An Easy Guide to Kowa Products Worth Checking Out at Japanese Drugstores

Unexpected troubles are part of any trip abroad! When you’re having a blast in Japan, it’s easy to push yourself past your normal limits, walking, eating, and drinking so much your body just can’t keep up. In moments like these, Japanese drugstores, which are helpfully found on just about every street corner, are a logical next destination. They might be great shopping spots for cosmetics, snacks, and other souvenirs, but Japanese drugstores are also incredibly helpful for travelers wondering what to do when they’re not feeling great in Japan.

As a drugstore, health care products are always front and center, and they’re worth a look—they’re helpful during your trip, but the can also be practical items you can continue using after returning home. Among these, Japanese stomach medicines are especially recommended when you need a little help with your digestive system, especially after you’ve overeaten, or are feeling bloated and heavy. One of the most well-known Japanese digestive aids is “CABAGIN,” a popular product that’s become a staple in the digestive medicine section of Japanese drugstores. However, Kowa (the company behind CABAGIN) actually actually produces much more than just this one big-name product!

From digestive medicines to joint and muscle support, energy supplements, and insect bite care, Kowa has a broad lineup of products, many of which are made to deal with the kinds of troubles travelers commonly face. It’s easy to walk into a Japanese drugstore and feel overwhelmed by the huge selection of products with unreadable labels, and in that situation, you might end up reaching for the first thing that looks familiar, even if it’s not really the best option. To help you walk into the Japanese drugstore with a little more confidence, we’ll be introducing some of Kowa’s easy-to-overlook products, category by category.

The Key to Fun Food Tours in Japan

Ramen, yakiniku, yakitori, sushi… Japan truly is a paradise for food lovers, to the point that many people visit the country just for its incredible cuisine. But when you get carried away enjoying everything you see, you may suddenly find yourself feeling a little weighed down, or dealing with an upset stomach. That’s why many locals like to keep Kowa’s most famous product on hand: CABAGIN.

CABAGIN KOWA α PLUS Granules

Looking for recommendations for your drugstore shopping list in Japan? You’re likely to hear the name CABAGIN, although many are only familiar with the tablet version. This time we’re looking at “CABAGIN KOWA α PLUS Granules,” which are easy to swallow with water—a boon for anyone who hates swallowing pills. It’s even shiso flavored, for a nice, refreshing (and uniquely Japanese) aftertaste.

Importantly, it does more than just relieve stomach discomfort. CABAGIN KOWA α PLUS contains MMSC (methylmethionine sulfonium chloride), an ingredient that helps repair damaged stomach lining, supporting your stomach on its journey to better health.

Convenient on the go, especially for travelers, CABAGIN KOWA α PLUS Granules come in individually wrapped single-dose packets. It’s easy to slip one or two in your bag, and keep on you for whenever you need a little digestive support. If you’re planning a big food tour, it’s a good idea to add CABAGIN to the top of the shopping list and have a few packets ready in advance so you can keep your mind on your food, and not stomach concerns.

CABAGIN KOWA α PLUS Granules (キャベジンコーワαプラス顆粒)
2nd Class OTC drug
Indications: Stomach discomfort, weak stomach, heaviness in the stomach, stomach pain, overeating, overdrinking, heartburn.
Dosage & Administration:
Adults (15+): 1 packet per dose
Children 11~15 y.o.: 2/3 packet per dose
Children 8~10 y.o.: 1/2 packet per dose
→ Take 3 times a day, after meals with cold or lukewarm water.

For Long Walking Days in Japan

Most travelers who visit Japan agree on one thing: you’re going to be walking a lot. So it makes sense to keep an eye out for products that can help make your trip to Japan easier, so you can enjoy yourself, and recover from your trip quicker when you get home.

VANTELIN KOWA SUPPORTER

You might not recognize the brand if you’re not from Japan, but the VANTELIN KOWA SUPPORTER collection is a local favorite, even ranking number 1 in support product sales for 14 consecutive years.*

^{*As VANTELIN KOWA SUPPORTER / Intage SRI+ Supporter Market, April 2012 – March 2017, Total Sales by Brand / Intage SRI+ Supporter Market, April 2017 – March 2026, Total Sales by Brand}

The core concept lies in the product’s medically inspired taping capabilities. By using a special knit taping structure, each product is designed to offer natural support for the strain placed on muscles and joints during daily activities. There’s no need to learn complicated taping techniques when you can just wear one of these for all the same benefits. During your trip to Japan, it’s especially useful on days when you expect to be walking all day, but it can also be a help whenever your everyday schedule has you on your feet, with a nice blend of comfort and functionality.

The full lineup includes lumbar corsets, pelvic belts, compression supporters, as well as a number of other products designed for specific body parts such as the knees, elbows, and wrists. (If you spend long hours at a desk or are constantly looking down at your phone, you might want to look for something to relieve your poor wrists.) They’re great not only as a form of personal care, but also as thoughtful gifts for parents or loved ones who spend long hours on their feet, putting strain on their lower backs.

VANTELIN KOWA SUPPORTER

Full Product Lineup

UNA KOWA ACE PREMIUM C

Japan’s summers are famous for their intense heat and humidity, and with summer seeming to get longer every year, you might fidn yourself wishing you knew how locals deal with bug bites in Japan. One solution? UNA KOWA ACE PREMIUM, a product formulated for insect bites and itch relief. The newest version, UNA KOWA ACE PREMIUM C, is an ethanol-free cream.

