Japan: EC pills finally available in pharmacies
February 2026. As of 1 February, levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive (EC) pills are available for sale in pharmacies and drugstores in Japan.
Currently, only one brand of EC pills has been approved for non-prescription sale. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is 7,480 yen: approximately USD 48 (Source: https://www.daiichisankyo-hc.co.jp.) According to ECEC data, prior to the regulatory switch, the cost of EC in Japan was approximately USD 70, which included a mandatory medical consultation to obtain a prescription.
Conditions of sale and use
- EC pills must be purchased in person
- Online sales are not permitted
- The pill must be taken on site, in the pharmacy, in the presence of a pharmacist.
Background
EC pills were first introduced in Japan in 2011 as a prescription-only product. In November 2023, national health authorities launched a pilot program to test non-prescription access through pharmacies. Following this pilot, the switch to non-prescription / behind-the-counter access was approved in September–October 2025 and came into effect on 1 February 2026.