【Fall–Winter Must-Buys】16 Health ＆ Beauty Picks Perfect for Travel and Souvenirs
Japan’s fall and winter can leave you dry, chilly, and a little run-down—and that’s when drugstores become your best travel buddy. But with shelf after shelf of choices, it’s easy to think, “Where do I even start?”
So in this guide, we’re rounding up trusted “fall/winter must-buys” by category—items that rank high on Payke and really deliver. They’re perfect for self-care while you’re here, and just as handy as take-home souvenirs you’ll use long after the trip.
Soothe Your Body from the Inside: Inner-Care Items
Japan’s inner-care picks—think ingestible beauty and wellness—are a go-to for travelers who want to stay energized and glowing on the road. Add a small step to your routine and they’ll gently help with travel fatigue and those “ate a bit too much” moments.
｜Rohto Pharmaceutical “THE LYPO” Vitamin C Deep Capsules
In Japan, “liposomal VC” has become a breakout beauty supplement. Because liposomal vitamin C stays in the body longer and is absorbed more efficiently than regular VC, people even call it a “boosted” form of vitamin C. Each THE LYPO capsule contains two types of micro-granules—one yellow and one white.
The yellow granules are the “liposomal VC,” designed for easy absorption. The white granules combine “fast-acting VC + low-molecular hyaluronic acid.” If you’re aiming for overall wellness and a clear, radiant look, the typical serving is 2 capsules a day.
｜Rohto WAKANSEN Bofu-tsusho-san Full-Dose Tablets a
WAKANSEN Bofu-tsusho-san is a Kampo formula marketed for reducing belly fat and helping the body flush out excess sugar. It’s a popular pick if your waistline is a concern—or if you overindulged a bit on the trip. It may also help ease travel-related constipation and support metabolism.
Take 6 tablets per dose, twice a day. Stick with it and you should start to feel the difference.
｜Rohto V5 Sleep Care Capsules
From Japan’s famed eye-drop maker Rohto comes a supplement that supports eye health and better sleep. The original formula paired lutein and zeaxanthin to help defend the retina from blue-light and UV exposure; the updated version now adds crocetin to support deeper sleep and ease that heavy, tired feeling in the morning.
While you sleep, your optic nerve and the muscles around your eyes get a chance to rest—so good shut-eye is key for eye health, too. With its two-in-one benefits, the guideline is just one capsule a day. It comes in a handy, travel-friendly pouch.
Ryukakusan Direct Stick — Mint
A household name for throat care in Japan. These no-water stick granules go straight to the source to soothe irritation and itchiness. When winter air—or airplane and hotel A/C—leaves your throat scratchy, just tear, pour, and you’re good.
One stick pack is a single adult serving. The tiny granules melt on your tongue like powder snow, leaving a crisp, minty finish.
Keep Your Vision Clear on the Road: Eye-Care Essentials
When it comes to eye drops in Japan, Rohto—one of the country’s biggest OTC brands—always comes to mind. If your eyes feel tired from dry air or blue light, reach for high-performance Japanese eye care. Bonus: the bottles are so cute you’ll want to keep one in your pouch.
｜Rohto MeMe Moisture Tear Serum (Eye Drops)
A new-concept eye drop made for those who really care about eye health. Its rich, serum-like texture gently blankets the tear film to help prevent evaporation and keep your eyes comfortably hydrated for longer.
It packs sodium chondroitin sulfate—known for corneal repair—at a high concentration. To help keep your tear film balanced, it also includes minerals naturally found in tears. You can use it with or without lenses, including soft and color contacts.
The bottle design has clever details, too. Viewed from above, you’ll spot a hidden heart. The clear bottle and gradient logo catch light beautifully, shifting tone depending on your surroundings. And thanks to a specially shaped dropper tip, the liquid dispenses smoothly from any angle.
｜Rohto Lycee / Lycee Contact
An eye-care line Rohto launched for young women, Lycee has been a hit since day one. With its cute, fashion-forward packaging and great value, it’s become a staple in countless makeup pouches.
The bare-eye formula helps with redness and eye fatigue, and also targets itchiness and UV-related irritation. The Contact version is for dry, lens-wearing eyes—safe for color contacts and handy as an insertion/rewetting drop.
｜Rohto V-Rohto Premium
Packed with 12 active ingredients, it helps relax eye muscles, defends against blue-light stress, and eases the heavy eye strain so many of us feel today. A great pick for students and office workers who spend long hours on screens.
Overwhelmed by the wall of eye drops at Japanese drugstores? You can’t go wrong with this multifunction “Blue Diamond” formula.
Beat Winter Dryness & Fatigue: Self-Care Essentials
When the air turns dry in fall and winter, self-care that pampers your skin and body is a must. From gentle picks for sensitive skin to soothing, relax-at-home treats, here are Japan-only finds worth trying.
