Menstrual Care
Dealing with periods in a foreign country presents a unique set of challenges. Since menstrual products vary from country to country, it can be almost impossible to find something comparable to what you’re used to. Luckily, a wide range of pads and tampons are available in Japan, some in brands they have overseas. Getting alternative menstrual products in Japan is also simple, as a number of companies ship to Japan affordably (sometimes free!).
Select a product category from the menu on the left, or scroll down to see the whole lineup of the most popular pads, tampon, and alternative menstrual products available in Japan, with descriptions in English, pictures, and product names in English and Japanese to help you when you go shopping.
Did you know...?
It has long been a misconception that tampons do not exist in Japan. Though the product of choice by Japanese women is, by and large, sanitary napkins, tampons certainly do exist, and can be found at almost any store selling sanitary napkins.
Don’t care for either pads or tampons? No problem! There are a few alternative product companies that ship to Japan. Take a look at the common products sold at drug stores and some grocery stores, and foreign products that ship internationally to Japan.
Tampons
While the following products can typically be bought at drug stores and some grocery stores, in the event that you cannot find them at your local shops, they are for sale online, notably at Amazon Japan.
While the following products can typically be bought at drug stores and some grocery stores, in the event that you cannot find them at your local shops, they are for sale online, notably at Amazon Japan.
Soft Tampon Light - Comes in packs of 10 at MSRP ￥300
English source: http://www.sofy.jp/en/products/tampon/p_light.html
Japanese source:http://www.unicharm.co.jp/products/sanitary/b02/007/index.html
Soft Tampon Regular – Comes in packs of 10 at MSRP ￥300 or packs of 34 at MSRP ￥1,060
English source: http://www.sofy.jp/en/products/tampon/p_regular.html
Japanese source: http://www.unicharm.co.jp/products/sanitary/b02/007/index.html
Soft Tampon Super - Comes in packs of 9 at MSRP ￥300 or packs of 32 at MSRP ￥1,060
English source: http://www.sofy.jp/en/products/tampon/p_super.html
Japanese source: http://www.unicharm.co.jp/products/sanitary/b02/007/index.html
Soft Tampon Super Plus - Comes in packs of 25 at￥1,060
English source: http://www.sofy.jp/en/products/tampon/p_superplus.html
Japanese source: http://www.unicharm.co.jp/products/sanitary/b02/007/index.html
Soft Tampon Compact Regular – Comes in packs of 8 at MSRP ￥260
English source: http://www.sofy.jp/en/products/tampon/p_compact_regular.html
Japanese source: http://www.unicharm.co.jp/products/sanitary/b02/008/index.html
Soft Tampon Compact Super – Comes in packs of 8 at MSRP ￥260
English source: http://www.sofy.jp/en/products/tampon/p_compact_super.html
Japanese source: http://www.unicharm.co.jp/products/sanitary/b02/008/index.html
Pads
Note For Menstrual Pads
Sofy also has a wide variety of napkins available. The link below is to an entirely English site, completely interactive and thorough in description of its products.
English source: http://www.sofy.jp/en/products/index.html
Whisper (known as Always in other countries), has a large line of products, including Cosmo (known as Infinity in other countries). Unfortunately, this company does not provide an English site for its Japanese products.
Japanese source: http://www.happywhisper.com/ja-JP/product/Pads/
whisper-sanitary-napkins.aspx
Whisper, or Always in other countries, is widely available and they have a wide range of products for all flow levels, from pantyliners to overnight/heavy.
Whisper Cosmo (Always Infinity)
ウィスパー コスモ
Cosmo pads are made of a highly absorbent, thin material that absorbs 10 times its weight. Pulls wetness away from your body and into the core of the pad to keep you dry.
Pink- 27cm with wings, for Heavy Days
Purple- 30cm with wings for Heavy Days and Overnight
Whisper Pure Hada Very Slim
ウィスパー ピュアはだ超スリム
Pure Hada Super Slim pads are made of a very absorbent, very thin material (absorbs 3 times its weight) to keep you dry.
Yellow mark (upper right)- 22cm with wings for Regular Days
Green mark (upper right)- 22cm without wings for Regular Days
Pink mark (upper right)- 24cm with wings for Heavy Days
Whisper Pure Hada Soft Anshin
ウィスパー ピュアはだふんわり安心
Pure Hada Soft Anshin pads are soft and absorbent (absorbs 3 times its weight) to leave you dry and comfortable.
Pink- 27cm with wings, for Heavy Days
Pink mark (upper right)- 24cm with wings for Heavy Days
Green mark (upper right)- 24cm without wings for Heavy Days
Blue mark (upper right)- 28cm with wings for Very Heavy Days and Overnight
Whisper Sarafuwa Slim
ウィスパー さらふわスリム
Sarafuwa Slim pads are soft, absorbent (absorbs 3 times its weight), light, and airy to keep you cool and dry.
Yellow mark (upper right)- 21cm with wings for Regular Days
Green mark (upper right)- 21cm without wings for Regular days
Whisper Super Sukkiri Slim
ウィスパー 超すっきりスリム
Super Sukkiri Slim pads are absorbent (absorbs 3 times its weight), light, and airy to keep you cool and dry.
Yellow mark (upper right)- 22cm with wings for Regular Days
Green mark (upper right)- 22cm without wings for Regular Days
Pink mark (upper right)- 24cm with wings for Heavy Days
Orange mark (upper right)- 28cm with wings for Heavy Days and Overnight
Purple mark (upper right)- 32cm with wings for Very Heavy Days and Overnight
Whisper Soft & Shikkari Absorbent
ウィスパー やわらか＆しっかり吸収
Soft & Shikkari Absorbent pads are soft and absorbent to keep you comfortable.
With wings image (bottom right)- 21cm with wings for Regular Days
Without wings image (bottom right)- 21cm without wings for Regular Days
Whisper Super Asamade Guard
ウィスパー 超朝までガード
Super Asamade Guard pads are soft, long, and super absorbent, with a wide rear to prevent back leaks when sleeping.
320 (left) - 32cm with wings for Heavy Days and Overnight
360 (center)- 36cm with wings for Very Heavy Overnight protection
400 (right)- 40cm with wings for Very Heavy Overnight protection
Alternative Menstrual Products
Intimina, creator of the Lily Cup Compact and the standard Lily Cup (available in 2 sizes), ships to Japan!
English source: https://www.intimina.com/en/
Mooncup offers standard shipping for free, worldwide.
English source: http://www.mooncup.co.uk/buy-the-mooncup/
Reusable pads
Lunapads ships globally.
English source: http://lunapads.com/A number of sellers on Etsy will also happily ship their products to Japan.
Useful Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ナプキン | napukin | sanitary napkin/ sanitary towel |
| パンティライナー | pantirainaa | panty liner |
| タンポン | tanpon | tampon |
| ふんわり | funwari | soft and fluffy |
| 吸収 きゅうしゅう |
kyuushuu | absorb, absorption |
| ふつうの日 ふつうのひ |
futsuu no hi | regular flow days |
| 多い日 おおいひ |
ooi hi | heavy flow days |
| 特に多い日 とくにおおいひ |
tokuni ooi hi | especially heavy flow days |
| 昼用 ひるよう |
hiruyou | daytime use |
| 夜用 よるよう |
yoruyou | nighttime use (overnight) |
| 羽つき はねつき |
hanetsuki | with wings |
| 羽なし はねなし |
hanenashi | without wings |
| スリム | Surimu | slim |
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