that is not improving. We can prescribe antipyretics, cough and phlegm medicine, and antibiotics where clinically appropriate.
🤢 Stomach trouble
Traveller's diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or acid reflux. Anti-diarrhoeal, anti-nausea, antispasmodic and acid-reducing medication.
🤧 Allergy and hay fever
Japan's cedar pollen season (February to April) catches many visitors by surprise. Antihistamine tablets, nasal spray and eye drops.
🤕 Migraine
If you ran out of your triptan or your usual medicine is not available in Japan, we can prescribe an alternative.
💊 Medication you forgot or lost
This is the most common request. Blood-pressure, cholesterol, thyroid, diabetes and similar daily medication. Bring the name and dose if you can — a photo of the box or a pharmacy label is enough.
🏔 Altitude sickness
Climbing Mount Fuji or hiking in the Japan Alps? Acetazolamide can be prescribed for prevention. Please book a few days before you climb.
🧴 Skin problems
Rashes, insect bites, athlete's foot, minor skin infections and dry skin. Topical steroids, antifungal and antibiotic ointments.
😴 Jet lag and sleep
For jet lag or difficulty sleeping, we may prescribe a melatonin-receptor agonist (ramelteon) or an orexin-receptor antagonist (suvorexant, lemborexant) after consultation. These are not controlled substances in Japan.
We do not prescribe narcotics, or benzodiazepine and “Z-drug” sleeping pills (zolpidem, zopiclone, eszopiclone), which are classified as psychotropic drugs under Japanese law.
How It Works
- 1
Message us on WhatsApp or LINE
Before booking, send us a short message so we can confirm we can help. We do not make phone calls — all contact is by chat.
- 2
Book a time slot
Choose "Other prescription medicines" and tell us what you need. A ¥1,000 booking fee is charged at reservation and credited against your final bill.
- 3
Video consultation in English
Join Google Meet at your appointment time. Around 10 to 15 minutes. Please have your passport ready for the first visit.
- 4
The pharmacy contacts you
We send your prescription to our partner pharmacy in Tokyo. They email you a link, an English-speaking pharmacist explains the medication over a short video call, and you register a card for payment.
- 5
Delivery to your hotel
The medicine is shipped to your address in Japan and normally arrives the next day. Write the hotel name, your room number and your name — the front desk can receive it for you. Same-day delivery is available in the Tokyo area for an additional fee.
What It Costs
There are two separate payments: our consultation fee, and what you pay the pharmacy for the medicine.
| Paid to the clinic | |
|---|---|
| Consultation fee — first visit | JPY 11,000 |
| Consultation fee — follow-up | JPY 5,500 |
| Booking fee (credited against the above) | JPY 1,000 |
| Paid to the pharmacy | |
| Medicine and dispensing fee | Varies by medicine |
| Delivery (arrives next day) | JPY 1,171 |
| Same-day delivery to a Tokyo hotel | From JPY 9,200 |
The consultation fee includes an English medical certificate if you need one for travel or insurance. Medicine costs vary a great deal: a short course of a common medicine is often around JPY 1,400 to 1,900 including the dispensing fee, while newer medicines cost considerably more. The doctor will tell you the expected amount during the consultation, and the pharmacy confirms the exact figure before shipping.
Good to Know
- Consultations are conducted in English by Dr. Ikegawa. He understands English well and speaks it with some hesitation — we appreciate your patience.
- We cannot prescribe narcotics or psychotropic drugs.
- A prescription is never guaranteed by request alone. The doctor decides what is medically appropriate.
- Medication can only be delivered to an address in Japan. We cannot ship abroad.
- This service is not for emergencies. If you are seriously unwell, call 119 for an ambulance in Japan.
- Rules on carrying medication out of Japan vary by country. Keep the medicine in its original packaging and carry your receipt and certificate.