Whether it’s getting rid of a minor blemish or giving your body a major overhaul, these beauty specialists have the treatment that's right for you
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Akai Medical Clinic
You’ve picked the procedure you want, decided to take the plunge, but how should you choose the clinic for your cosmetic treatment?
“There are many clinics and many devices, and each clinic will tell you that their device is the best,” says Dr. Hidemi Akai of the Akai Medical Clinic. “At AMC, if you want the tip of your nose reshaped, we offer five different methods, and explain how we do each one.”
Such choice, combined with the expertise of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital trained Dr. Akai and certified skin specialist Dr. Keiko Akai, makes AMC one of the most popular clinics in Tokyo.
The impressive lineup of services includes laser and photo RF treatments, cosmetic dermatology and anti-aging treatment plans, each tailored to the desires and concerns of the patient. Using non-surgical treatments, the clinic can make minor flaws like freckles, large pores, unwanted hair, acne, rosacea, and tattoos vanish.
One of AMC’s most popular treatments is Rhytec Portrait Plasma Skin Rejuvenation, a non-laser procedure common in the US but exclusive to AMC in Japan. Patients suffering from sun damage, large pores, acne scars or wrinkles can revitalize their skin with Rhytec, which employs pulses of ionized inert nitrogen gas to regenerate skin cells beneath the epidermis to create fresh, radiant skin. Affirm, another treatment offered by AMC, addresses similar conditions with a fractional laser to stimulate collagen production and produce new skin cells.
Yet another popular procedure is eyelid surgery. Akai can remove fatty tissue around the eyes to create a younger look, or add a crease to the upper eyelid. The menu also features facelifts, Botox, nasal reshaping, liposuction, tummy tucks and a range of breast procedures, including augmentation, reduction and lifts. Some of the treatments, such as the Silhouette Suture lift, offer youthful results at affordable prices with quick recovery times.
If this smorgasbord of options is overwhelming, a consultation with the clinic staff will help you choose the procedure most appropriate for you. Both doctors are used to working with foreign clientele, and keep up with the latest surgical and technological developments from Japan and abroad.
The clinic has branches in Omotesando and Yokohama.
3F KNK Bldg, 3-5-17 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5771-4114. Open daily 11am-8pm. Nearest stn: Omotesando, exit A3. See website for details on the Yokohama branch. www.akaiclinic.com, amc@akaiclinic.com
Azabu Skin Clinic
Summer is great for barbecues and beaches—but not quite so good for your skin. Sunshine lets the brain release endorphins so you feel good and also makes your bones healthier. However, all those sun rays damage your skin. UVA and UVB have a risk of skin cancer and cause sunburn and melasma, and decrease the immunity of skin. Once UV reaches the dermis, problems of sagginess, wrinkles, and enlarged pores occur. Moreover, you are prone to have acne easily because of oxygen radicals and cornification.
September is the time when those problems stand out. Now for the good news: today’s advanced dermatological techniques can cure your troubles effectively. Better to treat them as quickly as possible.
Azabu Skin Clinic is the place to go for all the very latest techniques and technology. Highly experienced dermatologists treat every skin problem for all.
Photofacial (IPL) is the most popular treatment at the clinic, helping tackle melasma and redness, and is good for overall rejuvenation. After just a couple of 20-minute sessions, you should notice an improvement in your skin.
For acne and acne scars, the clinic offers non-ablative treatments such as Photofacial, chemical peeling, and VBEAM laser, as well as Fractional laser semi-ablative treatment followed by a growth factor that regenerates the skin. Ablative treatments such as TCA and FGF are suitable for severe acne scars.
Other popular treatments are skin-tightening lasers such as Therma Cool, Titan and Polaris, which enable you to achieve a face-lift effect. Also available are filler injections such as Botox, collagen, and hyaluronic acid that improve wrinkles and lines.
A full 30 percent of the patients at the clinic are foreigners. English-speaking doctors and staff are available. The doctors create the most suitable program for each patient.
Dr. Kawashima, the director of the clinic, actively attends various medical congresses not only in Japan but also in the US held by the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.
Whichever treatment you choose, you will get safe and effective treatments at Azabu Skin Clinic.
7F Hagiwara Bldg 1, 1-3-1 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 0120-005-327 (toll-free). Open Thu-Mon 10am-7pm, Tue-Wed 11am-8pm. Nearest stn: Ebisu. www.azabu-skinclinic.com
CS Orthodontic Clinic
Here’s something to make you smile: Shibuya’s CS Orthodontic Clinic is offering a complete cleaning and whitening package, with consultation, for just ¥31,500. This special offer includes whitening of the 12 front teeth, and salt peeling, a state-of-the-art, all-natural whitening procedure that removes stains other procedures cannot.
