By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
When traveling to Japan, shopping is one of the must-do activities for many tourists, and purchasing cosmetic and pharmaceutical products is a perfect opportunity to stock up on gifts for family and friends. Recently, the well-known Japanese drugstore “Matsumoto Kiyoshi” announced plans to open stores in Taiwan, exciting many fans of Japanese cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In addition to Matsumoto Kiyoshi, there are also other Japanese drugstore chains such as Kokumin, OS DRUG, SUN DRUG, DAIICHI Drugstore, and Tsuruha Drugstore. Each has its own unique features, and travelers might want to include them on their shopping list to compare prices.
Japan’s well-known drugstore “Matsumoto Kiyoshi” announces plans to open stores in Taiwan (Photo / shop-matsukiyo)
1. Kokumin
Kokumin drugstores have over 200 branches across Japan, offering everything from medicine and cosmetics to daily necessities. They can be commonly found in areas such as Shinsaibashi in Osaka, although store sizes vary, as does product availability. Some products even offer discounts when you show your passport.
Kokumin (Photo / コクミンドラッグ)
2. SUN DRUG
SUN DRUG is another common drugstore chain in Japan where travelers can find most of the items they’re looking for. Many products are regularly on promotion, making them quite affordable.
SUN DRUG (Photo / サンドラッグ)
3. DAIICHI Drugstore
DAIICHI Drugstore is a very popular drugstore in Japan, offering a wide and diverse selection of medicine, daily goods, and snacks. It has relatively fewer cosmetic products, but its affordable prices make it one of the favorite destinations for travelers, and a hotspot for daigou shoppers.
DAIICHI Drugstore (Photo / Wikimedia)
4. OS DRUG
OS DRUG stores are typically small and mostly frequented by locals. While tax refunds are not available, the drug prices are very low, and there are often extremely cheap promotional items.
5. Tsuruha Drugstore
Tsuruha Drugstore (Photo / ツルハ ドラッグ)
- 1
- 2