Sudden illness & Emergency while in Tokyo

2024-04-12

Traveling with your family in Japan can be a wonderful experience, but what if your child gets sick? Here are some tips to help you deal with a cold or fever while on vacation. Recommend to bookmark this article for future reference.

Table Of Contents

Medical services in Tokyo during trip
Buy Cold medicine at Pharmacies in Tokyo
Common drugstores in Tokyo
FAQ

Medical services in Tokyo during trip

If your child has a high fever, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. You can find English-speaking doctors in Japan by using the website below from Japan Tourism Agency run by the government. If it is an emergency, 119 is the phone dial number in Japan to call an ambulance.

Above link is useful website by the Japan National Tourism Organization

In addition, from our own experience of raising kids in Tokyo, the recommended hospital with English-speaking Pediatrician is “Aiiku Hospital” in Tamachi, central Tokyo. It’s one of the most renowned one in Japan that it serves as the birthplace for the Japanese Imperial family. If you are in Tokyo and your kids feel unwell, better to see them or make a call before seeing them.

Buy Cold medicine at Pharmacies in Tokyo

If your child has a mild cold, you can buy over-the-counter medicine at any drugstore in Japan. Look for nearby drugstore by map app, for major drugstores that we list below.

In case you cannnot find English speaking person, feel free to use the below expressions. For fever, look for labels that say “こども用” (means for children) or “かぜ薬” (means cold medicine). You can also ask the staff for help by saying “子供が風邪をひきました。薬はありますか？” (My child has a cold. Do you have any medicine?). At drugstore please copy that text and let it read in the mobile app browser such as Chrome, Edge and Safari.😊

Popular pediatric medicines at drugstores

Here are some over-the-counter medicines that can be used when a child catches a cold, categorized by symptoms:

Fever and Pain
- Pediatric Bufferin Chewable
  
  Can be taken by children from 3 to under 15 years old, and contains 50mg of acetaminophen per tablet. The only active ingredient is acetaminophen, which addresses fever and headaches.
- Kodomo Pabron Suppositories
  
  A temporary antipyretic in suppository form that can be used for fever in children from 1 to 12 years old. The antipyretic ingredient, acetaminophen, is absorbed directly from the intestine, so it is less likely to hurt the stomach and reduces fever quickly.
Cold
- Kids Bufferin Syrup S
  
  Can be used by children from 3 months to 6 years old. It addresses all general cold symptoms.
Cough and Nasal Congestion
- Benza Block Troche H
  
  Can be taken by children over 11 years old. It addresses cough and nasal congestion.
- Kodomo Cough Suppressant Kampo Jelly
  
  It’s a smooth, easy-to-drink jelly-type cough suppressant. It’s a grape flavor, making it easy for kids to take. It is effective for symptoms such as coughing with a red face and bronchial asthma.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and the availability of these medicines may vary by store. Also, always follow the directions on the package and consult with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns. If your child’s symptoms persist or worsen, seek medical attention immediately.

Common drugstores in Tokyo

Here is a list of commonly seen drugstores in Tokyo. They handle a wide variety of products, including over-the-counter drugs, and you can purchase them with confidence at those drugstores. When searching for stores on map apps like Google Maps, you can use the below names as search keywords.

Matsukiyo is a well-known drugstore chain in Japan. They specializes in beauty and health products. If you’re in Tokyo, you’ll see their stores in many places.

Welcia is a prominent drugstore chain in Japan. They operate many drugstores with in-house pharmacies. As part of the AEON group, they offer 24-hour service and also have a range of health food products.

Sundrug is a well-established drugstore chain. The majority of their stores are located in the Tokyo metropolitan area. You can find pharmaceuticals or health-related products there.

Tomod’s is a reputable drugstore chain, a large number of their stores are situated in Tokyo. YOu ca find pharmaceuticals to health-related items.

Sugi Pharmacy is one of the major drugstore chains in Japan, with many stores particularly in Tokyo. They offer about 1,500 types of medicines, and accept prescriptions from any medical institution.

FAQ

If my child has a cold or illness, where can they get a diagnosis?

In Japan, you can see general practitioners such as pediatricians and internists. General practitioners can be found at municipal health centers and tourist information centers. You can visit the official website by Japan National Tourism Organization to look for English speaking doctor.

What should I do if my child needs to take medicine?

In Japan, there are medicines for children such as syrups and tablets as shown here. You can purchase them at pharmacies and drugstores.

What should I be careful about when buying over-the-counter drugs for children in Japan?

– Choose over-the-counter drugs for children that are labeled “for children” or “junior”.
– Even over-the-counter drugs for children may have ingredients and side effects that cannot be used. Especially if you have allergies or chronic diseases, please consult your doctor or pharmacist at drugstore.

Is there a time restriction for buying over-the-counter drugs for children in Japan?

In Japan, except for some exceptions, you cannot purchase over-the-counter drugs of the second class or higher at 24-hour drugstores and convenience stores from 11 pm to 8 am. Over-the-counter drugs of the second class or higher are mainly antipyretic analgesics and comprehensive cold remedies, which have strong efficacy and are prone to side effects. These over-the-counter drugs must be purchased after receiving an explanation from the clerk. Therefore, if you want to buy over-the-counter drugs for children at night or early in the morning, you need to purchase those of the third class or lower, or you need to purchase them in advance by mail order.

Are there any ingredients to be careful about in over-the-counter drugs for children in Japan? Do the ingredients to be careful about differ by age?

– Children under 12 years old hould not take over-the-counter drugs containing codeine (such as dihydrocodeine phosphate). Codeine is sometimes included in cough suppressants and comprehensive cold remedies, but it poses a risk of respiratory suppression in children under 12 years old.
– Children under 7 years old should not take over-the-counter drugs containing NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen and loxoprofen). NSAIDs are sometimes included in antipyretic analgesics and comprehensive cold remedies, but their safety has not been established in children under 7 years old.
– Children under 5 years old should not take over-the-counter drugs containing caffeine (anhydrous caffeine). Caffeine is sometimes included in antipyretic analgesics and comprehensive cold remedies, but it has a strong excitatory effect on children under 5 years old and may interfere with sleep.

What is the difference between prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs in Japan?

– Prescription drugs are drugs that are dispensed at pharmacies and hospitals based on a doctor’s diagnosis and prescription. Prescription drugs are generally strong in efficacy and prone to side effects, and need to be used in appropriate amounts and combinations according to individual constitution and symptoms. You cannot purchase without a prescription.

– Over-the-counter drugs are drugs that can be freely purchased at drugstores and convenience stores. Over-the-counter drugs are generally weak in efficacy and less likely to cause side effects, and can be used at your own discretion. However, even over-the-counter drugs require an explanation from the clerk before purchasing if they are of the second class or higher.