Mar 20, 2026
What products do you avoid buying in Japan?
I've just written about how I only use sunscreen from home and never buy sunscreen in Japan - further to trying it here and finding it was not even half as good as at home and four times as expensive! Another example I can think of is over the counter pain killers. I don't find otc pain killers effective here. Do you have any products like that? Products that you find are much better at home than in Japan? Or maybe much cheaper in your home country than in Japan?
Irish, Mom of 4, currently also living beside the In-Laws. 25+ years back and forth between Ireland and Japan! I also write on my personal website: insaitama.com
Best Answer
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on Mar 21
Deodorant is a big one. I stock up when I go home and order online when I run out. Another one is hair products. I have long, thick, curly hair and anything available at the drug store that purports to work is usually too weak. In both these cases, products probably do exist somewhere in Japan that will work, but the difficulty in finding them, the time it takes to do so, and the waste involved (both in terms of money and garbage) when the local versions don’t work as well as I hoped mean I’ve given up :/
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on Mar 21
Oooh this is a good question... I actually love Japanese sunscreen, but (this might sound weird) I feel like the sun is different here than my home country! I do think in Australia the sun is stronger and I don't know that I would really rely on Japanese sunscreens back home. I feel like they apply much nicer here though, they don't feel as heavy and sticky as some Australian sunscreens do. One thing I struggle with a bit here is foundation/BB cream makeups, since I just don't feel that they are always the best match for my skin tone.
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on Mar 21
@genkidesu that is very interesting. Maybe I have tried the wrong ones. Maybe you could write a short post with your recos! Totally get what you are saying about the sun though - I find it much stronger here than in Ireland, so I need more protection here. TBH, I rarely wear sunscreen in Ireland, and I think most people only buy the type of sunscreen pictured for their trips to the Mediterranean! Foundation is a good one, it took me a while to find a good BB cream match here and it's just a cheap one. But I do usually stock up on makeup and face cream when back in Ireland! I don't wear a lot of foundation so a tube can last me 18 months!!!!
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on Mar 21
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on Mar 21
@TonetoEdo ah yes, deodorant, that is a big one. I used to stock up on it at home too, but stopped because I just didn't have room in the case for sunscreen and deodorant and I always used to get frustrated when my stock ran out! So I made myself climatize to Japanese deodorant! So, thank you very much for the Deonatulle tip, I am going to try it out.
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on Mar 21
@BigfamJapan I hope my tip helps you out! It's a reasonably-priced product that does the job with little fuss and is unobtrusive. Imported products, like my fave Old Spice, work well but are a bit too fragrant for Japanese environments. Ehem.
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on Mar 23
@BigfamJapan I had to experiment a bit. The Deonatulle crystal version didn't work out for me. I use the weapons-grade extra cream version.
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on Mar 26
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on May 10
@TonetoEdo Do you have the brand name for the mouthwash you are using?! I still use Listerine just out of habit but if there are alternatives for cheaper I'm always happy to know about them!
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on May 11
@genkidesu Nonio, which I reviewed after reading this Q&A. It's cheaper, a little less medicinal-tasting, and clear.
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on May 11
@TonetoEdo thanks! I don't think I saw the review, I will have to give it a try.
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on May 12
@BigfamJapan I saw this article today from Metropolis which has some good ones in it! https://metropolisjapan.com/japan-drugstore-guide-the-best-japanese-sunscreen-brands/ The Skin Aqua and the Nivea UV Deep Protect & Care are a couple I've bought repeatedly and like a lot!
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on May 12
@genkidesu that's a great article, thanks for sharing. Just wish they weren't so expensive here!
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on Jul 20
I think it's better to buy local and these days just about everything I want is sold locally. If it works for Japanese people, within reason it should work for everyone. I think it's mostly that we didn't grow up here and just don't know which products are what we are looking for. It usually just takes some asking or searching online. There are some products almost impossible to find here, like my favorite black licorice, which I sourced through an importer in Kanto. Or more recently non applicator tampons, so I unfortunately changed products.
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on Jul 21
15 Answers