Japanese cold medicine for tourists: what to buy, and what to check before taking it home

Checked against manufacturer and government pages on November 4, 2026.

Fever, headache or sore throat: Tylenol A (タイレノールA), acetaminophen only.
Cough: Shin Bron Eki Ace (新ブロン液エース).
Runny or stuffy nose: Pabron Bien Capsule Sα (パブロン鼻炎カプセルSα).
Sore throat, cough and runny nose together (fever not required): Pabron Gold A tablets (パブロンゴールドA〈錠〉).

1. Match your symptom

You haveLook for this on the boxActive ingredient
Fever, headache, sore throatタイレノールA
解熱鎮痛剤 (fever and pain reliever)		Acetaminophen 300mg per tablet, nothing else
Cough, phlegm新ブロン液エース
せき、たん (cough, phlegm)		Dihydrocodeine, guaifenesin, chlorpheniramine, caffeine (syrup)
Runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezingパブロン鼻炎カプセルSα
くしゃみ、鼻みず、鼻づまり (sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose)		Pseudoephedrine, carbinoxamine, belladonna alkaloids, caffeine
Sore throat + cough + runny nose (with or without fever)パブロンゴールドA〈錠〉
かぜの諸症状 (cold symptoms)		Acetaminophen, dihydrocodeine, dl-methylephedrine, guaifenesin, chlorpheniramine, caffeine, vitamin B2

Pabron Gold A is labeled for cough, phlegm, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose and stuffy nose, as well as chills, fever, headache and aches. You do not need a fever to use it. Pick one product: the Pabron Gold A and Shin Bron leaflets both say not to take them with other cold, cough or antihistamine medicines (including oral nose medicines).

Sources: Tylenol Japan, SS Pharmaceutical, Taisho (nasal capsule), Taisho (Pabron Gold A), PMDA (Shin Bron leaflet), PMDA (Pabron Gold A leaflet)

2. Buy it

  • Where: any pharmacy (薬局) or drugstore (ドラッグストア). Pharmacists and registered sellers there can help you choose.
  • At the counter: show the Japanese product name from the table above (for example パブロンゴールドA〈錠〉). Some medicines cannot be bought when the pharmacist is not on duty, and if the shelf is empty or shows only a card, ask at the counter.

Ask this:
のどが痛く、せきと鼻水があります。この薬は使えますか？
"I have a sore throat, a cough and a runny nose. Can I use this medicine?"

Purchase rules

  • Since May 1, 2026, some cold and cough medicines are "designated misuse-prevention" medicines (指定濫用防止医薬品). For these, staff check whether you bought them at other stores, your age (and name if under 18), and your reason if you want a large pack or more than one. Buyers under 18 cannot buy large or multiple packs. Taking medicine on an overseas trip is one of the reasons MHLW lists as possible.
  • SS Pharmaceutical asks buyers of Bron products (including Shin Bron Eki Ace) to buy one per person, and checks name and age for buyers under 18.

Sources: JNTO medical guide, MHLW notice on misuse-prevention medicines, MHLW Q&A, SS Pharmaceutical

3. Take it

ProductAdult dose (from the package)Who should not take it
Tylenol AAge 15+: 1 tablet, up to 3 times a day, at least 4 hours apartUnder 15
Shin Bron Eki AceAge 15+: 10mL, 3 times a day after meals (up to 6 times, 4 hours apart). Ages 12-14: 6.6mLUnder 12
Pabron Bien Capsule SαAge 15+: 2 capsules every 12 hoursUnder 15
Pabron Gold A (tablets)Age 15+: 3 tablets, 3 times a day after meals. Ages 12-14: 2 tabletsUnder 12

Tell the pharmacist before buying if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition or allergies, or take other medicines. The Pabron Gold A and Shin Bron leaflets say to consult first in these cases, and to avoid breastfeeding if you take them.

Pabron Gold A and Shin Bron can make you drowsy. Their leaflets say not to drive after taking them, and the Pabron Gold A leaflet says not to drink alcohol before or after.

Sources: Tylenol Japan, SS Pharmaceutical, PMDA (Shin Bron leaflet), Taisho (nasal capsule), Taisho (Pabron Gold A), PMDA (Pabron Gold A leaflet)

4. When to see a doctor instead

  • Cough not better after 5-6 doses of the cough syrup: stop and take the box to a doctor or pharmacist (Shin Bron leaflet).
  • Emergency: call 119 for an ambulance. Show a Japanese speaker this line: 救急車を呼んでください。("Please call an ambulance.")
  • Not sure if it's an emergency: in many areas, including Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, dial #7119 to talk to doctors or nurses. It is run locally and may be in Japanese.
  • Need an English-speaking clinic: use JNTO's medical institution search (filter by area, language and department), or call the Japan Visitor Hotline at 050-3816-2787 (24/7, English, Chinese, Korean). For fever, sore throat, cough or runny nose, the department is Internal Medicine (内科).
  • Clinics usually take cash only. Credit cards are accepted mainly at large hospitals.

Sources: JNTO medical guide, JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline, Fire and Disaster Management Agency (#7119), PMDA (Shin Bron leaflet)

5. Taking it home

Three of the four products above contain ingredients many countries control: dihydrocodeine (ジヒドロコデイン) in Shin Bron Eki Ace and Pabron Gold A, and pseudoephedrine (プソイドエフェドリン) in Pabron Bien Capsule Sα. Tylenol A is acetaminophen only. Check your home country's customs or health authority by ingredient name, not brand name, and keep the box and leaflet.

Sources: SS Pharmaceutical, Taisho (nasal capsule), Taisho (Pabron Gold A), Tylenol Japan

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