Kawaii food is popular in Japan, as seen in the Kawaii bento boxes that parents lovingly made for their kids each morning. Following this trend, Japan has developed an amazing array of character cafes. Some of these cafes are permanent installations, but look out for seasonal pop up cafes. Before you visit Japan, google pop up cafes in Tokyo, to see what is new. However, be prepared for long lines and wait times for pop up cafes, and try to go on weekdays if possible.
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Top 5 Japanese Skin Care Products
Top 5 Japanese Skin Care Products
Hi guys! I’m going to share with you my top 5 Japanese skincare products. I lived in Japan for 3 years and did some experimentation here and there. Here are my recommendations if you are wondering what to buy in the way of skin care products when you go to Japan.
1. Hello kitty Apple Gommage
This is a dupe for the cure aqua gel which is really popular but a quarter of the price. It also has a nice apple scent. Gommage means eraser in french, and thats kind of how this product works. you apply this clear gel to your skin while its dry, and rub it all over your face without water. The enzymes in the paste digest the dead skin cells on the surface of your face and ball up into little grayish white pieces that look like those little pieces of eraser that are left on the paper.
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2. Oshima Tsubaki Camellia Hair Oil
Cameilla oil or tsubaki oil a non-comedogenic oil that was used by geishas to remove their stage makeup. Oshimatsubaki Camellia Hair Care Oil is one of the bestselling camellia oil brands in Japan which I started using when I became pregnant… at the time I was trying to use only natural skincare products. I used it as a face oil. It doesn’t have a fragrance and a little bit goes a long way. You can also use it to condition your hair by rubbing a drop on your palms and distributing it on the tips of your hair. Use it VERY sparingly though bc it will make your hair look oily and stringy if you use too much. You can also use it on your scalp if you have dandruff. you would want to massage it and then wash it out.
3. SANA NamerakaHonpo Soy Milk Isoflavone Moisturizing Lotion Toner
I like this toner because it’s inexpensive, and it’s also very gentle and unscented. After I use this, it makes my skin feel very hydrated. The peach colored like is a moisturizing line and the white one is the regular line. What I like to do with this is soak a Muji sheet mask in this toner and just let it sit on my face for 10-15 minutes. This brings me to my 4th favorite Japanese skincare product…
4. Muji sheet masks
You can customize your own sheet mask using different toners and essences. You can also use some of the leftover essence that’s in the package of other sheet masks you have used to soak the mask up. Also theres something so satisfying about watching these tiny compressed masks open up. Don’t forget to check out the under eye patches placed right next to the sheet masks. They are good for coming up with your own under eye treatment.
5. Pure Smile Sheet Masks
I like the snail version in particular. I also like the bee propolis one. In terms of scent, the peach and strawberry are heavenly! These are not the best quality but they are cheap and ultra hydrating and effective. When I was in Japan I started to get really dry flaky skin after daily use of these sheet masks, my skin returned to normal. The Lululun masks are popular but I found that they made my skin itch like crazy. These were gentle and effective. Note that the Pure Smile masks are manufactured in Korea. I thought that they were Korean masks but was unable to find them anywhere in Korea!
Honorable Mention
Honorable mention goes to the DHC cleansing oil. This is really popular in Japan and I used this while living there. But I have now graduated to sherbet cleansers like banila co balm for removing makeup – I feel like it does a better job of removing everything.
Some other remarks on Japanese skin care products:
-There are some other products that are popular like Hada Labo toners and cleansers. I didn’t like this because it made me break out. but a lot of people rave about this brand.
-Japanese skincare philosophy is congruent with the overall philosophy on life in Japan: less is more – having a few simple, natural but effective products and time tested ingredients such as rice, green tea, black pearl, etc. This differs from the Korean skincare philosophy which is all about cutting edge, new technology and ingredients.
-One of the best places to shop for Japanese skincare and beauty products is Don Quixote so make sure you check it out if you’re in Japan.
-Check out the @cosme awards for the highest rated beauty and skin care products in Japan. However be aware that this includes foreign products as well as Japanese products. You will see the cosme sticker or sign on beauty products when you shop at places like Don Quixote or Japanese drugstores indicating that the products have won an award.
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My Kawaii Harajuku Guide
HARAJUKU (原宿)
Harajuku is the epicenter of all things cute and bright in Tokyo. Takeshita Dori is the main drag in Harajuku, and here you will find all kinds of unique things to eat, kawaii shops, and more. The street entrance is marked by seasonal kawaii decor, so don’t forget to take a selfie in front of the street entrance! Takeshita Dori is a great place to shop for over the top cute things, like sneakers with fuzzy bunnies on them, alpacasso plushies, and lolita style clothing.
Kawaii Eats in Harajuku
While in Harajuku, you cannot miss Totti Candy Factory, which serves giant rainbow cotton candy bigger than your head. If you have room for more sweets, a popular street food in Harajuku is crepes, which are super sweet and delicious. You can choose between the two competitors, Angels Heart and Marion Crepes, located across the street from one another. Angels Heart claims to be the “oldest crepe shop in Harajuku,” having opened in 1977. However Marion Crepes claims to have been in business since 1976. If you’re more of a salty snacker, stop by Calbee + for freshly deep fried potato chips (with the option of adding cheese, chocolate sauce or soft serve ice cream on top). My favorite kawaii place to have lunch on Takeshita Dori is Pompompurin Cafe, located on the 3rd floor of Cute Cube, a complex also housing a Sanrio store. The taco rice at Pompompurin Cafe is not just cute, but also delicious.
Kawaii Shopping in Harajuku
Harajuku is not the fashion mecca it once was back in the 1990’s, but it is still a fun place to shop, especially for kawaii lovers. I recommend DAISO for cute and inexpensive souvenirs, the Sanrio store at Cute Cube, the LINE Friends Store (take a photo with the gigantic brown bear!), and Harajuku Alta for all things kawaii, including Disney Japan merchandise.
Purikura (short for Print Club) is a sticker photo booth which allows you to perform digital plastic surgery on your face, by enlarging your eyes and narrowing your jaw to achieve a kawaii look. It makes for an interesting souvenir from Japan. You can find Purikura machines at Purikura Land NOA and Eggnam on Takeshita Dori, among other places.
Getting There
Takeshita Dori is located at Harajuku Station, which is between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote line. Near Harajuku, you can also find Meiji Jingu Shrine. While it is not necessarily a kawaii part of Tokyo, this calm and peaceful oasis provides a respite amongst the crowded streets of Harajuku, and is definitely worth visiting.
Kawaii Eats:
Totti Candy Factory
2F, 1-16-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.totticandy.com
Calbee +
1-16-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.calbee.co.jp
Pompompurin Cafe
Cute Cube Harajuku, 3F
1-7-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://pompom.createrestaurants.com
Angels Heart
1-20-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.cafe-crepe.co.jp
Marion Crepes
1-6-15 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.marion-crepes.com/
Kawaii Shops:
DAISO
1-19-24 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
https://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/
Purikura Land NOA
B1F, 1-17-5 Jingumae, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.printclub.jp/
Sanrio Vivitix
1-7-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://sanrio.co.jp/english
Harajuku Alta
1-16-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://altastyle.com/harajuku
LINE Friends Store
4-32-13 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.linefriends.jp
Eggnam Harajuku
1-19-9 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku , Tokyo 150-0001 Tokyo
http://www.namco.co.jp/others/eggnam