The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps
This is part 2, where I will write about the shows and food at Universal Studios Japan with young children, aged 5.5 and 8 years old. You can start from Part 1 if you need more information about Universal Studios Japan (“USJ”) regarding ticketing, accommodation, the …
We were on the fence about visiting Universal Studios Japan with young children, aged 5.5 and 8 years old, during our trip. The rides at Universal Studios Japan (“USJ”) seemed more suitable for older children from Upper Primary, or so we thought. In the end, …
I bought some medicine and beauty products from a Japanese drugstore during my recent trip to Osaka in September 2025. In this post, you can find the prices and translated instructions of these products. Please refer to them as a general guideline because prices vary for different drugstores, and I am using Google Translate, and there could be errors in the automated translation. I’ve also included Lazada or Shopee Singapore links for price references.
I went to OS Drug in Osaka’s Kuromon Market, which is purportedly the cheapest place in town, or at least their price tags are generally lower than competitors’ tax-free products. Yes, the caveat is that they are not tax-free, and it is cash only. Moreover, the product search can be a hit-and-miss with OS Drug. I couldn’t find some of the products I wanted, so I bought them from Matsumoto Kiyoshi (signboard with the word “薬”) near the entrance of Kuromon Market, from Nippombashi Station Exit 9/10. It is beside this matcha shop where we saw a queue before opening and a sold-out sign by afternoon.
I wrote very detailed posts about the products found in Japan’s drugstores back in 2017. The product information is still relevant.
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Disclaimer: This website does not provide medical advice nor purports to do so. The contents of this website are meant purely for informational and educational purposes only, and it is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or professional care. If you have or suspect you have a health problem, you should consult a doctor or a qualified healthcare provider. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
EVE products are painkillers for different pains: menstrual cramps, headache, toothache, sore throat, joint pain, muscular aches, nerve pain, backache, stiff shoulders, ear pain, etc. It also reduces chills and fever.
2 tablets per time, and it’s only for those above 15 years old. Avoid taking on an empty stomach. For more information, visit: www.ssp.co.jp/eve/en.
1) Lion Cooling Leg Gel Sheet (Kyusoku Jikan)
Paste the gel sheets on your aching legs to cool your legs through the evaporation of water. Apparently, it can stick to the leg through the night, but is still gentle on your skin.
2) Roihi-tsuboko Pain Relief Patches
These patches are for shoulder aches, back aches, bruises, sprains, pain in joints, muscular pain, muscle fatigue, chilblains, and pains caused by bone fractures. Remove the patches 30 – 60 minutes before taking a shower to avoid a burning sensation. Keep the product in its sealed bag to retain its quality.
The prices for the 156 pieces and 78 pieces are the same. The difference is in the sizes of the patches.
3) Doshisha Gorilla Grip Calf
My husband sent me this and told me I should get this for my frequently aching shin. But I thought it was an expensive muscle patch, turned out it’s a massager! Will probably get it on my next Japan trip, though the plug is different from Singapore.
During the trip, my daughter and husband had diarrhoea. The toilet trips came back every time the effects of charcoal pills wore off. When we ran out of charcoal pills, he got the anti-diarrheal medicine from a random pharmacy. We also got one for our daughter, good thing she had learned to swallow pills just before the trip! They worked so well for my husband that he decided to haul more of the pills back.
However, we couldn’t find the same one at OS Drug, and so bought another one that’s also recommended online. These quick-dissolving pills would be good for children who don’t yet know how to swallow pills, or for adults who don’t like to swallow pills. See below for the instructions. See the first picture of this section for their front covers.
For more details and recommendations, refer to this other post I wrote in 2017: travel.joogostyle.com/otc-medicine-in-japans-drugstores
Orbis hair mask is apparently one of the trending products to buy at drugstores in Japan. So I got one tube to try, even though I have Fino and Tsubaki hair masks stocked up at home (got them before finalising my Japan trip!). I like the effects and scent of the Tsubaki hair mask (Pink Camellia) best.
Fino is another popular hair mask to get when in Japan. I stocked up on Fino at S$8 in Singapore, because it has been selling for more than S$10 these days, except on online stores such as Shopee or Lazada. But alas, during my trip, I saw Fino selling for 500 to 800 yen, depending on the pharmacy.
Yolu’s packaging attracted me, and after a quick online search, I found that it’s a popular and highly raved product. So I bought the shampoo and treatment of the Deep Night Repair series, and decided that the Calm Night Repair series might not be strong enough for my dry hair.
Bottle Price (Shampoo/Treatment):
Refill Price:
For more recommendations of hair and body products, head over to travel.joogostyle.com/hair-and-body-products-in-japans-drugstores
I had a Canmake Cream Cheek Blush, and it’s small and easy to bring out. However, since I had to use my finger to apply it, it became a hassle for me. I had to wash my hands before and after application.
So this time, I got the powder blush version to put into my handbag and try.
Towards the end of my trip, I had a big pimple on my chin, and I tried really hard to resist popping it. It’s timely for me to consider carting out a pimple cream. I did a quick online search and ‘Acneige’ came recommended, later, I realised ‘Pair Acne’ is also recommended. Other than creams, the two brands have face wash and lotion.