You’ll be in the hands of Dr. Chiemi Sakaue, an orthodontist certified by the Japanese Orthodontic Society and a member of both the American Association of Orthodontics and the World Federation of Orthodontics. In 23 years of practice, Sakaue has cleaned, whitened and straightened over 5,000 sets of teeth.
At CS Orthodontic, consultations are free, fees are clearly structured, and it’s even possible to pay in installments. What’s more, there are discounts for students and anyone who introduces friends or family.
For expats who have begun treatment in the US, or wish to finish a plan there, the clinic’s affiliation with the Orthodontic Centers of America makes transferring the treatment a breeze.
5F Zoen-kaikan Bldg., 1-20-11 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3464-0418. Nearest stn: Shibuya, north exit. www.cskyousei.com
Shiroganedai Orthodontics & Beauty Salon Paquerette
As they say, first impressions count. So why not make yours bright and pearly white with a visit to Dr. Chieko Coad? At her Shiroganedai salon, the English-speaking Dr. Coad and her trilingual staff straighten and whiten teeth to give their clients a confident smile.
But according to Dr. Coad, the benefits go way beyond appearance. Straight teeth mean fewer cavities, healthier gums, less jaw pain and better occlusion (that is, how well the upper and lower teeth fit together when you close your mouth).
Shiroganedai Orthodontics uses the Invisalign system to straighten teeth.
A near-invisible, painless device, Invisalign is custom-built for your mouth and gently reshapes your smile. This innovative orthodontic appliance is already popular in the US, Canada and Australia, but it’s still a new technique in Japan, where more noticeable brackets are still in favor.
The clinic also offers a variety of “permanent makeup” techniques. If you struggle to balance your brows each morning, worry about the state of your makeup all day, or are unhappy with the shape or density of your eyebrows, permanent cosmetic make-up might be the answer.
As a one-time resident of Singapore, Dr. Coad understands the stress of visiting clinics in a foreign land and has made it her goal to create a place in which expats feel comfortable and confident.
“I really enjoy having international patients,” she says. “I want to continue making the effort to help my foreign patients because I remember how hard it was trying to communicate and trust the doctors when I was living abroad!”
4-8-9 Shiroganedai, Minato-ku.
Tel: 090-6567-8148. Nearest stn: Shiroganedai (Nanboku or Mita line). www.paquerette.jp www.tokyosmile.com
Kobe Clinic
Tired of squinting at screens because you forgot your glasses? Fed up with dry eyes and hunting for lost contact lenses? Fancy some 20/20 vision?
The physicians at Kobe Clinic specialize in iLASIK, a laser technique that corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism by changing the shape of your cornea. iLASIK is the very latest vision-correction technology, boosting your sight in ways that glasses, contact lenses and even first-generation LASIK never could. Thanks to its safety and dramatic results, this new treatment has been approved by NASA for its astronauts.
The Kobe Clinic also specializes in PRK and Epi-LASIK treatments, and will counsel you on the right procedure for your condition. A whopping 94.5 percent of the clinic’s patients end up with 20/20 vision.
The staff at Kobe provide total care, which means the specialists keep you fully versed in the risks and potential of the surgery.
The Hiroo-based clinic also offers free English-language consultation and eye exams from their LASIK counselors. So forget the specs and enjoy full sight again!
7F Prime Tower, 1-1-39 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 080-5065-4737. Open daily 10:30am-7:00pm. Nearest stn: Ebisu. Email tatiana@kobeclinic.com. www.kobeclinic.com/english
International Hair Neurological Research Clinic
It won’t surprise you to learn that stress leads to hair loss. It may surprise you to learn that the process is reversible. Forget about hair-restoring gloops or transplants that look like Astroturf—the secret to regaining your natural locks is inside you.
When you pull a hair from your skin, it hurts. That’s because it’s attached to a nerve, which extends all the way to your backbone. When your nervous system weakens (via stress), that worn-out nerve gives up. Revive the nerve and you can revive your glossy mane.
At the International Hair Neurological Research Clinic, Dr. Kawakami uses a special device to stimulate the nerve and revive the hair from the root.
Dr. Kawakami is a spot-baldness specialist who has been studying the neurology of the problem for many years. He estimates that, with monthly sessions, the average patient will regain their original hair density after one or two years. For those who have been using hair restoration ointments, it may take a little longer.
If you’ve been looking a little thin on top recently, call for a free consultation to see if Dr. Kawakami can get to the, ahem, root of the problem.