｜Skin Aqua Hyaluron Serum UV
Say goodbye to sticky, chalky sunscreens—this one changes the game. Skin Aqua Hyaluron Serum UV (the blue bottle) pairs strong UV protection with skincare benefits, all in a single step.
Ethanol- and fragrance-free, it won’t sting your eyes after application. The texture feels light and glides on, hugging the skin. Even with powerful SPF50+ and PA++++ protection, it’s infused with three types of hyaluronic-acid moisturizers and feels as smooth as a milky lotion. With no alcohol, it’s comfy on the face—no squeak, no chalk. If you usually “don’t like sunscreen,” this one’s worth a try!
｜Mentholatum MediQuick PRO Cream a
If you want fast relief from eczema flare-ups, try this cream with nine active ingredients. It helps calm itching, fights bacteria, soothes red, puffy patches, and even eases the soreness of over-scratched skin—covering multiple needs in one tube.
It’s also effective for stubborn, recurring eczema. The formula goes on with a cool touch, helping ease the pain and itch so skin feels more comfortable after you apply.
｜CareCera High-Moisture Pre-Barrier Emulsion
Perfect when your skin feels delicate—after treatments or during seasonal shifts. This first-step emulsion goes on right after cleansing to cushion sensitive skin from irritation. With eight types of ceramides, it delivers deep, lasting moisture. Reach for it when dryness or that telltale tingling/roughness pops up.
Not just ceramides—this one’s loaded with high-concentration petrolatum, yet it never feels greasy. It also primes your skin so the next steps sink in more smoothly.
｜Rohto “Gyutto Corset” Hair Mask
UV rays, humidity, dryness—and all those perms and color jobs—can rough up your hair, leaving it frizzy and stiff. For those woes, try the Gyutto Texture-Shaping Hair Mask. It even sold out for a time after launch—one of 2025’s hair-care standouts.
*Image sourced from the product website
It goes straight to what’s happening inside each strand, tackling the root cause. With Rohto’s proprietary Core Corset Technology, it helps “cinch” the inner core back into shape, smoothing damage-induced waves and poofiness from the inside out.
Loaded with moisture-boosting ingredients key to hair strength—plus 13 serum-grade actives that flood the inner core with hydration. After shampooing, blow-dry to add gentle heat and you’ll feel the care kick in even more. The scent is a soothing Green Tea & Yuzu that helps you unwind.
｜Hisamitsu “Salonpas” Pain-Relief Patches (120 Count)
A long-time Japanese bestseller, these pain-relief patches contain 10% methyl salicylate to soothe muscle stiffness and aches. The flexible sheet molds comfortably to your body, and the larger size with stay-put design makes them super handy for everyday use.
You get six mini packs, each with 20 patches (120 total).
After opening, fold the top of the pouch and pop it back into the box for storage.
For Travel-Weary Bodies: Nighttime Care Picks
Unwind at day’s end with comforting care. As souvenirs, this curated lineup is sure to be appreciated as distinctly—and delightfully—Japanese.
｜Asai Shōji Snore-Reduction Mouthpiece
Developed by a dental technician, this anti-snoring mouthpiece is an easy fix for noisy nights. Bite down on it with your back teeth to create your own impression—because it’s molded to your bite, the fit feels spot on. It helps encourage a switch from mouth breathing to nasal breathing for a quieter, calmer sleep.
Comes with a storage case and a thermo-checker.
How to use: Soften the unmolded mouthpiece in hot water at the right temperature using the thermo-checker, then bite to create your own impression. Wear it on your lower teeth while you sleep.
A handy option for travelers who struggle with snoring on the road.
｜Bathclin “Japan’s Famous Hot Springs – Blissful Indulgence” (Bath Additive Set)
The creators actually traveled to onsen towns across Japan, studied official spring analyses, and bottled each bath’s “feel” through color and fragrance—formulas recognized by the local hot-spring areas themselves. From milky, mineral-rich clouds to crystal-clear waters, your home tub transforms into an onsen in minutes.
The set includes 4 “cloudy” onsen types and 6 “clear” ones. As micro-bubbles spread through the tub, the water slowly turns a soothing milky white—perfect for an unhurried soak. It also makes a great souvenir to bring that “Japanese onsen” feeling home.
｜Braun Oral-B “Sumizumi Clean” Kids (Electric Toothbrush)
A kids’ electric toothbrush with an adorable Pokémon design. It’s rechargeable and made just for little mouths—the compact, rotating brush head fits teeth snugly, so kids can simply place it on each tooth and let it do the cleaning.
What’s inside: 1 brush handle, 1 brush head (pre-installed), and a charger.
The built-in 2-minute timer helps kids brush long enough to keep cavities at bay. It’s a cute, practical souvenir, too.
Summary
How was that? Japanese drugstores are like a theme park for self-care—every shelf is packed with unique finds. It’s fun to browse, but choosing can be tough.
Everything we picked here blends popularity with real performance. Use them on the road, or take advantage of duty-free and bring them home as souvenirs. Add a few to your next shopping list!