Leaving Japan after working here? You can claim back up to 5 years of your pension contributions as a lump-sum withdrawal payment (脱退一時金, dattai ichijikin). For many people this is hundreds of thousands of yen — but the official formulas are confusing, so we built this free calculator.

Enter your numbers below for an instant estimate using the official Japan Pension Service formulas (2026 rates).

How the official formula works

Employees’ Pension (kosei nenkin)

Your lump sum = average standard monthly remuneration × 9.15% × months coefficient. The 9.15% is half of the 18.3% premium rate (the half you paid; your employer’s half stays in the system). The months coefficient counts your contribution months in 6-month steps, capped at 60 months (5 years) for anyone leaving from April 2021 onward.

20.42% non-resident income tax is withheld when the payment is sent abroad — but if you appoint a tax representative (納税管理人) before leaving Japan, they can file a tax return and recover a large part of it. On a big lump sum this is often worth tens of thousands of yen.

National Pension (kokumin nenkin)

The refund is a fixed table based on your months of contributions and the fiscal year of your last payment: for final payments in FY2026 (April 2026–March 2027) it ranges from ¥53,760 for 6 months to ¥537,600 for 60 months. No income tax is withheld on National Pension lump sums.

Eligibility checklist

• You are not a Japanese citizen
• You paid into the pension system for at least 6 months
• You have left Japan (no registered address) — apply within 2 years of losing coverage
• You have never qualified for a Japanese pension (10+ years of contributions makes you pension-eligible instead)

Important trade-off: taking the lump sum erases those months from your pension record. If your country has a social security totalization agreement with Japan, those months might count toward a pension back home — sometimes worth more than the refund. Check the agreement list before deciding.

FAQ

How long does the refund take?

Typically 4–6 months from a complete application to the money arriving in your overseas bank account.

Can I apply while still in Japan?

No — you must have moved out and deregistered your address. Prepare the paperwork (and a tax representative for the kosei tax refund) before you leave.

Is the calculator exact?

It uses the official Japan Pension Service formulas and 2026 tables, but your exact standard remuneration grading and payment history determine the final figure. Treat this as a close estimate.

Related guides

• Japan Pension Guide for Foreigners: National Pension, Exemptions & Lump-Sum Refund
• How to File Taxes in Japan as a Foreigner (Kakutei Shinkoku Guide)
• Japan Health Insurance Guide for Foreigners (NHI)
• How to Open a Bank Account in Japan as a Foreigner

Formulas and tables: Japan Pension Service (nenkin.go.jp), 2026. This tool provides estimates for information purposes and is not financial or legal advice.

The rules changed in May 2026: you can no longer stock up on Japanese cold medicine

For years, the standard advice for visitors to Japan was simple: walk into a Matsumoto Kiyoshi, grab five boxes of the cough medicine your friends asked for, and pay at the counter.

That advice is now out of date. Since 1 May 2026, Japan has enforced a new category called 指定濫用防止医薬品 (designated abuse-prevention medicines). Eight active ingredients are now restricted, and products containing them are subject to a one-box-per-purchase limit, age verification, and in many stores physical removal from the open shelf.

The ingredients affected are the ones in the most popular products: cough suppressants, decongestants and sleep aids. If you have shopped for medicine in Japan before, this will change how you shop.

This guide covers what you can still buy freely, what is now restricted, how Japan’s drug classification system works, and how the tax-free rules change again on 1 November 2026.

1. How Japanese over-the-counter medicine is classified

Japan sorts non-prescription medicine into four tiers. The tier determines who can sell it to you and whether it sits on an open shelf.

The person titled 登録販売者 (registered seller) is not a pharmacist but holds a national qualification to sell Class 2 and 3 medicines. Most drugstores are staffed by these, with a pharmacist present only during certain hours. If a shelf is empty and marked with a card, it usually means the pharmacist is off duty.

2. The May 2026 restriction: eight ingredients, one box each

The change was driven by a domestic problem — overdose among young people using freely available cough and sleep medicines. The response was to designate eight ingredients and tighten how products containing them are sold.

The eight designated ingredients

What actually happens at the till

If you find an empty box on a shelf with a card attached, that is not out-of-stock. Take the card to the counter and staff will bring the real product.