8F NC Bldg, 9-4-1 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3463-3412. Open: Fri-Mon, 11am-4:30pm, closed Tue, Wed, Thu. Nearest stn: Shibuya. www.k-kami.com. info@kaminoke.jp
PLAZA PLASTIC SURGERY
If you’re seeking a reliable and safe pair of hands for your cosmetic surgery needs, look no further than Dr. Robert Kure of Hiroo’s Plaza Plastic Surgery. The doctor began his career as a neurosurgeon before turning his talents to the beauty industry. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and was formerly chief resident in plastic surgery and neurosurgery at UCLA.
Dr. Kure has been treating people with Botox for well over a decade, easing frown lines, removing crow’s feet, and even tackling migraines and TMJ pain. Along with his colleague, the US Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Mineo Orito, he also offers a wide array of procedures, from facelifts to liposuction, tattoo erasing to freckle removal.
The clinic’s state-of-the-art laser performs onsite lifts and tightening (Genesis and Titan-XL). For more in-depth procedures, it offers outpatient rhinoplasty, micro-fat injection, eye surgery, breast augmentation and non-cutting procedures for Asian eyes. Drs. Kure and Orito can also help combat aging with laser therapy for wrinkles, blotchy spots, rosacea and spider veins.
The clinic offers in-depth consultations in English, spelling out what each procedure involves and helping you find the right surgery.
And best of all, if you apply by October 31, you can get 50 percent off laser hair removal treatment.
4F, 5-5-1 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5475-2345. Open Fri-Wed 10am-7pm (by appointment), closed Thu. Nearest stn: Hiroo. www.plazaclinic.net
Shonan Biyo Clinic
The slogan of this cosmetic surgery clinic translates roughly as “Bringing the beauty clinic closer to you.” Their aim is to create a soothing space that rids patients of the anxiety associated with surgery. To this end, Shonan Biyo Clinic uses the very latest technology, offers in-depth counseling, and has an extraordinarily in-depth website packed with profiles of the staff, explanations and videos of various techniques, as well as over 8,000 pictures of previous patients—including the clinic’s Dr. Yoshiyuki Aikawa, who has first-hand experience of various liposuction and anti-aging procedures.
For the last four years, Shonan Biyo Clinic has also asked each patient to complete a customer satisfaction survey, then used the results to improve its service. The clinic has been such a success that it now boasts 18 locations across Japan, including a brand new branch opened this month in Ikebukuro.
Dr. Aikawa says the secret to the clinic’s success is pursuing his mission to tackle people’s complexes, while never offering any procedure that he wouldn’t perform on his own family. “The great joy of this job is to see the patients regaining their confidence and able to live a brighter, more positive life,” he says.
The clinic has several discount offers for students, senior and test models. To celebrate the grand opening of their new Sapporo clinic, Shonan Biyo is having a special promotional campaign.
Shinjuku clinic: 12F Shinjuku Island Tower, 6-5-1 Nishi-Shinjuku. Tel: 0120-548-909. Treatment times 10am-7pm (advance reservation only) daily. Nearest stn: Shinjuku. www.s-b-c.net/index.html
Relax Deluxe
From full-body massages to world-class haircuts to the best in manicures and nail art, Tokyo’s top salons and boutiques will pamper you in style
Afrodita
With stints in New York, LA and London under her belt, followed by eight years at the helm of Yokohama’s Afrodita salon, veteran stylist Yoshiko Morimoto isn’t short on experience. She sharpened their professional edge and took their hair coloring and
styling talent to the next level at the Redken Exchange in New York City, the hair industry’s leading resource for higher learning, and now brings you fresh and exciting salon services. Along with stylists from around the globe, Morimoto learned advanced techniques in hair design and haircolor from leading experts in the salon industry.
At Afrodita, Yoshiko uses a dry-cut technique known as de pinceau, meaning “like a paintbrush.” By cutting your locks in dry bunches, Yoshiko and her staff can create styles better suited to the shape of your head.
Yoshiko is also a certified hair-color specialist who uses top-grade dyes imported from the US. Root lines are a thing of the past, and you’ll need fewer touch-ups once she’s worked her magic. Other specialties of the salon include aftercare, perms, extensions and hair restoration treatments.
Yoshiko and her staff believe that the best way to give customers the perfect cut or color is by understanding individual needs—which is why they schedule consultations to learn more about their clientele’s desired appearance. So if you’re hankering for a new look this fall, book an appointment at Afrodita where they’ll treat you like a goddess.
Afrodita is also looking for hair models: contact the salon for details if you’re interested.
