Asides from witnessing the gorgeous architecture and soaking in the rich culture, one can also expect to switch up their skincare routine in Tokyo.
Stock up on products you never knew you needed like eyelash lotion (believe or not, it's a thing) and shelf after shelf of facial cleansers at these 3 must visit places to get Japanese skincare?
P.S. If you're heading to Tokyo, don't forget to download our HHWT Travel Planner App available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android! ?
1. Matsumoto Kiyoshi (or Matsukiyo in short)
Credit: japan-kakkoii
What to expect: It's impossible to talk about beauty products in Japan without mentioning the no.1 place to visit - drug stores. Amongst the numerous drug stores around Tokyo, Matsumoto Kiyoshi is one of the largest chain stores (Kokumin is another major chain) with so many outlets that it's practically impossible to miss. Just look out for their trademark blue, yellow and white shop front. You can find popular Japanese brands such as Canmake, Majorlica, Kate and more in the stores. They also sell snacks, drinks and medicine so if you ever need a bottle of water, you know where to go!
#HHWT Tip: Japanese drugstores can be daunting especially if you're new to Japanese beauty products. Before your trip, we recommend doing loads of research and be careful not to cave to impulsive buys!
Opening hours: Shibuya Part 1 - 24hours
Address: Part 1 - 22-3 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (There are other outlets at Asakusa, Shinjuku, Akihabara, etc)
How to get there: Alight at Shibuya station and exit via the Hachiko exit. Walk straight till you see Hachiko on your left, turn right and walk straight till you reach QFront (at the start of Inokashira Dori).Cross the street and the outlet will be on your right.
2. @Cosme
What to expect: @Cosme is Japan's largest cosmetics and beauty web portal. When you visit their physical storefront, be prepared to be wowed by the range of products available,including things you’ve never thought you’d need, like eyelash lotion :P Their flagship store is in Shinjuku Station, with 4 other outlets at convenient locations such as Shibuya, Ginza, Ueno and Ikebukuro.
Credit: savvytokyo
What we love about Cosme is also that they have testers for almost every product, including sinks to try out facial cleansers! There are also certain items that are marked based on how popular they are in the @Cosme web portal, so you can try out products that are highly-rated by users.
Opening hours: 1100 to 2200 (Mon to Fri),1030 – 2200 (Sat, Sun, PH)
Address: Lumine Est Shinjuku B2, 3-38-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
How to get there: Alight at Shinjuku Station and take the east exit to Lumine Est.
More info: Details on the other outlets can be found here - but do note that it's in Japanese (just hit the translate button if you're on Chrome).
3. Ranking Ranqueen
What to expect: Overwhelmed by choice? If you can’t find your way around Japanese cosmetics, visit Ranking and Ranqueen, where products are categorized and ranked based on their popularity. Only the top three to five items in each category are stocked, so be assured that whatever you pick is gonna be a winner!
Opening hours: 1000 – 2300 (daily)
Address: Jiyugaoka 1-30-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
How to get there: Alight at JR Jiyugaoka Station. It's located within the station.
We can't guarantee that your skin will be 100% flawless after buying products from these stores but at least you'll have more alternatives now?
P.S. If you're heading to Tokyo, don't forget to download our HHWT Travel Planner App available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android!