3. What is genuinely worth buying — and still unrestricted

The restriction covers a narrow set of ingredients. The majority of what makes Japanese drugstores worth visiting is untouched.

Cooling patches (冷却シート)

Gel sheets applied to the forehead, marketed for fever. The active mechanism is evaporative cooling rather than medication, so these are classified as quasi-drugs and sold freely. Japanese households treat them as standard, and travellers often find them more effective than a cold flannel.

Pain relief patches (湿布 / シップ)

Adhesive patches containing anti-inflammatory compounds, applied to the shoulder, back or knee. These come in cooling and warming types. Japan uses them at a scale that surprises most visitors, and the adhesive quality is genuinely better than most equivalents abroad.

Eye drops (目薬)

Japan’s eye drop market is unusually developed, with products aimed at screen fatigue, dryness, and contact lens wearers. Some contain a cooling agent that produces a strong menthol sensation — the packaging usually indicates intensity on a scale.

Stomach medicine (胃腸薬)

A category Japan takes seriously. Powders and granules designed for overeating, stomach heaviness and hangovers. Ohta Isan and Kampo-based formulations are the classics. These are generally Class 2 or 3 and remain freely available.

Hydration and vitamin drinks

Small brown bottles near the till containing vitamins, taurine and caffeine. These are classified variously as quasi-drugs or Class 3 medicines. For summer travel, oral rehydration products such as OS-1 are a more useful purchase and are usually found in the beverage section rather than the medicine aisle.

4. Where to shop and how prices differ

Prices for identical products vary meaningfully between chains — differences of 20–30% on the same box are common. If you are buying several items, it is worth checking two stores. Airport pharmacies charge a premium; buy in the city.

5. Tax-free shopping changes completely on 1 November 2026

If you are visiting after this date, the mechanism you may have read about no longer applies.

The practical consequences for a medicine shopper are mixed.

6. Practical phrases and label reading

A useful sentence to show staff on your phone: 「英語の説明はありますか？」 (Do you have an English explanation?). Many major products now include an English insert, and staff at tourist-area branches are used to the question.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still buy Japanese cold medicine as a souvenir in 2026?

Yes, but if the product contains one of the eight designated ingredients — including dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine — you are limited to one box per purchase and may be asked for ID. Products without those ingredients are unaffected.

Which medicines are now behind the counter in Japan?

Products containing codeine, dihydrocodeine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methylephedrine, bromovaleryl urea, dextromethorphan or diphenhydramine. Stores must either lock them away, keep them behind the counter, display empty boxes, or supervise the area.

Do I need a prescription for medicine in Japan as a tourist?

Not for over-the-counter products. For prescription medicine you need to see a doctor in Japan; a foreign prescription cannot normally be filled at a Japanese pharmacy.

Is tax-free shopping for medicine still possible after November 2026?

Yes, but the mechanism changes. From 1 November 2026 you pay the tax-inclusive price and receive a refund after customs confirms the goods are leaving Japan. The sealed-packaging requirement and the ¥500,000 per-store daily cap are abolished.

Which drugstore chain is cheapest in Japan?

It varies by product. Sundrug and Cosmos are generally competitive; Matsumoto Kiyoshi has the widest tourist coverage but is not always the cheapest. Differences of 20–30% on identical items are common, so it is worth comparing two stores.

Can I bring Japanese medicine back to my own country?

That depends on your country’s import rules, not Japan’s. Codeine-containing products in particular are restricted or prohibited in several countries. Check your destination’s customs rules before buying in quantity.

Summary

Japanese drugstores are still one of the most rewarding places to shop in the country. The change is not that you can no longer buy medicine — it is that you can no longer buy it in bulk without questions. Plan for one box of anything containing the restricted ingredients, and buy the rest freely.

Japanese drugstore hair care has quietly become one of the country’s biggest beauty exports. TikTok discovered the Fino hair mask, Reddit’s haircare communities discovered YOLU, and suddenly products that cost ¥800 in a Matsukiyo are selling for triple overseas — with waiting lists.

The hype is largely deserved. Japanese formulas focus on damage repair and lightweight moisture rather than heavy silicone coating, and they’re priced for everyday use. Here are the 6 Japanese shampoos and hair treatments actually worth buying in 2026, whether you’re shopping in Japan or ordering from abroad.

1. Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask (Shiseido) — The Viral One

If you’ve seen one Japanese hair product on social media, it’s this red tub. Shiseido’s Fino hair mask is loaded with royal jelly and lipidure, and delivers salon-treatment softness in a single 5-minute use. It has held a spot in Amazon’s global beauty bestsellers for years, and in Japan it costs about ¥1,000.

Use it once or twice a week on damaged or bleached hair and the difference is visible by the second wash. For the price, nothing in Western drugstores competes.

2. YOLU Calm Night Repair — The “Night Care” Phenomenon

YOLU built an entire brand around “night repair” — protecting hair from friction damage while you sleep. The Calm Night Repair line smells like clean florals, leaves hair noticeably smoother by morning, and has been a top-3 shampoo in Japanese drugstores since its launch. The matching hair oil is a sleeper hit for frizz control in humid weather.

3. &honey Deep Moist — Best for Dry, Frizzy Hair

&honey’s formula is over 90% moisture-focused ingredients with three types of honey, and you can feel it: this is the richest, most cushioned lather in the Japanese drugstore aisle. It’s the go-to recommendation for dry, wavy or chemically-treated hair, and the gold honeycomb bottles look great on a shelf. Around ¥1,540 in Japan.

4. Tsubaki Premium Moist (Shiseido) — The Classic, Reinvented

Tsubaki — camellia oil hair care — has been a Japanese bathroom staple for decades, and the current Premium Moist formula is the best it has ever been. Zero-second treatment technology means it starts working on contact, and the camellia scent is quintessentially Japanese. At roughly ¥900 for a large bottle, it’s the best value pick on this list.

5. Botanist Botanical Shampoo — The Minimalist Favorite

Botanist’s clean typography made it Instagram-famous, but the formula keeps people loyal: 90%+ plant-derived ingredients, a gentle wash that suits fine or oily hair, and a light green-apple scent that never overwhelms. Choose Moist for dry hair, Smooth for fine or flat hair. It’s the “safe gift” of Japanese hair care — everyone likes it.

6. Ichikami (Kracie) — Traditional Japanese Botanicals

Ichikami leans into wa-herbs: rice bran, sakura extract and tsubaki oil, wrapped in a sakura scent that smells like spring in Kyoto. The sulfate-free formula is gentle enough for daily use and the pink bottles are a favorite omiyage. If you want your shower to feel distinctly Japanese, this is the one.

How to Choose (Quick Guide)

Damaged/bleached hair: Fino mask + YOLU shampoo. Dry & frizzy: &honey. Fine or oily hair: Botanist Smooth. Best value: Tsubaki. Sensitive scalp / natural preference: Ichikami. Japanese formulas tend to be lighter than Western ones — if your hair is very thick or coily, layer the Fino mask or a hair oil on top.

Where to Buy

In Japan: any drugstore (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sundrug, Welcia) stocks all six — look for tax-free counters if you’re visiting. From abroad: Amazon.com carries Fino, Tsubaki and Botanist at a markup; for YOLU, &honey and limited editions at Japanese prices, order via Amazon Japan or a proxy service like Buyee.

Ask anyone who has lived in Japan what they miss most after leaving, and instant ramen comes up surprisingly often. Japanese instant noodles are in a completely different league from the 10-cent packets you grew up with — we are talking restaurant-grade tonkotsu broth, chewy non-fried noodles, and flavour engineering perfected over 65+ years (the instant ramen was literally invented here in 1958).

Whether you are stocking your pantry in Japan, hunting for authentic flavours on Amazon back home, or building the ultimate souvenir box, this guide covers the seven instant ramen that are actually worth your money in 2026 — tested, slurped, and ranked.

What Makes Japanese Instant Ramen Different?

Three things: noodle technology (premium lines use non-fried, air-dried noodles that taste shockingly close to fresh), soup complexity (real pork, chicken, miso and seafood extracts instead of just salt and MSG), and regional variety — Sapporo miso, Hakata tonkotsu, Tokyo shoyu — each with a genuine local style. Premium packs cost ¥250–400 in Japan and still beat most ¥1,000 ramen shops abroad.