1F, 2-108-1 Sengencho, Nishi-ku, Yokohama. Tel: 045-311-0139. Open Wed-Sun 10am-7pm, closed Mon-Tue. Nearest stn: Yokohama. www.afrodita.jp
daikanyama salon Kai
How’s this for a unique service? The top floor of Kai’s sleek building is a nail salon where you’ll be spoilt for choice with gels, treatments and artwork galore. Below it is a lounge bar where you can sip some champagne or your favorite cocktail while waiting for those nails to dry.
Head down Hachiman Street in the chic Daikanyama district and you’ll stumble across this one-of-a-kind salon. Word of mouth has reached the local celebrity set, who come for the stylish environs and first-class nail work.
Kai offers everything from basic nail art and treatments to state-of-the-art gel nails. Designs run the gamut from French nails to “pop and cute” and “cool and edgy,” and everything in between. The salon is especially proud of its French nails’ sharp “smile line,” guaranteed to have you smiling all the way home. And why let the pampering stop there? At Kai, you can have your hands, feet and eyelashes treated at the same time (manicures from ¥5,200, pedicures from ¥10,500).
Recline on a sofa on the top floor, where natural sunlight streams in through large skylights, or choose one of the private tatami rooms—an option popular with men, customers with children, and anyone who prefers some privacy.
A little nail and foot care now will save you a winter of weak cuticles, hangnails and dry heels; and a glass of bubbly in the bar is a pretty good way to end the treatment.
As a special offer to Metropolis readers, Kai is offering a first-visit 20 percent discount on all its services, including the bar.
8-16 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5728-3638. Open daily noon-9pm, Sun 11am-8pm, Bar lounge open Mon-Sat 8pm-4am, closed Sun and hols. Nearest stn: Daikanyama. www.smartnotion.co.jp
Ho’me
Unless your apartment comes equipped with an internal sun that tans you safely and evenly—as well as a Hawaiian masseuse, relaxing aromas, and a way to lie around while fat is burned off your body—then home is probably nothing like Ho’me.
The salon’s “sun” comes in the form of airbrush tanning, which gives an immediate, even coloration that makes you look like you just flew in from Ibiza. You also avoid exposure to dangerous UV rays and the possibility of looking like a lobster. Ho’me’s airbrush tanning has the staying power of a real tan—ten days to two weeks—because of its deep skin penetration. For a full-body bronze, Ho’me charges only ¥6,000; for a partial tan, prices start at ¥4,000.
Ho’me’s lomi lomi massage is fantastic, the hot stones are divine, and the aromatherapy bliss. But what about this effortless way to shed flab? The salon has Alex-S, the “ultimate diet and relaxation machine.” It’s an electromagnetic, infrared light system that burns fat and cellulite, stimulates muscles, and drains lymph nodes—all while you do absolutely nothing. Sounds impossible? The Alex-S burns off 800 calories (as in two Big Macs) in just 30 minutes. It can work your entire body or perform spot treatments, and you can choose your own specialized course. The cost is ¥5,250 for a 30-minute trial, and ¥10,000 for one-hour sessions. And depending on how committed you are to effort-free fat burning, you can invest in ten sessions for ¥80,000.
103 Odakyu Minami-Aoyama Bldg, 5-12-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5467-0191. Open 11am-9pm, closed Tue. Nearest stn: Omotesando. www.hometokyo.com, staff@Ho’methometokyo.com
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Hayato New York
Clients come from all over the world to visit Hayato New York in Minami-Aoyama. And, stepping inside this salon, you could almost forget that you’re in Japan. All of the staff are bilingual, having completed two years of work and language training at Hayato’s salon in New York prior to making their debuts as professional hairstylists here. Net result: when it comes to non-Japanese hair, these guys are experts. An ethnic hair-care specialist also recently joined the lineup, ensuring that you’ll be in safe hands, however unorthodox your mane.
Hayato New York’s core philosophy is to provide simple and natural hair designs for any type of hair texture.
All of the products and solutions used at the salon are imported from the United States, and are exclusive to Hayato in Japan.
The salon has garnered a strong following, with branches now in London, Tokyo and NYC, and clients from the celebrity set as well as us ordinary folks. Stop by for a styling and find out what all the fuss is about.
