Okay so for anyone who has a uterus who is considering traveling to Japan and may start their cycle, this is for you.
I did not expect to start mine at all and what do you know a week into a two week trip and I start spotting 🙃 I am a person who can have a very heavy flow (I have a copper IUD) so I typically have to use Super + tampons for one to two days of my cycle.
I found out (again didn’t do my research bc I didn’t think I would be starting my cycle while on my trip) that tampons are not… really… a thing… JAPAN HAS THEM! But it’s a tiny little section at the bottom of the shelf and I did not see any options for Super + 😬
So here I am, two days later, cleaning some stained laundry.
Point is, I would recommend if you like to use tampons (and you have a preference on the kind you use) that you bring a few extra absorbent in your luggage just in case. Just a PSA for someone who didn’t prepare! 👍🏻
33 comments
Thank you for this. I’m planning a month long trip so I can’t exactly avoid getting my period. Do the public toilets have waste disposal bins?
Super plus tampons exist as well, and at least in big cities they can absolutely be found in bigger pharmacies.
https://www.sofy.jp/en/products/tampon/p_superplus.html
Hit “Available for purchase here”, choose “store search”, choose the desired product (Goole Translate or such will help – purple for super plus) and navigate to your location.
If you can’t figure it out, locate the nearest Matsumoto Kiyoshi (big pharmacy chain) or Don Quijote (aka Donki, big variety store) on Google Maps, they’re probably your best bet and have many locations. Finding anything in these stores can be challenging, though (and finding help in Donki is almost impossible but readily available at Matsumoto Kiyoshi).
Where do you do your laundry in Japan?
It might be a controversial approach but with menstrual cup like moon cup and birth control pill, my torrential flow once a month become quite negligible and I almost forget sometime that I have period due to no pain.
But this kind of thing really takes time to adapt and going to a doctor for professional advice but it might be worth it
I bought super+ tampons last trip to Japan (December 2022.) I went to a large pharmacy in Osaka with a friend and also picked up some pads. I usually bring some of my own, but I was out and about and things happen.
You can find larger capacity tampons at larger drugstores— but yeah conbini don’t have as much of a selection. Just go to a different store.
If you’re really having a tough time you can also order via Japanese Amazon.
As others have said, a medium-to-large drugstore will have a selection of sizes, although usually only one brand. I’m personally not picky, so that was good enough for me, but if someone is picky about their tampons, I recommend they bring their own.
Another thing I did not expect to be a difficult thing to find in Japan… Children’s underwear. We went to 3 different supermarkets around the neighbourhood trying to find a packet, but there were none to be found. I assume that a department store might have some, but it’s not really possible to head to the CBD, or huge mall, when you’re on the go with luggage and a small child.
I am currently in Japan and this trip has thrown my cycle WAY off. Surprise – desperately needed a tampon while in an historic district of Kyoto. Found a Family Mart a very precarious 10 min walk away and there was a beloved single box of super tampons, but a very large selection of pads – and mercifully a clean bathroom in the store.
As an aside, I found that the super tampons here work better than the few brands I use at home- or my flow is lighter? Either way I was very relieved and now haven’t left the hotel without pockets filled with tampons like some kind of menstrual product hoarder expecting to hemorrhage in the streets.
I’m here studying abroad for six months, and you better believe I brought a six month supply of super tampons. So I can’t say where you need to go for more.
However, I have learned that bidets are a GODSEND on your period!
I will also vouch for the added protection of period underwear. You don’t need anything thick or special, but they’re a great backup for leaks. Due to my birth control being poorly timed for my trip, I had started a few days before leaving. It really helped on the flight when you can’t always control when you can use the bathroom. The basic ones I got off Amazon also are pretty good on their own for the start and end days. If you’re close to your cycle, it’d be a good idea to pack some if you have space.
If you can wear Japanese sizes, [Uniqlo makes some](https://www.uniqlo.com/jp/ja/products/E458854-000/00?colorDisplayCode=72&sizeDisplayCode=005). I imagine there are other companies that make them in Japan as well, but that’s probably the most well-known and accessible brand. Especially if most tourists are around major cities.
Use meat tenderiser to break down bloodstains – it works like magic.
The exact same thing happened to me! I thankfully found a box of tampons in one of the skincare shops
Agree, bring a pack of tampons, even if you don’t think you will need them. Selection here is slim pickin’ (especially in smaller cities and towns). And if you’re like me (tilted uterus/low cervix gang), they may even be a bit longer than you’re used to, and most common ones are non-organic and bleached cotton, if you’re also blessed with that sensitivity.
