While K-Beauty has taken over the world by storm, J-Beauty products are equally not to be missed out on! In fact, there has been numerous products over the years that have helped put J-Beauty on the map: from quirky yet effective to downright affordable. And it's no wonder that it is in Japan that you can buy J-Beauty products at a fraction of the prices sold elsewhere. So here's a J-Beauty Shopping Guide to help you get started on your beauty shopping in Osaka!
DRUGSTORES
Once you enter the city in Osaka, you are bound to come across multiple drugstores where you can purchase Japanese beauty products and more! Along the same street, there are probably 3 to 4 drugstores alone, with large signposts and banners making it easy for you to spot. Matsumoto Kiyoshi is one of the largest popular drugstore chains. I manage to spot two alone in the Dotonbori area, both of which had two floors! Due to it's large size, Matsumoto Kiyoshi carries a wide range of popular Japanese beauty products and brands.
If you are unable to find a specific product, do head to other drugstores, such as Daikoku Drug or Tsuruha Drug. Often, most drugstores will usually stock high in-demand, famous products yet their other offerings will differ slightly based on the shop size and stock. Also, if you are looking to buy really well-known products, such as Sabrino Mask or Lululun, they are available almost everywhere so I highly suggest walking around various drugstores to compare prices. This is because different stores have different discounts, so you might be able to get a better deal somewhere else. Just don't forget to consolidate your purchases so that you'll be eligible for tax refund.
DON QUIJOTE
Don Quijote is a one-stop discount store selling a huge huge variety of products from electronics, accessories, souvenirs, food, medicine and of course beauty products! Don Quijote stores usually have a few levels and typically one level alone is allocated to beauty products. Due to the store's large size, they often carry a larger variety of beauty products, from contact lenses to beauty tools. If you're looking beyond the popular skincare and makeup to explore some other beauty tools and products, Don Quijote is also a good place to start! They have also expanded to carry Korean beauty products so if Japan is your only stop, it might be worth checking that out as well.
Just a quick note, Don Quijote is extremely popular among tourists, particularly this store (pictured above) located right under the yellow ferris wheel! You'll find yourself pushing and shoving with other tourists just to move around the area. But fret not, Don Quijote is open 24 hours, so I recommend going early in the morning to avoid the crowd. There is also another outlet located about a 100m walk from this store, should you want to avoid the crowd (They do have carry a smaller range though).
Address: 7-13 Souemoncho, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 542-0084, Japan
Opening Hours: 24 Hours, Daily
@COSME
If you've been to Japan and gone to any drugstores, you'll definitely have seen stickers on some products, showing @cosme 1st place etc! @cosme is Japan's largest beauty information and review website and they publish annual and biannual rankings on what products are currently popular among consumers. If you're new to Japanese beauty products, I highly recommend heading to this shop, whereby they carry and showcase what are the popular products, from every makeup and skincare category!
This is definitely a good place to get some recommendations on what are the in-trend, popular beauty products to buy in Japan. They also have more staff available in the shop to help you with any enquiries that you might have. Also, because this store is solely focused on beauty products, they have the widest range of products compared to other places. In addition, I actually only managed to find the popular $1 Milk Soap (牛乳石鹸) at @cosme!
This is definitely a place to check out whether you're a beauty junkie or new to Japanese beauty!
Address: 1 Chome-8-19 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan
Opening Hours: 8am - 4am, Daily
DAISO
Daiso is a variety store chain that sells almost everything under the sun, for 100 yen! In terms of beauty products, they carry a unique range that is only found in their stores. From affordable makeup, to beauty tools, to even skincare, Daiso has got you covered! Some of the popular beauty products include: sponge & brush cleaner, sheet masks, cotton pads, false eyelashes, double eyelid tape, makeup brushes, eyebrow gel! Daiso is definitely the best place to get a wide range of affordable quality beauty products. And at a mere 100 yen per item, you are free to shop to your heart's content without breaking the bank.
Note: They do have various locations and each with a different store size, so do check out a few to get a good scope of their product offerings.
Address: Japan, 〒530-0011 Osaka, Kita-ku, Ofukacho, 1−1 5階
Opening Hours: 9:30am - 10:00pm, Daily
LOFT
Loft is another popular Japanese household goods speciality chain. They offer a wide variety of products but are most well-known for carrying the latest in-trend and seasonal products. While a lot of people flock to Loft to purchase stationery and Japanese souvenirs, they also do stock a commendable range of beauty products. Loft also carries their own cosmetic line, LOFCOS that you can check out!
Even though the outlet that I went to was not particularly large (Umeda's outlet has 5 floors), there were still a lot of beauty options to explore. In fact, because it was significantly less crowded and more well organised than the other drugstores that I went to, I had a much easier time looking through countless sheet masks and makeup products.
While you're here, don't miss out on exploring the other floors such as the Loft Market (Level 1 - Umeda Outlet) and checking out their popular stationary products and souvenirs as well!
Address: 16-7 Chayamachi, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0013, Japan
Opening Hours: 11:00am - 9:00pm Daily
DEPARTMENTAL STORES
If you're looking to purchase any high-end Japanese beauty brands, then you can head to departmental stores, such as Hankyu, Takashimya or Iseten. These departmental stores are usually located within the Umeda area. Personally, I've rarely gone into any of these stores to buy beauty products as I've stuck more closely with exploring drugstore beauty products. But these stores are still worth a visit if you're looking to purchase any luxurious Japanese beauty products.
While you're in Osaka, check out this food guide on what and where to eat in Osaka!
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