The key features of Kowa’s new cream are its ethanol-free formula, gentle cooling sensation, smooth spreadability, and non-sticky texture. In terms of ingredients, it contains 0.3% PVA (prednisolone valerate acetate), an anti-inflammatory ingredient (at the highest concentration available within the UNA product line). PVA is an antedrug steroid that provides strong anti-inflammatory effects at the affected area before being broken down in the body to reduce systemic impact, offering a balance of effectiveness and safety. It also contains diphenhydramine hydrochloride to suppress histamine activity and relieve itching, glycol salicylate to ease itching and redness, as well as L-menthol and DL-camphor to provide a cooling sensation to the affected area.

Together, these ingredients work intensively against the severe itching and prolonged inflammation caused by mosquitoes, mites, black flies, and other insect bites. In the end, it’s a useful insect bite and anti-itch cream, useful not only in Japan, but also long after returning home.

UNA KOWA ACE PREMIUM C (ウナｺｰﾜ エース プレミアムC)
Designated 2nd Class OTC drug
Indications: Insect bites, itching, eczema, rash, dermatitis, heat rash, hives.
Dosage & Administration:
Apply a suitable amount to the affected area several times a day. Before use, please consult a pharmacist or registered seller and carefully read the Precautions for Use.

Keep These On Hand Together!

Q&P KOWA GOLD α PREMIUM

Q&P KOWA GOLD α PREMIUM is designed to offer support when you feel fatigue building throughout your body, and it works with just one tablet per dose, morning or night. The product relies on a mix of herbal ingredients, like Kowa’s whole Q&P line, but this particular version has the largest variety of different herbal ingredients yet!

Packed into a single tablet are five herbal tonic ingredients and five vitamins chosen to support a tired body. The formula contains oxoamidine, an ingredient extracted from garlic (the garlic odor is kept at a minimum); astragalus root, which expands peripheral blood vessels to promote vitality; Siberian ginseng, known for its effects against fatigue; peony root, which provides dual care against fatigue through nourishing and antioxidant effects; and eucommia bark, which has strengthening properties that energize a fatigued body. If you want to see just how effective each one-tablet dose can be, pick up a bottle at the drugstore!

Q&P KOWA GOLD α PREMIUM (キューピーコーワゴールドαプレミアム)
3rd Class OTC drug
Indications: Nutritional support, weak constitution, physical fatigue, recovery after illness, loss of appetite, nutritional disorders, nutritional supplementation during fever-related wasting illnesses, pregnancy, breastfeeding, etc.
Dosage & Administration:
　Adults (15+): 1 tablet per dose, 1~2 times daily
　*Children under 15 should not use this product.
→ Can be taken at any time, morning, noon, or night, regardless of mealtimes. If taking twice daily, 6 hours between doses is recommended. Take with cold or lukewarm water.

Kanzo KOWA 1000 & Kanzo KOWA

The Kanzo KOWA lineup is nice to have for food-filled trips around Japan, but it’s also an obvious choice for anyone who eats out with any frequency.

Each small bottle of the “Kanzo KOWA 1000” drink contains 65mg of turmeric extract and 280mg of porcine liver hydrolysate. In addition, it contains ornithine and alanine (components found in freshwater clams, well known in Japan) in an amount equivalent to approximately 1,000 clams. The drink also includes 10mg of kudzu flower extract, vitamins B₁, B₂, B₆, niacin, and branched-chain amino acids (valine, leucine, and isoleucine), for a total of 12 ingredients. The drink is tropical fruit flavor (not fruit juice, but tasty all the same), so it’s a nice treat whenever you reach for it.

For a more portable option, you’ll also find Kanzo KOWA Tablets. Each small pill contains 11 carefully selected ingredients, and they come individually packaged, making it easy to throw in your bag for later. Stock up during your Japan trip, and you might find yourself reaching for the little tablets on days with big meals planned back home.

Kanzo KOWA 1000 (カンゾコーワ1000)
Soft Drink
Suggested Intake:
Drink 1 bottle per day.
*This is a soft drink intended to supplement nutritional balance. It does not break down alcohol or prevent/relieve hangovers.

Kanzo KOWA Tablets (カンゾコーワ 粒)
Dietary Supplement
Suggested Intake:
Take 1 packet per day with cold or warm water, without chewing.
*This is a dietary supplement intended to supplement nutritional balance. It does not break down alcohol or prevent/relieve hangovers.

Practical Japanese Souvenirs for Your Travel Checklist? Kowa ☑️

Whether your eyes go straight to the digestive care items perfect after indulging in Japanese cuisine, to the energy supplements, the joint support products, or all the convenient options you can slip into your bag for later, these Kowa products are great to have around during your trip, and helpful for everyday life after returning home, too. If you’re looking for some super practical souvenirs, you won’t go wrong picking up a few Kowa products, with a quick and easy stop at a Japanese drugstore!

Kowa also makes sports drinks developed in collaboration with baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, as well as some useful items for more active travel in Japan. For more details, check out the articles below!

・Shohei Ohtani Collab Developed Products & Other Japanese Drugstore Recommendations From Kowa

・Japanese Drugstore Recommendations for Pre-Workout + Support + Recovery: Popular Japanese Workout Products from Kowa

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