They’ll Come Handy When Traveling in Japan! Top 6 Popular Sanitary and Health Goods

Cooling Sheet

A cooling sheet (“reikyaku sheet” in Japanese) is a sheet that can be used when for a fever or hot flushes, to prevent drowsiness, and to cool down during hot summer days. The water in the gel is designed to absorb the heat of the body when it evaporates. At the same time, the cooling agent in the gel gives a cooling sensation to the skin to make it feel comfortable. Aside from the forehead, it is also best put at the back of the neck, among other spots in the body. There are many manufacturers that make this sheet in various sizes that fit adults and children.

Sample price: A pack with 6 pieces inside costs about 400 – 500 JPY
Popular brands carried in most drugstores:
Netsusama Sheet series (Kobayashi Pharmaceutical)
Hiepita series (Lion), etc.

Disposable Pocket Warmer

A disposable pocket warmer (“tsukaisute kairo” in Japanese) is something that the Japanese people swear by in winter. Inside every pack of this pocket warmer is a blend of iron powder, water, activated charcoal, wood powder and salt, and the iron reacts to the oxygen in the air to generate heat once opened and shaken. The popular types of these hand warmers are the type that you can hold in your hand and the type that has an adhesive seal at the back in order to be attached to the lower back and other parts of the body. There is even a type that is put on the soles of your shoes.

Sample price: A pack with 30 pieces inside costs about 600 – 800 JPY

Popular brands carried in most drugstores
Hokkairo series (Kowa)
Kiribai Kairo Haru series (Kiribai), etc.

Sunscreen

Many Japanese people, especially women, are very conscious about “bihaku” (to control the production of melanin in order to prevent blotches and freckles), so sunscreen has become a daily necessity in Japan. There are many types of sunscreens available in the market, including the type that has a silky feeling that is not sticky, the type that retains moisture, and the type that is waterproof. With that, their textures also vary, as some are creamy, some are watery and others come in mist form.

Sample price: About 600 – 700 JPY

Popular brands carried in most drugstores
Biore UV Aqua Rich series (Biore)
ANESSA series (Shiseido)

Eye Drops

Japanese eye drops are very popular among foreigners, especially the cool type that leaves a refreshing feeling to the eyes. There is a wide array of eye drops here, including many types that are effective for strained eyes, cloudiness, redness and itchiness, and types that are used to relieve symptoms of hay fever and other allergies, and convenient single-use disposable eye drops for sties. A lot of the eye drops have different levels of sensation of coolness, so you can choose according to your need.

Sample price: About 500 – 1,000 JPY

Popular brands carried in most drugstores
Smile 40EX series (Lion)
Rohto Alguard series (Rohto Pharmaceutical)

Shampoo and Conditioner

Most Japanese people wash their hair every day. Many kinds of shampoo and conditioner are also sold in the country. For instance, there are brands that focus on scalp care, silicone-free types, and types that are effective for damaged hair.

Sample price: About 800 JPY for a 500ml bottle

Popular brands carried in most drugstores
TSUBAKI series (Shiseido)
Ichikami series (Kracie)

Body Soap

There are also various kinds of body soap for washing the body. They come in different types, including those that are for dry/sensitive skin, and those that made with persimmon to ensure a great scent on the body. You will find a wide range of products sold in Japan, from the body soaps that have a gorgeous aroma, up to the natural body soaps with a delicate fragrance.

Popular brands carried in most drugstores
Biore U series (Biore)
Minon series (Daiichi Sankyo)

Please use this article as reference the next time you go shopping.