The 7 Best Japanese Instant Ramen in 2026

1. Ichiran Tonkotsu — The legendary ramen shop in a box

Ichiran’s take-home version of its famous Hakata tonkotsu is the most requested Japan souvenir for a reason. The straw-coloured straight noodles and the secret red pepper sauce recreate the restaurant bowl with scary accuracy. It is pricey (around ¥2,000 for 5 servings) but nothing else comes close to “real shop ramen at home”.

2. Nissin Raoh — Restaurant-class non-fried noodles

Raoh is Nissin’s premium line and the gold standard of packet ramen. The non-fried noodles have a springy, fresh-cooked texture, and the Shoyu and Tonkotsu soups taste like they simmered for hours. If you want one “daily driver” premium ramen, this is it.

3. Sapporo Ichiban Miso — The 55-year-old comfort classic

Ask a Japanese person their childhood ramen and odds are it is this orange packet. The miso soup is rich, slightly sweet and dangerously drinkable, and the wavy noodles grab every drop. Widely available overseas and cheap — the best value entry into Japanese ramen.

4. Maruchan Seimen — The fresh-noodle revolution

When Maruchan Seimen launched its “raw noodle texture” technology it changed the whole industry. The noodles genuinely feel like fresh ramen-shop noodles, and the soup range (shoyu, miso, tonkotsu) is consistently excellent. Japan’s supermarket favourite.

5. Nissin Cup Noodle — The original, still iconic

The 1971 original cup ramen remains a masterpiece of convenience. The Japanese version tastes noticeably better than export versions — the mystery meat cubes, the shrimp, the peppery soup. Grab the Curry and Seafood variants too; both are cult favourites.

6. Marutai Hakata Tonkotsu Stick Ramen — Kyushu’s secret weapon

These elegant “bou ramen” (stick ramen) packs from Fukuoka deliver shockingly authentic thin Hakata noodles and a clean tonkotsu broth, with sesame and pickled ginger oil included. Light to pack, cheap, and beloved by Japanese travellers as onsen-trip food.

7. Myojo Charumera — The nostalgic shoyu bowl

Charumera’s mascot night-stall vendor has been on the packet since 1966. The shoyu version is the definition of old-school Tokyo ramen: clear soy broth, springy noodles, instant nostalgia. A lovely budget pick for shoyu fans.

How to Upgrade Instant Ramen Like a Local

Japanese people rarely eat instant ramen plain. The standard upgrades: a soft-boiled egg (ajitama), a handful of bean sprouts or spinach, a slice of chashu or even just ham, chopped green onion, and a dab of butter for miso ramen. Thirty seconds of effort, double the satisfaction.

Where to Buy

In Japan: any supermarket (Seiyu, AEON, OK Store) beats convenience store prices; Don Quijote has the best multipack deals. Overseas: Amazon carries all seven picks above (check the buttons in each section), Japanese/Asian grocery stores stock Sapporo Ichiban and Maruchan cheaply, and Buyee lets you order Japan-exclusive flavours that never get exported.

FAQ

Is Japanese instant ramen healthy?

It is a treat, not a health food — most packs run 300–500 kcal with high sodium. Locals routinely leave some soup unfinished to cut the salt, and adding vegetables and an egg turns it into a more balanced meal.

What is the difference between fried and non-fried noodles?

Cheap ramen flash-fries noodles in oil (fast to cook, distinctive flavour). Premium lines like Raoh and Maruchan Seimen air-dry them instead, giving a fresh, springy texture much closer to a real ramen shop.

Which one should I buy first?

For the full “wow” factor: Ichiran. For everyday eating: Nissin Raoh or Maruchan Seimen. On a budget: Sapporo Ichiban Miso.

If you are in Japan between August and October, you will almost certainly experience at least one typhoon. And in 2026, there is something new you need to know: Japan changed its entire disaster warning system on 29 May 2026. Almost every English-language typhoon guide online is now out of date.

This guide covers what actually changed, how to read the new warnings, what to do at each level, and how typhoons affect trains, flights, and daily life as a foreign resident or traveller in Japan.

