Japan Pharmacy Retail Market Growth and Trends 2033

Japan Pharmacy Retail Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Market Structure, Product Type, Therapeutic Area, Drug Type, Pharmacy Location, and Region, 2025-2033

Report Format: PDF+Excel | Report ID: SR112025A35683

Japan Pharmacy Retail Market Overview:

The Japan pharmacy retail market size reached USD 114.26 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 185.63 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.54% during 2025-2033. The aging population with increasing chronic conditions, a shift towards home healthcare and digital services, government support through national insurance programs, and technological advancements in automation and online sales are among the key factors contributing to the market expansion.

Report Attribute	Key Statistics
Base Year	2024
Forecast Years	2025-2033
Historical Years	2019-2024
Market Size in 2024	USD 114.26 Billion
Market Forecast in 2033	USD 185.63 Billion
Market Growth Rate 2025-2033	5.54%

Japan Pharmacy Retail Market Trends:

Aging Population and Increase in Chronic Conditions

A major growth driver of Japan’s pharmacy retail market is the country’s rapidly aging population, one of the fastest-aging globally. As of 2023, over 28% of Japan’s population was aged 65 or older, and this figure is expected to exceed 30% by 2025. This demographic shift is significantly increasing demand for healthcare services and pharmacy-related products. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, a growing share of adults aged 65 and above in Japan suffer from chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, leading to a steady rise in prescription medication needs. Elderly consumers increasingly depend on pharmacies not only for prescriptions but also for over-the-counter drugs, wellness products, health consultations, and preventive care. Supporting this trend is Japan’s robust National Health Insurance (NHI) system, which covered over 96% of the population in 2023, making healthcare, including pharmacy services, both accessible and affordable. Retail pharmacies are evolving into comprehensive health management hubs, offering home delivery, medication counseling, and advanced pharmaceutical care tailored to the needs of aging consumers.

Japan Pharmacy Retail Market size

Technological Advancements and E-Pharmacy Growth

Technological advancements and the rise of e-pharmacies are also reshaping Japan’s pharmacy retail market, driving substantial growth. In recent years, Japanese consumers have increasingly turned to digital platforms, including online pharmacies and health apps, to access medications and healthcare services more conveniently. This digital shift, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has seen more consumers opting for remote consultations and ordering prescription drugs and over the counter (OTC) products online. Japan’s e-pharmacy market size reached USD 6.4 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 20.5 billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 12.4% during 2025-2033, driven by innovations in digital health technologies and growing consumer demand for convenience. E-pharmacies enable consumers to order medications from home, receive digital prescriptions, and access telemedicine consultations. Government support for digital health services, including the introduction of digital prescriptions and online consultations in 2023, has further fueled this transition. Additionally, automation and robotics in physical pharmacies, such as automated dispensing systems and robot-assisted operations, have improved service speed and accuracy, reduced wait times, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Japan Pharmacy Retail Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the region/country level for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on market structure, product type, therapeutic area, drug type, and pharmacy location.

Market Structure Insights:

Unorganized
Organized

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the market structure. This includes unorganized and organized.

Product Type Insights:

Over-the-Counter Products
Prescribed Drugs
Non-Pharmaceutical Products
Medical Equipment

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the product type have also been provided in the report. This includes over-the-counter products, prescribed drugs, non-pharmaceutical products, and medical equipment.

Therapeutic Area Insights:

Cardiovascular
Pain Relief/Analgesics
Vitamins/Minerals/Nutrients
Anti-Infective
Anti-Diabetic
Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the therapeutic area. This includes cardiovascular, pain relief/analgesics, vitamins/minerals/nutrients, anti-infective, anti-diabetic, and others.

Drug Type Insights:

Generic
Patented

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the drug type have also been provided in the report. This includes generic and patented.

Pharmacy Location Insights:

Street/Mall Based
Hospital Based

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the pharmacy location. This includes street/mall based and hospital based.

Regional Insights:

Kanto Region
Kansai/Kinki Region
Central/Chubu Region
Kyushu-Okinawa Region
Tohoku Region
Chugoku Region
Hokkaido Region
Shikoku Region

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include Kanto Region, Kansai/Kinki Region, Central/Chubu Region, Kyushu-Okinawa Region, Tohoku Region, Chugoku Region, Hokkaido Region, and Shikoku Region.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

Japan Pharmacy Retail Market News:

February 2025: Bain Capital acquired Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma from Mitsubishi Chemical for JPY 510 billion (approximately USD 3.4 billion). This acquisition aims to capitalize on Japan's evolving pharmaceutical regulations, which are expected to accelerate drug approvals, particularly for orphan and pediatric medications. The deal also reflects a broader trend of private equity firms investing in Japan's healthcare sector, which indirectly influences pharmacy retail by accelerating drug approvals and expanding treatment options.
February 2024: Tsuruha Holdings and Welcia Holdings announced an accelerated merger, expected to be completed by December 2025. The combined entity, backed by retail giant Aeon, will form Japan's largest pharmacy retail group, operating over 5,500 stores with annual sales exceeding JPY 2 trillion.

Japan Pharmacy Retail Market Report Coverage:

Report Features	Details
Base Year of the Analysis	2024
Historical Period	2019-2024
Forecast Period	2025-2033
Units	Billion USD
Scope of the Report	Exploration of Historical Trends and Market Outlook, Industry Catalysts and Challenges, Segment-Wise Historical and Future Market Assessment: Market Structure Product Type Therapeutic Area Drug Type Pharmacy Location Region
Market Structures Covered	Unorganized, Organized
Product Types Covered	Over-the-Counter Products, Prescribed Drugs, Non-Pharmaceutical Products, Medical Equipment
Therapeutic Areas Covered	Cardiovascular, Pain Relief/Analgesics, Vitamins/Minerals/Nutrients, Anti-Infective, Anti-Diabetic, Others
Drug Types Covered	Generic, Patented
Pharmacy Locations Covered	Street/Mall Based, Hospital Based
Regions Covered	Kanto Region, Kansai/Kinki Region, Central/Chubu Region, Kyushu-Okinawa Region, Tohoku Region, Chugoku Region, Hokkaido Region, Shikoku Region
Customization Scope	10% Free Customization
Post-Sale Analyst Support	10-12 Weeks
Delivery Format	PDF and Excel through Email (We can also provide the editable version of the report in PPT/Word format on special request)

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the Japan pharmacy retail market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
What is the breakup of the Japan pharmacy retail market on the basis of market structure?
What is the breakup of the Japan pharmacy retail market on the basis of product type?
What is the breakup of the Japan pharmacy retail market on the basis of therapeutic area?
What is the breakup of the Japan pharmacy retail market on the basis of drug type?
What is the breakup of the Japan pharmacy retail market on the basis of pharmacy location?
What is the breakup of the Japan pharmacy retail market on the basis of region?
What are the various stages in the value chain of the Japan pharmacy retail market?
What are the key driving factors and challenges in the Japan pharmacy retail market?
What is the structure of the Japan pharmacy retail market and who are the key players?
What is the degree of competition in the Japan pharmacy retail market?

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the Japan pharmacy retail market from 2019-2033.
The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the Japan pharmacy retail market.
Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the Japan pharmacy retail industry and its attractiveness.
Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.

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