Ski slopes, long city walks, heavy suitcases on station stairs, cold weather, long hours at a desk: winter in Japan often brings stiff shoulders, a sore back or tired legs. Japanese drugstores such as Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sundrug or Don Quijote have a whole wall of…
Author: Miyabi
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Best Japanese Stomach Medicines 2026: 7 Picks + Box Words
December and January in Japan mean big meals: year-end parties, 忘年会 bōnenkai, Christmas, then the New Year feast. If your stomach feels heavy the next morning, drugstores such as Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sundrug or Don Quijote have a whole shelf of 胃腸薬, ichōyaku, stomach medicines, almost…
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Best Japanese Toothbrushes 2026: 7 Picks + Pack Words
Walk into any Japanese drugstore, such as Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sundrug or Don Quijote, and you will find a whole wall of toothbrushes. Many visitors notice that the heads are small, the bristles very fine. This guide is only about manual toothbrushes, interdental brushes, floss. It…
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Best Snow Boots & Ice Grips in Japan 2026: 7 Picks
Winter in Sapporo, Otaru, Niseko or Shirakawa-go means packed snow, slush and, worst of all, つるつる路面, shiny icy pavement. In Sapporo, the ウインターライフ推進協議会, Winter Life Promotion Council, reports figures from the 札幌市消防局, Sapporo City Fire Bureau: in the winter of 2024 to 2025, 1,813 people…
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Best Japanese Throat Lozenges 2026: 7 Drugstore Picks
In a dry Japanese winter, a scratchy throat is common. Drugstores and konbini sell throat candy, troches, sprays and gargles, plus the famous 龍角散. Some look like sweets but are medicines. This guide is only about the throat. It explains the labels and 7 widely…
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Best Japanese Body Lotions 2026: 7 Drugstore Picks for Winter
In a dry Japanese winter, drugstores line up body lotions from Curél, NIVEA, Vaseline, CareCera and others, next to jars of urea cream. Most boxes are in Japanese. This guide is only about the body: arms, legs and the rest of the body, plus elbows,…
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Best Japanese Moisturizers 2026: 7 Milky Lotions & Creams
In winter, Japanese drugstores fill their shelves with moisturizers from Curél, Hada Labo, Minon, Sekkisei, NIVEA, MUJI and others. The boxes are mostly in Japanese. This guide covers only the step after toner. It explains the labels, how to read the box, and 7 widely…
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Japanese Vitamins & Supplements 2026: How to Choose
Japanese drugstores have whole shelves of vitamins: Chocola BB, Alinamin, Q&P Kowa, DHC, FANCL and more. Some are medicines, some are quasi-drugs, and some are foods sold as supplements. The box tells you which, but only in Japanese. This guide explains the labels, how to…
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Japanese Cold Medicine 2026: How to Choose at the Drugstore
Caught a cold in Japan this winter? The drugstore is often the first stop, but the boxes are in Japanese, there are dozens of brands, and since May 2026 some cold medicines are kept behind the counter. This guide explains the main types, how to…
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Best Japanese Steam Eye Masks 2026: 7 Eye Warmers to Buy
In winter, Japanese drugstores fill a whole shelf with eye masks that warm up. People use them after a long day at a screen, on planes or before bed. They are also a popular, light souvenir (お土産). Some masks are used once, some go in…