3F, 5-9-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3498-9113. Open Mon & Wed-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat-Sun & hols 10am-7pm, closed Tue. Nearest stn: Omotesando. www.hayato-ny.com, tokyo@hayato-ny.com
Dude
When foreigners arrive in Japan, the first thing they do is look for a doctor and a dentist that understands their needs. The next important step is usually finding a stylist who knows how to work with all types of hair. Japanese and Western hair are fundamentally different, as are the shapes of each person’s head, neck and shoulders. Therefore, totally different techniques come into play. One classic example is the way Japanese hair and Western hair reacts to thinning with a razor: Japanese hair can cope with a lot of thinning and will still look very healthy, but try employing this technique on Western hair and your locks become a complete disaster. Kaz at Harajuku’s Dude truly understands Western hair. The salon offers free consultations in English, hair coloring products imported from overseas, and a relaxing environment with groovy music. Kaz believes that a hairdressing appointment should not be stressful, but a chance to just chill out.
6-5-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3400-3901. Open Mon & Wed-Sat 11am-8:30pm, Sun & hols 11am-8pm, closed Tue. Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae or Harajuku. www.dude.jp
HOT HANDS
The link between stress and health is long-established, and Hot Hands uses this idea as the basis of its treatments, combining Eastern and Western approaches into a course of muscle therapy and tension relief that corrects the energy line of the whole body. Forget the generic massages elsewhere—the staff here take the time to consult with you about your ailments before commencing each course.
Techniques include oil massage and reflexology, and treatments will help combat fatigue, restlessness and insomnia, among other stress-related complaints caused by a broken energy line. If you’ve been cramped up in your cubicle all week, neck stiffening, back aching, eyes sore, here’s the antidote.
Hot Hands says that most people see the full effects by the fifth session, but they recommend ten visits to maintain the benefits.
There are 11 Hot Hands salons around town, but Metropolis readers will want to head for the Meguro or Roppongi branches, both of which are offering an oil massage followed by reflexology at the special price of ¥4,200 for an hour (normally ¥6,500). Both salons are located just two minutes from their respective stations.
Meguro Branch: 6F Taizandoh Bldg, 1-2-21 Shimo-Meguro, Meguro-ku. Tel: 03-5437-1638. Open daily noon-4am. Nearest stn: Meguro.
Roppongi Branch: B1 Asahi-Jinjya Kaikan, 6-7-14 Roppongi, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5474-1089. Open daily noon-5am. Nearest stn: Roppongi. www.hothands.jp
Nepenji
Some salons are named for their stylist, others for their neighborhood. This Ebisu spot, however, is the only one we know of that draws its name from Homer’s Odyssey. Nepenthe, according to Greek legend, is a potion that will chase away your sorrows. Here, the name refers to the effect a cut and color will have on your disposition.
Salon owner Kyoko is fresh back from a spell at Devachan, the New York salon that specializes in curls. By cutting hair dry, Nepenji’s stylists control exactly how your locks will look—a sculpting technique with impressive results for anyone with curly hair. Kyoko and co. also recommend colors to coordinate with your eye and skin tone, and teach you how to maintain the style at home. And though Nepenji is the place to go for anyone with curls, the salon is just as handy with straight hair.
As for that sorrow-dispelling name, the salon’s head massages with Kérastase products will certainly help send you off with a smile on your face.
Nepenji’s main branch is in a quiet neighborhood, five minutes’ walk from Ebisu station. There is also a sister outlet in Ikejiri.
Ebisu Branch: 2-6-14 Ebisu Minami, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3793-2357. Open Mon & Wed-Fri 11am-9pm, Sun 10am-8pm. Closed Tue & second and third Mon. Email info@nepenji.net. Nearest stn: Ebisu. Ikejiri Branch: B1 3-1-3 Ikejiri, Setagaya-ku. Tel: 03-3421-3202. Email poi@nepenji.net. Nearest stn: Ikejiri Ohashi. www.nepenji.net/index_en.html
Jing Suina jin-acupuncture Holistic Chinese Therapy
Tried all the traditional remedies? Still suffering from a stiff neck, headaches or depression? Try a technique that’s been working for the Chinese for 4,000 years.
The Jing Suina clinic in Ginza offers clients a holistic range of treatments and therapies to help improve general well-being, promote relaxation and reduce stress, as well as treating specific injuries or illnesses. A single session at this Chinese therapeutic massage and acupuncture salon is often all it takes to provide relief from chronic conditions and release built-up toxins in the body.
Jing Suina uses the Tui-Na technique, an ancient form of therapeutic massage that is an integral part of Chinese medicine. The salon boss, Dr. Jing, is from a Shanghai-based family that has passed the technique from generation to generation, curing tens of thousands of patients in the process. The treatment can be used to alleviate physical ailments as diverse as migraines, sprains, herniated disks and hay fever, among many, many others. Health and beauty treatments are also available, including skin clarification, relief of atopic allergies, pelvis correction, circulation boosting, reduction of swelling and brightening of the eye area.
