@MACmiracle @doschicos Dosages are often lower in Japanese medications as compared with their US counterparts, so they are often “less effective”. And you are right that you cannot assume that you can just go to a pharmacy and buy medications like you do in the US or elsewhere. If I remember correctly, you can buy OTC cold medications at the pharmacy, but you need a prescription from a doctor for the non-drowsy versions. As for the form for prescription medications, I believe for medications that are allowed, you can bring up to a 1 month supply. So, students going on a study abroad for a semester or quarter will need to complete a yakkan shoumei. Everyone should do their due diligence and double check all of this though.
Sure, if there is medicine you rely on consistently, bring it if legal. But I stand by my opinion that you don’t need to pack a medicine cabinet to cover possible situations for a healthy young adult. Japanese get constipation and headaches, too. 
Part of the experience of living in another country is navigating daily life - be it grocery stores, the post office, and the pharmacy. Nothing is as easy as home when you are living in another country but those are the things that provide the best learning experiences and the interesting stories to tell. How better to learn about a country?
@doschicos, I agree that Japanese get constipated.
Speaking of constipation…It’s a very common topic of conversation among young women but I never remember anyone taking a pill for it. They’d treat it more naturally. Too much white rice can get you.
I remember bringing a bag of prunes to the hospital for the birth of my first child because I was warned that I’d be given an enema if I didn’t go within a couple of days after the birth. But that was in the boondocks.
I usually have ibuprofen in my purse when I travel here and in the old days, when I’d get random allergic reactions, I’d already have Benedryl handy, which also helps for sleep in a pinch. I guess the key is to know yourself and be prepared simply for convenience. I think that’s also part of growing up.
@doschicos I did not mean to recommend that a healthy, young adult should pack a “medicine cabinet” or insinuate that you cannot find constipation or headache medications. I am only suggesting that parents should be aware that laws governing medications in Japan are different from those in the US. I tend to agree that experience is often the best teacher, but IMHO, I don’t think being detained for 8 hours at Narita for a pack of Sudafed is a good way to start a Study Abroad program. On a lighter note, experience did teach me that a common brand of diarrhea medication in Japan is called “Stopper” which has to be one of the all-time best names for a medication.
@MACmiracle I also spent time in the boondocks and was told that I would get an enema to bring down a fever. I think I willed my body to get better in order to avoid that fate.
@Shrmpngrtz My comments weren’t directed solely at you. Read the other posts with a laundry list of recommendations.
Here’s another story, a friend living in Japan was on a trip in the country. He got a minor infection and went to a doctor who told him oral antibiotics are not good for the go tract. So my friend had to visit the doctor for a few days in a row for IV antibiotics, and that was during his trip. Most people would object but my friend said he enjoyed his convos with the doctor during the daily treatments. I wonder now if the doctor was lonely and was interested in the conversation, too.
I didn’t really like having to go to an ent for a minor ear infection and having to go back every three days for a check and a new script for two weeks to make sure things were coming along.
Needing an ent for simple ear infections was such a pain.
Since we’re off on a tangent on the Japanese healthcare system, it’s interesting to note that, based on the experiences shared here, there is a high level of doctor based care in Japan. Yet, healthcare in Japan only accounts for 10.2% of their GDP in 2014 despite a fairly old population vs. 17.1% of GDP in the USA.
Lot’s of factors but they definitely have a better diet (and better food) and a lower obesity rate. 3.6% BMI over 30 compared to 32% for Americans.
Yes, I’m sure that is a big part of it.
OP here. I paid just about $100 to get my son 10 weeks of supplemental health insurance, with $0 deductible. He probably doesn’t need it, but I feel better having it. (Mom paid, so he doesn’t care). Now we are working through the fact that Japan is more “cash-based” than he was expecting. I tried not to get too involved (“over-control” according to some), but seems you pay now or pay later when it comes to helping your kids.
In terms of being cash-based, yes, that’s true.
My D was able to use her debit card at ATMs, often in convenience stores so It was very convenient. She said it’s the best rate and I just took her word for it.
She’s off on another trip to another country and is planning on using her debit card again.
But she hit a big snag. She forgot her pin so she couldn’t make a deposit to be able to take out money while abroad, with $5 in her account.
She got her new pin the night before leaving and found her bank’s ATM shutdown when she went to try it in the morning. She was going to try an airport ATM last I heard.
I just got to a place where I had to tell myself, she is an adult and she has to solve this problem. I have to let go.
At least she’s with a group this time and accommodations and some meals are already paid. Otherwise, I’d be a much more of a wreck.
I always go cash based when traveling in a foreign country. Get local currency from an ATM at a bank. That’s usually a good exchange rate. Credit card for hotel but verify with CC first that no international fee. Lot’s of reasons to avoid credit/debit cards for meals and incidentals.
XE Currency is a good app for calculations. 83.0451 Yen to dollar right now. 100 and 500 Yen coins are common which is also an adjustment since we tend to be paper based in the U.S.