Acneige
Pair Ance
1) Eye Mask
Derma Laser Eye Sheet Super VCR (VC+Retinol) is a 3-minute eye mask which combines Vitamin C derivative and Retinol to target eye area concerns, such as fine lines, dark spots, and dullness. It worked visibly well for me, at least for my first try.
2) Eye Cream
I read good reviews of SANA Namerakahonpo Soy Milk Eye Cream on Reddit. Since it’s apparently affordable and effective, I decided to get them and try.
I quite like SANA Namerakahonpo Soy Milk Cleansing Face Wash and hence decided to buy all the related soy products to try.
I stocked up on SANA Namerakahonpo Soy Milk Cleansing Face Wash and didn’t pay attention to Cure Natural Aqua Gel because I have two bottles at home. However, I would give it a special mention here. I have not been able to find an alternative to this face exfoliator that is not abrasive. So if you are considering a gentle exfoliator to remove dead skin cells, you might want to consider getting this water-based exfoliating gel in Japan!
SANA Face Wash
Cure Natural Aqua Gel
Read mixed reviews about this Keana Nadeshiko Rice Pack and Mask, although it is a popular product. Decided to get one each and decide for myself! Find out from their website how to use the rice pack and read more about the rice mask. I tried one mask sheet, and it seemed to work for my face. I felt my face glowing after use at night and the following morning as well.
For more recommendations, head to my other posts I wrote in 2017 about makeup and beauty products in Japanese Drugstores.
That’s all! Hope the above references helped you, and let me know of other must-buy products in the comments section below. For useful content like this article, visit joogostyle.com for travel, home, and baby matters.
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Disclaimer: JoogoStyle and Christina accept no liability (whether in tort or contract or otherwise) for any loss or damage arising from any use, misuse, inaccuracy or omission of the information or other contents published on this website.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. An affiliate link means I’ll get a small commission if you make a purchase. There’s NO extra cost to you. I appreciate your support in maintaining this website, so that I can share more tips with you. Thank you!
We went on a 4D3N Desaru Trip with our 6-year-old and 4-year-old, from 1 to 4 September 2024 during Singapore’s September school holidays. Hence, the room prices at Hard Rock Hotel and Westin skyrocketed out of our budget. These two hotels reminded me of the …
I thought of whitening my teeth for over a year but didn’t dare to because I was afraid my teeth would turn out overly white and thus lose their natural look of slightly yellow. However, there’s an obvious stain on my front tooth, thanks to …
The Malaysian state government ceased the use of the common Anglicised spelling of the state name, Malacca, making Melaka the official spelling now. There were a few highlights of our Melaka trip: our health check-up, last-minute change of accommodation, and the girls’ food poisoning on the day we left Melaka for JB (we’re guessing it’s either the ice yoghurt at Jonker Night Market or the snow ice from Yong Peng.
Background: Our family of four (including a 4 and a 7-year-old) went on a 10-day road trip in West Malaysia from 25 May to 4 June 2024. Departing from Singapore, we went to Johor Bahru (“JB”), Muar, and Melaka, before returning to JB (near Paradigm Mall). Strictly speaking, it’s a 5-day road trip because we were in JB half the time.
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We stayed 3 nights in Melaka and initially booked an apartment at the Atlantis on Airbnb. The house has a good space and the development is not crowded with holidaymakers. However, their pool was closed but we were not informed of it. So we got a full refund and made a last-minute switch to the neighbouring Bali Residence.
Read our experience in detail in my other article: “Review of Airbnb in Malaysia (JB, Muar, Melaka)”
We had two full days in Melaka, with 1.5 days spent on sightseeing and the remaining half day spent on a general health check-up at Mahkota Medical Centre. If you are interested, you can read more about our experience in the last section of this article.
Near the medical centre, our girls also had an hour of fun at the bouncy castle outside the Hatten Hotel.
Since we had an afternoon to explore after our health check-up on Thursday, we headed to the famous Jonker area. But by the time we passed by Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum, it was closed at 4:45 pm. We couldn’t make it early for it the next day too. If you have been to the museum, let me know in the comments whether it is worth a visit!
Good thing, we could still visit the nearby Tham Siew Inn Artist Gallery to appreciate some art. The gallery has a few nice art pieces, and a painting of the moonlight shone through and captivated me. It was a nice space, except for the slight push of sales towards the end.
Many interesting shops sparsely dotted the Jonker area, so we had to walk quite a bit to visit them. The shops that stood out were San Shu Gong, a longstanding food souvenir shop which brought back memories, a trendy-looking food souvenir shop, a Peranakan photo studio, a shop with beautiful paper cutting but taking photos was not allowed, and a jewellery shop where the girls each got a handmade ring.
The loud, blaring music trishaws caught our attention. You can also spot them easily at night as they are lit with bright lights. The girls wanted to ride on it so much that we paid RM 25 (S$7.60) for a 15-minute ride, travelling from the Stadthuys (Red Square) to A Famosa fort and back, which is actually a 10-minute walk one-way.