2026 typhoon season: what forecasters expect

The Japan Weather Association (JWA) published its 2026 typhoon outlook in May. The key points:

August is the peak risk month this year. JWA forecasts the number of typhoons approaching Japan will be average to above average, centred on August. This is linked to a weakening of the Pacific High over Honshu, which allows typhoons to track north toward Japan more easily.

Autumn typhoons may be stronger. Japan is likely to shift into an El Niño pattern. When that happens, typhoons tend to form further southeast, further from Japan. That means they spend longer over open ocean before arriving — and arrive more fully developed. Fewer storms, but potentially more powerful ones.

The season has already been unusual. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) typhoon records, Typhoon No. 6 made landfall in May 2026 — remarkably early — and Typhoons No. 7, 8 and 9 approached Japan in June and July. By the end of July, 12 typhoons had already formed.

The big change: Japan’s new warning system (from 29 May 2026)

This is the single most important thing to understand this year.

What was wrong with the old system

Previously, Japan issued warnings with names like “Heavy Rain Warning”, “Landslide Alert” and “Flood Danger Information”. Japan also has a separate 5-level alert scale for evacuation. The problem: it was not obvious which warning corresponded to which level. Even Japanese residents regularly misjudged whether a warning meant “pay attention” or “leave now”.

What changed

From 29 May 2026, the alert level number is built into the name of the warning itself. What used to be called a “Heavy Rain Warning” is now called a “Level 3 Heavy Rain Warning”. You hear the name, you know the action.

JMA also introduced a new rapid bulletin designed to give earlier notice of senjo kosuitai (linear rainbands) — the stalled bands of extreme rainfall responsible for many of Japan’s deadliest recent flood disasters.

The 5 alert levels and what you should actually do

The most common and most dangerous mistake is waiting for Level 5. Level 5 means the disaster is already happening. Level 4 is the last point at which evacuation is normally safe — and Japan’s official guidance is explicit that Level 4 means everyone leaves.

There is one more point foreign residents often miss. JMA states that you should not wait for your city to issue an evacuation order. If Level 3 or Level 4 information is published, you can and should judge for yourself using Kikikuru and river water level data.

Kikikuru: the one tool you should bookmark now

Kikikuru (キキクル) is JMA’s real-time danger map. It colour-codes flood, landslide and inundation risk down to a very local level, updated every 10 minutes.

Why it matters for foreigners: it is visual. You do not need to read Japanese to understand it. Black and purple mean the danger is at or beyond the level where evacuation should already have happened. Red means Level 4 equivalent. Yellow means Level 3 equivalent.

Bookmark it on your phone home screen before a typhoon arrives. Searching for it while the wind is howling is not the plan you want.

Also worth having: the NHK World app and Safety Tips (the government-backed multilingual disaster alert app for visitors), plus your local city’s disaster prevention page.

What actually happens during a typhoon in Japan

Trains: planned suspensions (keikakuteki unkyu)

This surprises almost every newcomer. Japanese railways now announce planned suspensions in advance — often the day before. JR East, JR West, and private lines will state something like “trains will stop from 12:00 tomorrow”.

Two implications. First, the trains stop before the weather looks bad. Do not assume you can leave later. Second, they do not restart immediately after the storm passes; safety inspections take hours. A typhoon that passes overnight can still mean no trains until midday.

Flights: cancelled early and in bulk

ANA and JAL typically announce cancellations 24 hours ahead. If your flight is cancelled due to weather, you are normally entitled to a refund or free rebooking — but airlines are not obliged to cover your hotel, since weather is outside their control. Rebook online immediately rather than queueing at the airport.

Shops, offices and konbini

Many companies now declare work-from-home or closure in advance. Convenience stores usually stay open but sell out of bread, onigiri, water and batteries within hours. Deliveries stop, so restocking may not happen for a day or more.

Power cuts

This is the most likely typhoon impact by far. Flooding is geographically limited; power cuts are not. If you live in a modern all-electric apartment, a blackout means no cooking, no hot water, and no elevator.

Your typhoon checklist: 72 hours to landfall

That last point is worth repeating. In Japan, damage compensation and insurance claims depend heavily on documented evidence. Photograph before you tidy. Wide shots, close-ups, and the height of any water line.

Typhoon supplies: what to actually buy in Japan

You can buy nearly everything at a home centre, Don Quijote, or online. Priorities in order:

1. Water and no-cook food. Three litres per person per day, three days minimum. Retort curry, canned food, bread, and instant noodles that can use lukewarm water.