4F Kaniboku Hall, 4-8-13 Ginza, Chuo-ku. Tel: 03-3562-4160. Open daily 11am-10pm. Advance reservations recommended. Nearest stn: Ginza. www.jin-suina.com/english
Nail Room
When Rika Obara first visited the US, she was struck by how many women from every age group and walk of life were visiting nail salons. On top of that, when she returned to Japan, she was shocked by the exorbitant prices at Tokyo’s parlors. Thus, Nail Room was born, a place for exquisite but reasonably-priced nail art.
As you would expect from a young woman running a salon in Shibuya, Obara has a keen eye for the latest trends in Tokyo and a talent for integrating them with the styles she absorbed while in the States.
In this friendly, relaxing spot anything is possible, including gel lamé gradations and gel French nails. Normal coloring starts at just ¥1,980. So head to Shibuya and let Obara decorate your digits.
6 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 080-3723-0483 (Obara). Open daily 10am-10pm. Email nail@commerce-gate.jp. Nearest stn: Shibuya.
Nua
Smooth out your summer at Nua, Tokyo’s hottest new waxing salon. Mere steps away from the hustle and bustle of the premier Omotesando shopping district, Nua offers head-to-toe beauty services by fully qualified therapists in a relaxing and friendly environment.
Nua’s signature “Wicked Chocolate” and “Lust Strawberry” hot waxes are decadent treatments for thorough hair removal that are also kind on your skin. The unique waxing technique used is not only hygienic, but quick and efficient, providing the smoothest of results.
The Natura products from Brazil that you can buy at Nua superbly complement your smooth skin by keeping it perfectly hydrated. The Cocoa or Brazil Nut Body Butters and fruity-scented passion-fruit moisturizers will leave your skin feeling exquisite and will have you addicted after just one try!
Try the latest addition to the treatment menu, the new “Deluxe Nua Manicure & Pedicure.” It is highly recommended—the ultimate in pampering for hands and feet! Or book yourself in for one of the fantastic waxing packages, which are available for both women and men, and enjoy a steep discount on the already reasonable prices.
Keep your legs smooth and feet stunning for the end of summer with Nua’s September Special. Book an appointment for any pedicure with a half leg wax and get 20 percent off. Offer valid until September 30.
If you have an iPhone, download the free Nua application on iTunes. You can use it to call, book an appointment, and get directions with one touch!
Dare to bare and book your appointment today!
1F Lamial Jingumae, 4-8-17 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-6804-5285. Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm. Open Mon-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat-Sun 11am-7pm, closed Tue. Nearest stn: Omotesando or Meiji-Jingumae. www.nuajapan.com.
Shou Salon
You can do plenty of things to save your skin—eat a balanced diet, moisturize, be liberal with the sunblock—but eventually, aging hits us all and shows up in our skin. Lift massage is a 100 percent natural process designed to activate collagen production and slow the aging process down a bit. The massage is one of the highlights of the treatment menu at Shou Salon in Harajuku. It promises to smooth away winkles and restore your skin’s elasticity, leaving you radiant without the need for needles or surgery. A 45-minute session costs ¥8,400 (first session ¥5,000), or buy a block of ten and receive two free sessions (12 for ¥84,000). Other options on Shou’s menu include hot-stone massage, waxing, eyelash and brow tinting, and a pain-free cellulite and body contouring treatment.
The salon is tucked behind Omotesando Hills, making it a fantastic place for a relaxing break from a shopping excursion.
Arrow Plaza Harajuku #312, 4-19-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3470-7109. Open Tue-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon and every second Sun. Nearest stn: Omotesando or Harajuku. http://shousalon.com
Roi & Reine at The New Sanno Hotel
Most of the facilities at Hiroo’s New Sanno Hotel are reserved for US naval officers and their families, but luckily for us, the beauty salon is open to all. You don’t need a military or embassy ID to take advantage of such sumptuous treatments as a face and body massage using all-natural essences, deep-tissue and sports massages, a range of waxing services, or a spa pedicure, massage and facemask session that will leave you with baby-soft skin.
Roi & Reine is an internationally minded beauty salon with a 95 percent foreign clientele, and sources products from all over the world. Staffmember Coco has work experience in salons ranging from Miami to Hawaii. The nail services offer a wide range of gel designs and colors, as well as the kind of fast-filling acrylic you might be used to in the US. The Persetia ranges are perennial favorites, and the salon has promised all Metropolis readers a whopping 30 percent off all purchases of Persetia products, plus 10 percent off any of its services.