BUT! A big menstrual-in-Japan perk: sanitary underwear. Sold most places that underwear is sold (even some konbini), once you know what to look for you will see them everywhere. Even Uniqlo [has some](https://www.uniqlo.com/jp/ja/search?q=%E3%82%B5%E3%83%8B%E3%82%BF%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A7%E3%83%BC%E3%83%84), and there are more [Period](https://period-tokyo.com/pages/store)-focused shops opening in larger cities, too. The Period shops also stock Western period underwear for heavy flow. The standard sanitary shorts here are great if you’ve got a heavy flow and don’t trust whatever you’ve using, or if you have minor incontinence issues. And perfect for those in-between and light days, too! They’re not quite period underwear, e.g. for complete free bleeding, but…you could try. There are some that have more capacity than others, you just need to check the signage.
I packed a pair of period panties for this reason, they have super absorbent padding that can easily handle my heaviest flow days and still feel dry, absolutely no leakage. they were about £20, but well worth it in the long run.
Just a friendly reminder: convenience stores aren’t meant to have large selections like a supermarket or a drug store. They’re a place to get small/quick essentials on the go, hence the name “convenience”. If you want larger selections of things, you need to go to a supermarket or a drug store.
Pro tip: Uniqlo now sells period underwear. It works well for me.
I ended up getting my period on my last two days in Japan and thankfully had brought a few pads just in case. However, I would definitely recommend bringing extra pads or tampons, especially if you have a heavier flow.
I will suggest to get a menstrual cup for those who haven’t tried. It takes a little bit to figure out but once you do it’s a game changer. You don’t need to change for 8-10 hours.
Wait what do they use??
Not about tampons but the pads in Japan are awesome In my opinion, The ones in my country (Australia) have a kinda chemical smell I dont smell when I used Japanese pads 🙂
I always travel with my Diva Cup and period panties…
This is super plus that’s commonly available at drugstores. They usually come in a larger box than shown on the page [https://www.sofy.jp/ja/products/tampon/p_superplus.html](https://www.sofy.jp/ja/products/tampon/p_superplus.html)
However you may not find them in the middle of the city or touristy area because people usually buy these things closer to home.
This is a brand of pads for people with very heavy flows [https://www.elleair.jp/elis/clinics/](https://www.elleair.jp/elis/clinics/)
Get a menstrual cup.
The big cities have tampons. There is only one brand.
Blue-light flow
Green-medium flow
Purple-heavy flow
Japan is more of a pad than a tampon country, and their pads are bigger than the ones in the states.
Duuuuude, I was so regretful of taking my spare pads/tampons out of my purse on my trip to Japan with a friend. I use the pill, so I was able to trick my body and get my period out of the way just before the trip and knew I would not need them. But my friend did not have the same circumstances and her period started in the airport on the day of our 16 hour return flight. Believe it or not, the airport did not seem to have tampons readily available for sale. Instead she got to wear an overnight MASSIVE pad the whole time.
So absolutely absolutely absolutely, even if it’s not necessarily for yourself, don’t leave your spares behind.
What do japanese women do?
Yea, most, if not all countries in Asia will not have much variety for tampons. So if you’re an exclusive tampon user, bring enough.
While you’re there tho, I’d recommend getting period undies from Uniqlo which is much cheaper than popular period undies like think and knix
Also PSA prepare to bring antibiotics and cranberry pills in case you get a UTI.. I’ve had a UTI for the past 7 days and I’m finally going back home…none of the OTC pills here worked and it was also so hard to find cranberry juice but found it at a random grocery store…
You can, if you don’t find it, order from Amazon and deliver it to your hotel.
My gf did it once when we were traveling around japan (she used, according to her “normal” tampons… as a guy I don’t know what that means)
She don’t seem to have any problems to find it where we live tho (Osaka).
With all respect, I don’t agree. I have an extremely heavy flow (think super tampon with a back up pad on the worst days) and found Japan’s menstrual products superior to my home country. They even have finger puppets! Something unheard of in Australia. Install Google translate or an equivalent image reading/ translation app and you’ll be fine. You’ll need to go to a chemist/pharmacy for a larger range but im pretty sure I used to just go to large supermarket when I lived there. Im sorry you had this terrible experience though. Also remember, staff are very helpful and will assist.
Good PSA.
I always bring my own supplies of all the basics. Even if the destination has something you need, it may take extra time, more travel and possibly be expensive. Or worse yet, mediocre quality.
When I need something, it’s usually right away.