Hangover, Motion Sickness & Jet Lag OTC Guide in Japan: Hepalyse, Ukon, Travelmin & More

"My head is throbbing the morning after the izakaya — what do Japanese people take?"

"My kid gets carsick on every shinkansen and tour bus."

"I flew in from L.A. three days ago and I'm still wide awake at 3 a.m."

These are three of the most common everyday-discomfort questions that foreign visitors ask at Japanese pharmacies. Each has a distinctly Japanese answer.

Japan has built up entire OTC categories — Hepalyse, Ukon no Chikara, and the rest of the "liver-care drink" world — that simply don't exist in U.S. or European pharmacies. Meanwhile, the U.S. go-to melatonin is treated very differently here.

This guide covers all three topics in one place.

Before we start: this is general information, not medical advice

Product classifications, approved indications, and customs rules below are accurate as of May 2026 but can change. Always confirm with a pharmacist or doctor before taking any product. Full disclaimer at the end.

1. The distinctly Japanese "hangover drink" shelf

Walk into a Japanese convenience store or drugstore and you'll see an entire shelf of small brown bottles labeled Hepalyse, Ukon no Chikara, Solmac, and similar. Not every comparable product is missing from U.S. pharmacies, but the dedicated "hangover drink" shelf as a coherent retail category is distinctly Japanese.

Several factors likely contributed to this:

• A long-standing business-drinking culture
• The kanpo (traditional herbal medicine) idea of "nourishing the liver"
• Wellness-food and pharmaceutical companies (House Wellness, Zeria, Kowa) developing the category as their own niche

Important caveat upfront: These products are classified as Class 3 OTC medicines, designated quasi-drugs, or soft drinks/health foods — and the classification differs product by product (see the Hepalyse table below). The approved or permitted labeling generally reads "nourishment, vitamin supplementation, recovery from physical fatigue." Japanese law generally does not allow these products to claim they "cure a hangover." Treat them as products positioned for nutritional support and general fortification, not as hangover treatments.

2. Products people use around drinking

None of the products below are legally marketed as "hangover treatments." They are positioned as nutritional support / general fortification, and they happen to be commonly used as part of around-drinking self-care.

Hepalyse line — three different classifications under one brand

"Hepalyse" is a Zeria Pharmaceutical brand. Three different products under this brand have three different regulatory classifications, so always check the label before buying.

What each product is allowed to say on its label depends on the classification. The Class 3 OTC medicine version (Hepalyse Plus II) lists approved indications such as "nourishment, weakness of constitution, physical fatigue, post-illness recovery, nutritional supplementation in pregnancy." None of them say "cures hangover."

Ukon no Chikara (House Wellness Foods)

A soft drink (health food) category product based on turmeric extract (curcumin). Because it's a food, no medicinal claims appear on the label. Many users report taking it before or after drinking, but rigorous clinical evidence for hangover prevention remains limited.

Solmac Plus / Solmac 5 (Taiho Pharmaceutical)

A Class 2 OTC medicine combining stomach-supporting herbal ingredients. Approved labeling: gastric upset, indigestion, loss of appetite. Often used the morning after, although the label does not specifically mention "hangover."

Hyathiol C Plus 2 (SS Pharmaceutical) — Class 3 OTC

L-cystine-based. Approved labeling includes "general fatigue including the feeling of fatigue from a hangover," making this one of the few OTC products in Japan that can directly mention hangover-related fatigue on its label.

Goreisan (kanpo, Class 2 OTC)

The kanpo formula Goreisan (五苓散) has approved indications that vary slightly by manufacturer but typically include "thirst with reduced urine output, vomiting, dizziness, headache, edema, and futsukayoi (hangover)." This makes Goreisan one of the few OTCs in Japan that can list hangover as an approved indication.

Sold OTC by Tsumura, Kracie, and Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, among others.

Kotei-eki, Chocola BB Drink, and other "tonic drinks"

Many small bottled drinks combining B vitamins, taurine, and herbal ingredients are sold as designated quasi-drugs. Approved labeling: nourishment and recovery from physical fatigue. Not specifically for hangover.

3. Symptom-by-symptom morning-after care

If you prefer a more medication-based approach to a rough morning:

Headache → consider acetaminophen first; be cautious with NSAIDs

For hangover headache, the common starting point is acetaminophen (Calonal / Tylenol A). NSAIDs such as Loxonin or ibuprofen can irritate the gastric lining, so they are usually best avoided when the stomach is already stressed by alcohol — and even when the stomach feels fine, taking NSAIDs on an empty stomach is best avoided.

→ More: Tylenol = Calonal in Japan

Stomach discomfort → Gaster 10 / Ohta's Isan

For acid stomach, Gaster 10 (famotidine, Class 1 OTC). For general indigestion, Ohta's Isan.

→ More: Stomach medicine in Japan

Dehydration → oral rehydration solution first; sports drinks as a backup

For alcohol-induced dehydration, oral rehydration solutions are the preferred choice — their electrolyte balance is calibrated for rehydration, unlike standard sports drinks. OS-1 (a "food for special medical use" in Japan, sold mainly at pharmacies and drugstores, sometimes at convenience stores) is the most accessible option.

If oral rehydration solution isn't available, sports drinks such as Aquarius or Pocari Sweat are reasonable backups for water and electrolyte intake.

