Convenience stores are open all night; pharmacies are not. Only 356 pharmacies in Japan stay open past 22:00 on weekdays. By 20:00 the figure is 4,787 — still a small share of 61,398 pharmacies nationwide.
Over-the-counter, late at night
- Late-opening drugstores stock painkillers, cold remedies, stomach medicine and antihistamines.
- Some convenience stores carry a limited range of designated medicines.
- None of these can fill a prescription.
If you need prescription medicine
Your options are to wait until morning, or to be seen at a facility that is open late and has a pharmacy nearby that is also open. The pharmacies that do stay open late are usually clustered around hospitals with emergency departments.
If you have run out of regular medication
Do not simply stop taking prescribed medication for a chronic condition. Call #7119 for advice, or go to an emergency department if the medication is one that cannot safely be interrupted. Bring your medicine notebook or the empty packaging.
Plan around it
If you take regular medication, carry a few days' buffer when travelling, and refill before long weekends. The prescription itself expires four days after it is issued, so do not leave it in your bag.
Find pharmacies near you
Browse by prefecture and filter for evening or late-night opening.
Frequently asked questions
- Are pharmacies open all night in Japan?
- Almost never. Only 356 pharmacies nationwide stay open past 22:00 on weekdays. By 20:00 the figure is 4,787.
- Where can I buy medicine late at night in Japan?
- Late-opening drugstores stock painkillers, cold remedies and stomach medicine, and some convenience stores carry a limited range of designated medicines. None of them can fill a prescription.
- What if I have run out of regular prescription medication?
- Do not simply stop taking prescribed medication for a chronic condition. Call #7119 for advice, or go to an emergency department if the medication is one that cannot safely be interrupted.