2. A light that does not need one specific battery size. A common failure is owning a torch that takes D batteries when all you have are AAs. Panasonic’s “Any Battery Light” (BF-BM10) runs on a single D, C, AA or AAA cell — and you can mix sizes.

3. A power bank, and ideally a portable power station. A phone power bank is the minimum. If you live in an all-electric building or work from home, a portable power station (EcoFlow, Anker, Jackery) will run a fan, lights and your laptop through a blackout.

4. A radio. When power and mobile data fail, radio still works. Sony’s ICF-B99 runs on batteries, hand crank or solar, and can give your phone a short emergency charge.

5. Cash. Card readers and ATMs stop working in a blackout. Japan is still a country where cash solves problems.

Typhoon vocabulary you will hear on Japanese TV

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to travel to Japan during typhoon season?

Yes, with planning. Typhoons are forecast days in advance, and Japan’s infrastructure response is excellent. The main risk to travellers is not danger but disruption — cancelled flights and stopped trains. Travel insurance that covers weather delays is strongly recommended if you are visiting between August and October.

Should I go to an evacuation shelter?

Only if you are in a flood, landslide or storm surge risk area — check your hazard map. If you live in a sturdy mid-rise concrete building away from rivers and slopes, staying home on an upper floor is usually safer than travelling through a storm. JMA explicitly advises that you do not need to reach a designated shelter: moving to a higher floor of a nearby solid building is a valid choice.

What if my Japanese is not good enough to understand the alerts?

Use Kikikuru (colour-coded, no reading required), the Safety Tips app (multilingual push alerts), and NHK World. Also tell your building manager or a neighbour that you may need help — Japanese neighbourhood associations often check on residents during disasters.

My flight was cancelled. Who pays?

The airline will refund or rebook you free of charge. Accommodation and meals are generally not covered for weather cancellations, because it is outside the airline’s control. This is what travel insurance is for. Rebook through the app immediately — airport counters get very long queues.

Do I need to tape my windows?

Taping glass does not meaningfully stop it breaking. What helps is closing storm shutters (amado) if your building has them, keeping curtains closed to contain glass if it does break, and staying in a room without large windows during the peak.

How long do power cuts usually last?

Most are restored within hours. However, after major typhoons in recent years, some areas of Chiba and Kyushu were without power for over a week. Plan for 24-72 hours, not for two hours.

The short version

If you remember only three things from this guide:

One. From 29 May 2026, warnings carry their alert level in the name. Level 4 means everyone evacuates. Do not wait for Level 5.

Two. Trains stop before the storm arrives, announced a day ahead, and restart slowly. Plan your movements around the announcement, not the weather.

Three. The most likely thing to happen to you is a power cut. Water, a light that takes any battery, a charged power bank and some cash will cover 90% of what you actually need.

Bookmark Kikikuru today. That single action does more than everything else on this list combined.

Japanese makeup in 2026: why the drugstore beats the department store

If you have ever walked into a Japanese drugstore, you already know the feeling: an entire wall of makeup, most of it under ¥2,000, and almost all of it genuinely good. Japan is one of the very few markets where the cheap stuff is not a compromise. A ¥1,400 eyeliner from a convenience-store brand routinely outperforms Western products at three times the price, because the domestic market is so competitive that mediocre products simply do not survive.

The reference point most Japanese shoppers use is the @cosme Best Cosmetics Awards — a ranking driven by hundreds of thousands of real user reviews rather than brand advertising. The 2026 mid-year winners are a useful shortcut for anyone shopping from abroad, because they cut through the noise of TikTok trends and tell you what people actually keep repurchasing.

Below are seven Japanese makeup products worth ordering internationally, drawn from the 2026 @cosme mid-year award winners plus the drugstore staples that never leave Japanese makeup bags. Each one is linked to Amazon.com, Amazon Japan and Buyee so you can compare which route is cheapest to your country.

How to buy Japanese makeup from abroad

1. Shade names do not translate — check the code, not the colour word

Japanese cosmetics use short shade codes (PK-1, BK909, SR02) that stay the same worldwide. Colour descriptions on resale listings are often machine-translated and unreliable. Always match the shade code from the official product page, not the description in the listing.