Uniquely, the salon accepts payment in either yen or US dollars. The treatments represent a fantastic value, starting at $17 for waxing, $50 for massage courses, $55 for acrylic tips or international gels, and $59 for a facial. Note: be sure to bring along your passport or other ID to your appointment.
4-12-20 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku. Tel 03-3440-7871 ext. 7178. Open daily 10am-7pm. Nearest stn: Hiroo. www.thenewsanno.com
SINDEN
Sin Den has worked on some pretty famous heads in its 15 years. Yoko Ono, Alanis Morissette, My Chemical Romance, Coldplay and Sting have all used the salon for their hair or makeup, as, it seems, has half of Tokyo’s expat community.
Aussie stylist Dene Sinden opened the salon on the second floor of the old Las Chicas back in 1994. Though Dene left Japan in 1995, his latest successor, hair and makeup artist Ai Inoue, has boosted the reputation of the salon, with the help of Fabio Alfano, a former teacher at Toni & Guy’s London academy, and Sin Den Master Stylist since 2006.
Today Sin Den is known as a creative center for foreign hair and makeup, and its work has been featured in fashion shows and style mags. The salon has also been popping up in publications worldwide thanks to the eye-popping architecture of its latest home, a purpose-built piece of architecture by Klein Dytham that’s turning almost as many heads as Sin Den’s stylists.
And remember we said that Inoue was a makeup artist? Go to Sin Den around Halloween and, for an extra ¥5,500 (¥3,000 for kids), you can get professional ghoulish special effects with your haircut.
3-9-3 Jingumae, Shibuya. Tel: 03-3405-4409. Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm. Nearest stn: Omotesando. www.sinden.com
SHAPE
Dan Suzuki is the talented master stylist at Shape, a posh Akasaka salon renowned for its skill with Western hair.
Suzuki’s training in London included a stint at the Vidal Sassoon studios, and he emerged with both the creative vision and the knowhow to tackle any kind of styling. When a simple trim isn’t quite going to cut it, Suzuki and his Shape artists will be glad to show off their highlight and foil-work skills. If you’re feeling flush, why not treat yourself to a VIP session in one of their private rooms, where you’ll get complimentary coffee, cappuccinos or organic teas. As a bonus for you, dear readers, mention to your stylist that you’re interested in the “Metropolis Hair Treatment”—available to anyone booked in for a haircut—and you’ll get it for free.
Unusually, the salon also has a manicurist and pedicurist, making Shape a one-stop beauty shop for your fall makeover.
4F Atomukokusai Bldg, 6-3-16 Akasaka, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3568-3666. Open Mon-Tue & Thu-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-8pm, closed Wed and second Tue. Nearest stn: Akasaka, exit 6. www.shape-salon.com/english
Watanabe Hair dressing
You could describe Aki Watanabe’s rise as “meteoric.” A third-generation hairdresser, he began his career in the salons of Tokyo before embarking on a path that reads like a Who’s Who of hair styling.
He trained at the academies of Vidal Sassoon and Toni & Guy. He studied at the prestigious London Hair Academy. At the world-famous Windle Salon in London’s Covent Garden, Watanabe worked alongside such styling giants as Paul Windle, Eugene Soulieman and Johnnie Spong. It was Watanabe that introduced shiatsu as part of the service at Windle.
Fashion mags and brands noticed. Watanabe found himself styling for editorials in The Face, i-D and Sky, as well as for catwalk clients such as Red or Dead.
Fast-forward a couple of decades, and the chap now runs a salon in Harajuku, styling for clients as diverse as Beat Takeshi, Yohji Yamamoto Collections and Nike.
And while it’s Watanabe’s name on the door, he shares the styling spotlight with partner Chie Funakura, another veteran of London’s styling scene with a resume that includes editorials for GQ, i-D and FHM, among many others.
Forbes magazine called Watanabe the “best hairdresser in Tokyo”; Harper’s Bazaar Australia gave that same plaudit to Chie. One thing’s for sure: whoever you choose at Watanabe Hair Dressing, you’ll be getting incomparable styling and advice.
B1 Sun Beauty Harajuku, 3-25-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3405-1188. Open Tue-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat 10am-9pm, Sun & hols 10am-8pm, closed Mon. Nearest stn: Harajuku or Meiji-jingumae. www.watanabe-hair.com
Work the Body
Get yourself into tip-top shape at these fitness centers and yoga studios
Be Yoga Japan
Be Yoga Japan is the country’s first school specializing in Ishta Yoga. Open since 2001 in the centrally located Hiroo area, the studio offers Tokyoites the chance to try a form of yoga that integrates the core ideas of various other practices. Classes here bring together breathing techniques, building core strength and aligning the body. They also emphasize the importance of students discovering their own path at their own pace.
