The Cult Beauty Haunts In Tokyo You Need To Visit At Least Once
Delve into the best of Japanese beauty with this curated list of our favourite Tokyo beauty spots.
By Rachel Tan and Reta Lee,
When it comes to beauty, Japan has it all figured out. Renowned worldwide for its cutting-edge innovations and deep-rooted respect for traditions, Japanese beauty brands have captured the hearts of beauty enthusiasts everywhere. If you're lucky enough to be in Tokyo, J-beauty products are the ultimate souvenirs to take home. From state-of-the-art beauty devices to time-tested cleansing oils, the city is a goldmine of beauty finds waiting to be discovered. Here are five Tokyo hotspots to indulge in the best of Japanese beauty.
For more than two decades, @cosme has been the ultimate beauty authority in Japan. What sets it apart is its reliability and credibility, as it features millions of honest and unbiased reviews from both enthusiasts and experts. Its rankings and ratings carry serious weight, making it a go-to source for Japanese beauty enthusiasts seeking the best and newest beauty products.
That’s why you can expect its flagship store at Harajuku to be equally dedicated to providing the same great experience to its users offline. Spread over two floors, the store boasts an impressive range of skincare, makeup, haircare, and beauty accessories, featuring around 25,000 products from 600 brands, catering to all budgets from affordable to high-end. And the best part? You can swatch and sample almost every item in store.
Products are selected based on their popularity and ratings garnered on the @cosme online platform. So if you’re daunted by its maze-like and Japanese-only site, fret not – the Harajuku store has you covered with its collection of the highest-rated products. Knowledgeable staff members are also on hand to provide personalised beauty recommendations, to help you wade through the noise and hone in on what best suits your needs.
Cosme Kitchen (no relation to @cosme) brings a unique twist to the multi-brand beauty retailer scene. Its focus? The good stuff: think natural, organic, and eco-friendly products. With numerous stores spanning Japan, Cosme Kitchen boasts a whopping 19 in Tokyo alone, popping up in major districts from Shibuya and Shinjuku to Ginza and beyond.
Its ethos revolves around promoting beauty and well-being through safe, sustainable products. Cosme Kitchen curates an impressive selection of beauty, skincare, and personal care gems from both local and international brands, all with a focus on natural and organic ingredients. What makes the company stand out is its commitment to transparency and authenticity. Cosme Kitchen meticulously selects products that adhere to strict safety and efficacy standards, giving you access to premium, responsibly sourced goods. Many of the brands showcased in their stores are cruelty-free, and some are also certified organic.
You'll have the chance to explore a multitude of Japanese organic beauty brands at Cosme Kitchen, including Mimc, Amritara, Hippopotamus, and more. Beyond beauty, Cosme Kitchen also offers lifestyle items like eco-friendly household goods and organic food products, making it an all-in-one spot for those embracing a conscious and sustainable lifestyle.
Ainz & Tulpe is a well-loved drugstore chain, spread across Japan with a flagship store right in the heart of Shinjuku. Geared towards women aged 20 and above, it sets itself apart from other mega drugstores with its trendy and style-focused approach.
The sprawling three-story Shinjuku location sits just across from the East Exit of Shinjuku Station, and is home to many beauty and skincare treasures from both local and global brands. Plus, you can dive into Ainz & Tulpe's own lineup, including the award-winning Ayura, Lips & Hips, and Dazzshop (the latter two being exclusive to Ainz & Tulpe stores).
The store regularly rolls out special promotions and exclusive product launches. If you’re lucky, you may even stumble upon some limited-edition J-beauty gems that are hard to find outside of Japan. And for a breather after a shopping spree, Ainz & Tulpe Shinjuku treats you to a Taiwanese-style cafe on the second floor where you can grab a bubble tea and recharge.
A stroll in Shibuya took me to this breezy little store that I couldn't resist stepping in. SHOLAYERED, founded by perfumer Sho Ishizaka in Tokyo in 2013, revolutionised the Japanese fragrance scene with its innovative "layering" concept. Breaking from traditional scent pyramids, the brand focuses on crafting light, pure, and refined fragrances designed to be combined, allowing individuals to create a unique, personalized scent profile that evolves throughout the day. This philosophy aligns with Japan's appreciation for harmony and personal expression, emphasizing a "Simple = Luxury" approach.
SHOLAYERED offers a diverse range of fragrance products beyond traditional perfumes, including body sprays, diffusers, body lotions, body washes, candles, and cream perfumes. Popular scents include "Fresh Pear," a crisp and uplifting fruity aroma, "Olive Vodka" for a sophisticated touch, and "Orange Blossom." The brand prioritizes high-quality, natural ingredients and precise "Made in Japan" production, ensuring a subtle yet addictive fragrance experience. SHOLAYERED's commitment to a healthy, toxin-free, and environmentally conscious approach is evident in its minimalist packaging and sustainable practices.
If a serene skincare sanctuary sounds like your idea of paradise, Skincare Lounge by Orbis is the place to be. Opened in Aoyama in 2020, the lounge is Orbis’ Tokyo flagship store and a wonderland for skincare enthusiasts. This unique concept space is dedicated to elevating beauty and well-being through the brand's lineup of safe and sustainable products.
Spread across three well-lit floors, the space features a retail area, a juice bar, a skincare salon where you can master skincare and makeup techniques, a workshop to address your makeup and skincare concerns, and a powder room for makeup touch-ups or exploring new Orbis products. (Note that access to the salon and workshop may require pre-booking via the Skincare Lounge by Orbis app.) Knowledgeable beauty advisors are also on hand to provide tailored consultations, guiding you towards the best products for your skin's unique needs.
To add a personal touch to your skincare routine, there's even a counter where you can personalise your very own Orbis U lotion bottle (priced at ¥2,750 or S$25.99) – a service exclusive to the lounge.
I've been a fan of APFR for the longest time. What we know about APFR (Apotheke Fragrance): It is a Japanese fragrance brand established in 2011 by founder Keita Sugasawa. His inspiration emerged from global travels, observing diverse incense and scented oil cultures largely absent in Japan. After gaining experience in the fragrance industry, Sugasawa founded APFR, building his atelier in Chiba.
APFR's product offerings are handcrafted, aiming to integrate ancient Japanese aesthetics with contemporary design. Their diverse range includes popular home fragrances like hand-dipped incense sticks (with a long burn time of around 100 minutes), reed diffusers (lasting 5-6 months), and fragrance candles (including travel tins). They also offer room sprays, closet tags (paper air fresheners), hand washes, and fragrance oils. Beyond scents, APFR produces elegant accessories like brass incense stands and oil burners.
The brand's philosophy is rooted in incorporating traditional fragrances, herbal medicine, natural philosophy, and global artistic influences. All products are meticulously handmade in their Chiba workshop, with ingredients carefully sourced. APFR's goal is to create "scented albums" for daily life, aiming for fragrances that evoke emotions and memories. APFR opened its first retail store in Tokyo's Shimokitazawa neighborhood in 2021, and has since expanded to Kyoto and Yokohama, offering a sophisticated sensory experience.