Ryuseido Pharmacy is a Japanese drugstore chain based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, offering prescription medications, over‑the‑counter drugs, cosmetics, health foods, and daily necessities. It operates multiple locations around Shinjuku and western Tokyo and is popular with both locals and tourists.
Owned by Kabushiki Kaisha Ryuseido Honten (Ryuseido Honten Co., Ltd.)
About Ryuseido Pharmacy
Ryuseido Pharmacy is a long‑established Japanese drugstore chain operated by Kabushiki Kaisha Ryuseido Honten, headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company runs around 30 pharmacy and drugstore locations, many of them clustered around Shinjuku Station, including prominent shops like Ryuseido Pharmacy Shinjuku and Okubo. These stores sell prescription medicines, over‑the‑counter drugs, vitamins and supplements, cosmetics and skincare, health foods, baby products, and everyday household items, often with tax‑free shopping services for overseas visitors.
A charge from “RIYUSEIDO” or “RYUSEIDO PHARMACY” on a card statement typically reflects an in‑store purchase at one of their branches, such as the Shinjuku or Okubo locations in Tokyo. Customers may have bought prescription medication after a doctor’s visit, cosmetic or skincare products, health items, or convenience goods. Tourists using Visa or other international cards frequently see this descriptor after making tax‑free or regular purchases at the Shinjuku-area shops, which actively cater to foreign visitors.
If you don’t recognize the charge, first check your receipts or shopping bags from any drugstores you visited in Shinjuku or nearby areas—Ryuseido’s name and logo should appear on the receipt. You can also contact the specific store if you remember the location, or reach out through the company’s official website for store contact details and support. If you suspect an error or duplicate billing, compare the charge amount and date to your receipt, and then speak with your card issuer if something doesn’t match; they may request additional documentation while they investigate.
Bank Statement Variations
2 known variations
These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Ryuseido Pharmacy.
Why do I see a charge from “RIYUSEIDO SHINJIYUKU” or similar on my card statement?
This descriptor usually corresponds to a purchase at a Ryuseido Pharmacy branch in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo, such as the main Shinjuku store near Shinjuku Station. The charge likely reflects in‑store spending on medicines, cosmetics, health products, or daily necessities paid by Visa at the time of checkout.
What types of purchases commonly result in Ryuseido Pharmacy charges?
Most Ryuseido Pharmacy charges come from buying prescription medications after a clinic visit, over‑the‑counter remedies (cold medicine, pain relievers, allergy drugs), cosmetics and skincare, health foods and supplements, or daily items like toiletries and baby goods. Tourists may also see larger single charges when they make tax‑free bulk purchases of cosmetics or health products.
Does Ryuseido Pharmacy offer tax‑free shopping, and could that affect the charge amount?
Many Ryuseido Pharmacy locations around Shinjuku support tax‑free shopping for eligible foreign visitors, which means consumption tax is removed at the register after showing your passport. However, the final charged amount will still include any items that are not tax‑free and may include bundled promotions, so the card charge can differ slightly from the pre‑tax shelf prices. Always keep the detailed receipt to reconcile the exact total.
How can I confirm which Ryuseido Pharmacy branch I was charged at?
Your receipt will show the specific store name, address, and phone number (for example, the Shinjuku or Okubo branch). If you no longer have the receipt, check the date and amount on your card statement and recall which pharmacy you visited around Shinjuku at that time. The descriptor often includes an abbreviated location (such as Shinjuku), and you can cross‑reference store addresses and phone numbers listed on ryuseido.co.jp to identify the exact branch.
How do I request a refund or discuss a billing problem with Ryuseido Pharmacy?
To request a refund or question a charge, contact the store where you made the purchase—its phone number and address are printed on the receipt. Bring or email a copy of your receipt and your card statement showing the transaction so staff can look it up. If you are overseas and no longer in Japan, use the store information and contact details published on ryuseido.co.jp to call the relevant branch or the head office for guidance.
Can Ryuseido Pharmacy place temporary authorization holds on my card?
Normally, Ryuseido Pharmacy processes standard retail charges, but in some cases your card issuer may show a temporary authorization hold when the card is first read, especially with international cards. This hold can differ slightly from the final amount and should adjust to the exact purchase total once the transaction is captured and posted by your bank, usually within a few days.
What should I do if I don’t recognize any visit to a Ryuseido Pharmacy but still see a charge?
First, confirm whether you or a travel companion visited any drugstores in the Shinjuku area during the trip, as the name may appear differently in English (for example, “RYUSEIDO PHARMACY SHINJUKU”). If no one recognizes the purchase, contact your card issuer immediately to report a potentially unauthorized transaction; they can investigate, contact the merchant if needed, and guide you through their dispute process.
Can I get a copy of my receipt from Ryuseido Pharmacy after returning home?
If you lost your receipt, you can try contacting the specific Ryuseido Pharmacy branch, providing the exact transaction date, approximate time, amount, and the last four digits of your card. While reissuing receipts is not guaranteed, staff may be able to locate the transaction in their system and issue a simple proof of purchase or advise you on how to proceed with your card provider.