Be Yoga Japan offers daily yoga classes in English or Japanese, a 200-hour teacher-training program, and workshops throughout the year.
There are basic muscle-strengthening poses for beginners, challenging advanced classes that explore more demanding postures, and plenty of stages in between.
The spacious, clean and bright studio comfortably accommodates 25 students, with mats and props available free of charge. Whether you’re a dedicated yogi or a complete beginner, this is a peaceful and friendly spot to train.
3F ORE Hiroo Bldg, 5-10-26 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku (from October). Tel: 080-1001-6154 (English), 080-1057-4769 (Japanese). Call Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Email: info@beyogajapan.com. www.beyogajapan.com
Bivio
This month marks the first anniversary of Bivio, Ebisu’s women-only fitness club. The gym lets ladies train without the hassle of being stared at by a bunch of guys, but that’s just a bonus rather than the whole point of the operation.
Bivio manager Antonio knows that women’s bodies have different biorhythms from men’s, so they need different exercise techniques. The machines, programs and classes at Bivio are all tailored to the needs and wishes of women.
The staff have developed a “Bivio Best Performance Method” that, in their words, “heightens spontaneous cure and activates the body.” In practice, this means understanding what your ideal condition should be, and creating a program to get you there.
The female focus isn’t the only quality that sets Bivio apart from conventional Japanese gyms. There’s no enrollment fee, the rates are thoroughly reasonable, and the free classes are inspired. Where else can you choose between golf, Latin belly dancing, zunba, hot yoga or spouse-hunting “konkatsu” events?
What’s more, Bivio is offering a month’s free membership to all Metropolis readers. So ladies, give them a call—and tell them we sent you.
2-4 Ebisu-Minami, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5773-5100. Open Mon-Thu 10am-11pm, Sat 11am-9pm, Sun & hols 11am-8pm, closed Fri. Nearest stn: Ebisu. www.megalos.jp/bivio
Gold’s Gym
It’s the world’s biggest fitness club. It boasts an extraordinary 3 million members. And if you’re serious about fitness, Gold’s Gym is the only place to go.
The global giant has 30 locations—and counting—in Japan, all of which are open from early morning until the middle of the night. The flagship branches in Harajuku and Oimachi are even more convenient—they’re open 24 hours.
Though Gold’s was born in the iron-pumping heartland of Venice, California, the chain now boasts a diverse clientele encompassing all age groups and abilities. It offers sensible, tailored programs to help anyone achieve their fitness and physique goals, and stocks the very latest machines. Every gym also has a sauna, aerobics studio, protein bar and tanning machine.
The only bad news is that with Gold’s hours, rates, facilities and accessibility, none of the old excuses will work any more.
Harajuku branch: 4F 6-31-17 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-5766-3131. Open 24 hours. Nearest stn: Harajuku or Meiji-Jingu mae. www.goldsgym.jp
Diddi
When you’ve made your way through our other beauty picks this week, here’s the finishing touch: artisan jewelry from Sweden’s Camilla Diddi Nihlén. Already a big success in Scandinavia and the US, the unique jewelry is now available in Japan as well. DIDDI crafts contemporary fashion pieces that combine a variety of materials, including leather, suede, glass, semi-precious stones and metals. Each item is one-of-a-kind, often enhanced with little messages from the designer for a truly personal touch. The jewelry is available via the Diddi Design Japan website, with items dispatched directly from Sweden. As a special offer to Metropolis readers, Diddi Design is offering free shipping and a 10 percent discount on all orders placed in September. Check the website now to view the new Fall Collection.
www.diddidesignjapan.com
Katsura photo studio
For a unique souvenir, original Christmas card or just an afternoon of fun, Katsura Photo Studio will restyle you as a maiko, geisha, Kyoto courtesan, samurai or Japanese princess. You’ll be dressed in kimono, makeup and wig, then led to a traditional Japanese garden for a photo shoot. The pictures can then be applied to stickers, Christmas or New Year cards, or burned to a CD. You’re also welcome to bring your own camera and take extra shots.
The makeover magic happens right in the heart of Harajuku, the city’s most fashion-friendly district. It takes around 60 minutes for the stylists to transform you into one of Japan’s iconic characters—a whole lot quicker than becoming a bona fide Japanese courtesan or warrior.
A samurai makeover costs just ¥5,000, and full maiko or geiko makeovers cost ¥18,000. If you mention Metropolis when making the reservation, the studio will knock ¥3,000 off the price.
4-28-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3470-0027. Open daily 10am-6pm. Nearest stn: Harajuku. www.henshin-maiko.com