2. Amazon.com listings are usually resellers — price varies wildly

Most Japanese drugstore brands do not sell directly on Amazon.com. Listings are handled by exporters, which means prices can be double the Japanese retail price. Compare all three routes before ordering: Amazon.com for speed, Amazon Japan for the domestic price, and Buyee for anything not exported at all.

3. Liquid cosmetics have shipping restrictions

Liquid foundations, some lip oils and aerosol products are classed as restricted goods by many international couriers. Proxy services will tell you before shipping, but it is worth knowing why a lipstick ships fine and a lip oil sometimes does not.

4. Check the manufacture date if you buy through resale

Japanese cosmetics are legally exempt from printing an expiry date if they remain stable for three years unopened. That is normally fine, but on resale platforms you occasionally get old stock. Buying from Amazon Japan or an established exporter avoids this entirely.

5. Sunscreen and makeup base are where Japan is genuinely unbeatable

If you are only going to order one category, make it base products. Japanese UV protection and makeup primers are formulated for humid summers and are noticeably lighter than Western equivalents — this is the category where people who try it stop going back.

7 best Japanese makeup products in 2026

KATE Lip Monster

The single most recognisable Japanese lipstick of the last five years, and the 2026 @cosme winner for Best Liquid Rouge in its Crystal Pod format. Lip Monster built its reputation on staying power — the colour bonds to the lip rather than sitting on top, so it survives a coffee, a bowl of ramen and a full working day.

The Crystal Pod line adds a sheer, glassy finish to that same long-wear base, which addresses the one complaint people had about the original: that the matte formula could feel dry by evening. If you have tried Lip Monster before and found it too flat, this is the version to come back to.

At around ¥1,600 in Japanese drugstores, it is also the clearest illustration of why people import Japanese makeup at all. There is no Western equivalent at this price with this wear time.

excel Skinny Rich Shadow N

Winner of Best Eyeshadow Palette at the 2026 @cosme mid-year awards, in shade SR02 Foggy Brown. excel occupies a specific niche in Japan: slightly more expensive than pure drugstore brands, noticeably more refined in pigment and texture, but still well under department-store pricing.

The Skinny Rich Shadow palettes are built around wearable neutral gradients rather than statement colour. Four shades, arranged so that you can build a complete eye look without thinking about placement. This is deliberately designed for people who do their makeup in eight minutes.

The powders are finely milled and low-fallout, which matters if you apply eyeshadow after foundation. For anyone who has bounced off Western palettes that look beautiful in the pan and chalky on the lid, this is the corrective.

Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Neo Lash

Shiseido’s Majolica Majorca line took Best Mascara at the 2026 @cosme mid-year awards with shade BK909. Majolica Majorca has been a drugstore fixture in Japan for two decades and is priced around ¥1,200 — genuinely cheap by any international standard.

The Neo Lash formula focuses on length rather than volume, with a fibre-based approach that extends the lash tip without clumping. Japanese mascaras are also built for humidity, which means the film-type formulas resist smudging in conditions where Western mascaras migrate under the eye.

Removal is the trade-off. Film-type Japanese mascaras come off with warm water rather than oil cleanser, which is easier once you know it and frustrating if nobody tells you.

dejavu Eyebrow Color

Best Brow Mascara at the 2026 @cosme awards, in the Sheer Taupe shade. dejavu is the brand Japanese makeup artists reach for when they want brow product that survives a full day without turning orange or flaking.

Brow mascara is one of those categories where Japan is quietly ahead. The formula is designed to tint the hair rather than coat it, so brows keep their texture instead of looking painted on. Sheer Taupe in particular is a shade that works across a wide range of hair colours, which is why it wins awards rather than the darker options.

At around ¥1,000 it is a low-risk purchase, and it is the product most likely to change how your face looks for the least money.

KATE Eyebrow Pencil Super Slim 0.8

The 2026 @cosme winner for Best Eyebrow Pencil, and a product that does exactly one thing extremely well. The 0.8mm tip is fine enough to draw individual hair strokes, which is the technique Japanese brow makeup is built around — filling gaps rather than outlining a shape.