Nausea → limited OTC options

Strong antiemetics like Nauzelin (domperidone) and Primperan are prescription-only in Japan. There is no robust OTC equivalent. Persistent vomiting warrants seeing a doctor.

4. Motion sickness OTCs

Travelmin, Anelon, and Sempa are all OTC products used to prevent or relieve motion sickness. Note that there is also a separate prescription "Travelmin Combination Tablets" product — that is a different medication; this section covers only the OTC versions.

Travelmin (Eisai), OTC — Class 2

The most widely known OTC motion sickness brand in Japan. Combines diphenhydramine salicylate + diprophylline. (Not to be confused with the prescription-only "Travelmin Combination Tablets," which is a different product.)

• Adult: Travelmin 1 (single daily dose, fast onset), Travelmin (2–3 times daily)
• Children: Travelmin Family, Travelmin Junior

Causes drowsiness — do not drive after taking it.

Anelon "Niscap" (SS Pharmaceutical), OTC — Designated Class 2

A multi-ingredient capsule (pheniramine maleate + scopolamine hydrobromide hydrate + caffeine + vitamin B6 + others). One dose lasts a long time, making it well-suited for long-haul buses, ferries, and overnight bus rides.

Sempa (Taisho Pharmaceutical), OTC — Class 2

Active ingredients: meclizine hydrochloride + scopolamine hydrobromide hydrate + anhydrous caffeine. Sempa Kids is the children's version.

Merislon (prescription)

Betahistine is prescription-only in Japan. It's used for chronic vertigo and Ménière's disease, not as a motion sickness substitute.

5. Jet lag and the "melatonin problem"

This section matters most for U.S. travelers.

Melatonin in Japan is not the same kind of product you can casually buy in the U.S.

In the U.S., melatonin (5–10 mg) is widely sold as a dietary supplement and can be picked up at any drugstore or supermarket. In Japan, melatonin is treated as a medicine — it is not sold as a supplement, food, or quasi-drug in regular drugstores.

• Personal import: small quantities for personal use may be allowed, but depending on the amount and form, a Yakkan Shoumei (medication import certificate) may need to be obtained in advance. Always check the latest MHLW / Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare guidance for your specific situation
• Travelers have been stopped at customs for bringing larger amounts
• A domestic prescription product called Melatobel Granules for Pediatric Use (melatonin) is approved for sleep-onset difficulty in children with neurodevelopmental disorders — not for adult jet lag

→ More: Prescription vs OTC in Japan

Practical jet-lag options in Japan

(A) OTC sleep aid — Drewell (diphenhydramine 25 mg, Class 2)

• Designed for short-term insomnia, not nightly use
• Can leave morning grogginess, dry mouth, or unsteadiness

(B) Kanpo (traditional herbal)

• Sansoninto (酸棗仁湯) — for "exhaustion-related insomnia," Class 2
• Yokukansan-ka-chimpi-hange (抑肝散加陳皮半夏) — for sleep difficulty associated with nervous overstimulation, Class 2

(C) Lifestyle approach

• Get morning sunlight on day 1
• Hydrate aggressively in flight
• Eat and sleep on the destination's schedule

If you rely on melatonin in the U.S., plan ahead before flying — you can't pick up the same product on arrival.

6. U.S.–Japan differences and customs notes

Bringing Hepalyse or Ukon products back to your home country is generally fine since they are health-food categories, but each country has different import rules — check before flying back.

→ More: Prescription vs OTC in Japan

7. Useful Japanese phrases

If you're looking for melatonin specifically, ask: "In Japan melatonin is a prescription drug — what would a pharmacist recommend instead?" and the staff will usually point you to Drewell or kanpo options.

Three things to remember

1. Hepalyse and Ukon products are positioned as nutritional support, not as hangover treatments — they fall under Class 3 OTC, designated quasi-drug, or soft drink categories, with labels like "nourishment, recovery from fatigue." Calibrate expectations accordingly
2. OTC motion sickness products are easy to find — Travelmin, Anelon, Sempa. Make sure you pick the OTC version (a separate prescription Travelmin product also exists). Watch for drowsiness; don't drive
3. Melatonin is treated as a medicine in Japan — it is not sold as a casual supplement, and personal import may require a Yakkan Shoumei depending on amount and form. Consider Drewell or kanpo as in-Japan alternatives

Related articles

• Japanese cold medicine: a complete guide
• Japanese stomach medicine guide
• Prescription vs OTC in Japan
• What is it called in Japan? U.S. OTC brands & equivalents

Sources

• Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) — Package insert database
• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) — "Importing medicines for personal use," "OTC medicine classifications"
• Manufacturer information for Hepalyse line, Hyathiol C, Travelmin, Anelon Niscap, Sempa, Goreisan, Sansoninto
• Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare — Yakkan Shoumei guidance for melatonin import
• U.S. FDA Dietary Supplements / Drugs@FDA database

About the author

Sakura is a licensed Japanese pharmacist and medical writer who specializes in OTC medicines and the medical-information needs of foreign readers in Japan. James translated and adapted this article for English-speaking readers; he holds a PhD in Pharmacy from Waseda University and has worked on PMDA English-language regulatory translation for over a decade.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Product classifications, approved indications, and customs rules described above reflect Japanese regulations as of May 2026 and may change without notice. Before purchasing, taking, or importing any product, please consult a licensed pharmacist or physician, and verify the latest information from official sources such as the PMDA, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and Japan Customs. The publisher assumes no responsibility for actions taken on the basis of this article.