The trishaw uncle waited for us at A Famosa to take a few photos before he cycled us back to the Red Square. He was cycling as if he was competing while other trishaws were travelling at a leisurely speed! So our ride was shorter than others, but at least my girls enjoyed the experience.
Before heading to the Jonker night market on Friday, we spent our day at AEON MALL Bandaraya Melaka. Hubs got coffee from G Coffee which was average to him, while we got Auntie Anne which has more varieties and is more affordable than in Singapore. After shopping at Muji and the supermarket, we had lunch at Vivo Pizza and ordered pizza and pasta. The food was better than we expected!
If you have more time with the children, bringing them to A’famosa Water Theme Park and Safari Wonderland is highly recommended. You can get the tickets on Klook too.
The morning I brought the girls for a swim, my hubby went to get us a hearty and delicious breakfast from Eat Toast. You can also find them in Muar, Batu Pahat, and Johor Jaya.
As for our first lunch in Melaka, we filled our tummies with Melaka’s famous chicken rice ball. We had it at the nearby Nanyang Chicken Rice ball, not bad but not to die for.
Later in the day, we had watermelon juice near the Red Square after our trishaw ride. We chose a big watermelon and the shop “drilled” two holes for the straws. Then the shop took out the drilled part for us to eat – you can see it in the photo below where EG held it to eat. Sweet and especially good under the sweltering sun!
After the watermelon juice, it’s time for dinner! But we couldn’t find the restaurant I bookmarked even though we were at the location indicated on Google Maps. Hence we concluded it had been closed permanently. We were so tired by then and so decided to eat at a Peranakan restaurant near us. It’s Peranakan Place Signature @ Heeren Street (do not mistake it with the one at Jonker Street). The decorations were beautiful and captivating, and more importantly, the food and service were good! Do try the Chendol, it’s good enough to make up for the recommended Chendol eateries that we missed out because they were too far for us to walk to.
There were many entrances to Jonker Night Market and we got in from the side, walking from the Tham Siew Inn Gallery. Along the alley were various stalls selling food and drinks. Turned out most if not all the stores in that small alley belonged to one shop. Get a seat in the open or head into their air-conditioned seating area, and order from the menu.
But for one or two popular items along the stretch, you have to join the long queue and order it for yourself – but feel free to eat in the seating area. Well, I think the food from the menu is overpriced, especially when the food is not particularly fantastic, and I had better stingrays before. But the nasi lemak away from the alley, but not too far away is quite good.
Later, we went around the night market and continued eating a few snacks and desserts here and there and bought a few trinkets. It reminded me of Taiwan’s night market. Note that Jonker Street Night Market is open only every weekend on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 6PM to midnight.
In hindsight, we should have done our health check-up at Johor Bahru instead of Melaka. However, my relative sort of recommended the health check-up with Mahkota, we ended up at the Mahkota Medical Centre in Melaka.
Making an appointment via email was easy. We were told to arrive early if we wanted to get the results on the same day. We didn’t arrive early enough but still got the results on the same day, even before we left the hospital! I think it’s because there weren’t many people. Btw, most of the patients were foreigners – Singaporeans, Indonesians and even Koreans!
We had to choose the plan we wanted and pay before the start of the tests. We paid RM1,971 (S$567.83) for two comprehensive tests, including a top-up for an additional test for my husband. The clinic staff speaks English and the tests in the clinic were relatively fast since there were not many people. The waiting area is comfortable and spacious, with lockers provided for our belongings.
However, we were asked to head to another level for the ultrasound scan and queued along with many other people. We waited long for our turn and that area felt more like a public hospital.
There was a small anomaly in my husband’s results and they suggested we consult the specialist in their hospital. We were worried and so went to the cardiologist they recommended. The doctor studied the scan results and said it was a minor issue, just take note of diet and exercise. My hubs queued for 15 minutes and the consultation was done in 5 minutes. He paid RM150 (S$43.21). Hmm, it made us wonder if there’s some referral commission behind the scenes.
That’s all, for Melaka! Let me know if you have any place to recommend for health checkups in Johor Bahru. Or is there any must-do or must eat stuff in Melaka that I missed? Leave your comments or questions below. Love to hear from you. :)
Before you go, you might want to check out my other posts on Malaysia (accommodation in Malaysia, Johor Bahru and Muar).
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Disclaimer: JoogoStyle and Christina accept no liability (whether in tort or contract or otherwise) for any loss or damage arising from any use, misuse, inaccuracy or omission of the information or other contents published on this website.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. An affiliate link means I’ll get a small commission if you purchase. There’s NO extra cost to you. I appreciate your support in maintaining this website so I can share more tips with you. Thank you!
In this article, I will share our ins and outs at Muar – where we stayed, what we ate in Muar and nearby Bakri, and how our studio photoshoot went. We mainly ate in Muar, so this might feel more like a food article. As …
Our family of four (including a 4 and a 7-year-old) went on a 10-day road trip in West Malaysia from 25 May to 4 June 2024. Departing from Singapore, we went to Johor Bahru (“JB”), Muar, and Melaka, before returning to JB (near Paradigm Mall). …