Pairing this with the dejavu brow mascara above is, in practice, the entire Japanese brow routine. Draw the missing hairs with the pencil, then set and tint the rest with the mascara. It takes under a minute once you have done it a few times.

At roughly ¥1,000 and widely stocked, it is the easiest entry point into Japanese makeup for anyone who is not sure where to start.

SUQQU Blurring Color Blush

The luxury entry on this list, and winner of Best Blush at the 2026 @cosme mid-year awards in shade 01 UBU-IRO. SUQQU is a Japanese prestige brand with a following among makeup artists worldwide, and the blushes are what most people buy first.

“Blurring” is the accurate description: the powder is so finely milled that it diffuses at the edges rather than sitting as a defined patch of colour. On camera this reads as skin that simply looks better, rather than skin wearing blush — which is the entire aesthetic goal of Japanese base makeup.

It costs several times what the drugstore items above do. Whether that is worth it depends on how much you care about finish, but it is the product on this list people most often describe as having no equivalent elsewhere.

Fujiko Multi Cheek Palette

Winner of Best Multi Palette at the 2026 @cosme awards in shade 01 Impulse Pink. Fujiko is a newer Japanese brand that built its name on hair powder and has since expanded into face makeup with the same design logic: one product, several jobs, minimal bulk.

The multi palette is aimed squarely at people who travel or who do their makeup somewhere other than a bathroom counter. Cheek, lip and eye colour in a single compact, with shades chosen to work together rather than as isolated options.

For anyone assembling a travel makeup kit for a trip to Japan — or anywhere — this is the single most efficient purchase on the list.

Canmake Perfect Stick Concealer

Not an award winner this year, but included because no honest list of Japanese makeup can leave Canmake out. Canmake is the brand that defines the Japanese drugstore: almost everything is under ¥1,000, and a surprising amount of it is excellent.

The Perfect Stick Concealer is the workhorse — a firm stick formula that covers blemishes and dark circles without creasing, applied directly and blended with a fingertip. It has been reformulated repeatedly over the years and is now one of the most reliable budget concealers on any market.

If you are placing an order and want to add something cheap that will actually get used, this is the one. It is also the product most likely to convince a sceptical friend that Japanese drugstore makeup is not a gimmick.

Comparison table

Frequently asked questions

Is Japanese makeup suitable for darker skin tones?

Base products — foundation, concealer, powder — have historically had a limited shade range skewed light, and that remains the main weakness of the category. Colour products (lip, eye, brow, blush) have no such limitation and are where most international buyers concentrate their orders. If you want base makeup, check swatch photos from reviewers with a similar skin tone rather than relying on shade names.

Are these products cruelty-free?

Japan does not require animal testing for domestic cosmetics sales, and many Japanese brands do not test. However, brands that also sell in mainland China through traditional retail may be subject to different rules. If this matters to you, check each brand’s current policy directly rather than assuming from country of origin.

Can I buy these in Japan more cheaply than importing?

Yes, substantially. Japanese drugstores such as Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia and Don Quijote sell all the drugstore items above at the prices listed, and tax-free shopping removes a further 10% on purchases over ¥5,000 with your passport. If you are visiting Japan, buy there. Importing makes sense when you are restocking from abroad.

What is @cosme and why does it matter?

@cosme is Japan’s largest cosmetics review platform, and its Best Cosmetics Awards are decided by user reviews rather than editorial choice or advertising spend. In practice it is the most reliable single signal of what Japanese consumers actually rate, which is why the 2026 mid-year winners form the backbone of this list.

Where to start

If you are ordering Japanese makeup for the first time, the highest-value starting point is the brow pair: the KATE Eyebrow Pencil Super Slim and dejavu Eyebrow Color. Together they cost around ¥2,000, take under a minute to apply, and change how your face reads more than any other two products at that price.

Add the KATE Lip Monster if you want the one product Japanese makeup is best known for, and the Canmake Perfect Stick Concealer as a cheap test of whether drugstore J-beauty lives up to its reputation. That is a complete starter order for well under ¥5,000 at Japanese prices.

The SUQQU blush is the exception to everything above — it is a considered purchase rather than an impulse one, and worth it only if the finish of your base makeup is something you actively think about. Everything else on this list earns its place on value.