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Hairdressers
As you can imagine there are loads of hair salons in and around the prefecture but getting a cut can be tricky business if your Japanese is not so good. So, here are just a few recommendations from current ALTs:
Hair We Are
Imizu-gun, Oshima-machi, Kita-no, 1705 Tel: 0766 52-0388
A Japanese guy called Kazue runs this salon. He is an experienced stylist and colorist. He has worked in Tokyo for 10 years and even trained in Glasgow, UK for 3 years before returning to Toyama to open his own salon. As you can imagine his English is brilliant and he is experienced with dealing with western hair. If you need to have a color (especially highlights) I highly recommend Kazue. Simply getting a cut in Japan can be done with just a little Japanese but explaining how you want your hair to be colored can be another matter. Also, you may find that a lot of salons are slightly nervous about coloring western hair if they are inexperienced. Kazue is married to Sarah (who is English) and they have two beautiful children, Molly and Noah, who you will probably get to meet if you go along!!
Making an appointment: You can call and ask for Kazue in English so don’t worry if you can’t speak Japanese.
To get there: Take a train to Etchudaimon station on the JR Hokuriku Line (one stop after Takaoka if you are heading towards Toyama). Exit the station and take the very first right that you see. It’s a tiny road, which almost looks like a footpath at first (this turn is before the bike stands). Walk down this road for 3-4 minutes until you hit quite a busy main road. At the main road take a right. You will see a small red rail bridge, which goes over the road. Walk under the bridge and you will soon see a big factory on your right hand side. Walk straight, past the factory grounds (it will take you a few minutes) and then take the first right hand turn. ‘Hair we Are’ is a wooden building right on the corner of that street which you can actually see clearly from the main road. It has a big sign so you shouldn’t be able to miss it!! I don’t have a price list but you can ask for a rough idea of the cost when you make an appointment. For highlights, it depends on whether you have a half head/full head, how many colors etc but expect to pay around 11,000-13,000.
Poca a Poca – Toyama city 076-493-6772
http://i-toyama.com/data.phtml?z=1047c9317d2c9794dc3f32ec24a16337
Yurika is a good hair stylist who works there and can speak pretty decent English. She also has experience cutting Western hair. If you go to the salon after hours she can use you as a hair model and then the haircut is free!
Business hours/weekday 10:00 - 20:00, Saturday/Sunday/holiday 9:00 -19:00
20 parking spaces
The prices are from: Cut 3,990 Yen, Perm 8,925 Yen, Color or henna 4,935 Yen
FROM THE WEBSITE: "The capability group salon which we would like to introduce to the hair life upper-class person. Furthermore stylish the salon of the popularity which represents the town root mound of the adult where the store scatters. Inside the store where the ceiling where it is decorated elegantly is high, bright day spreads the space which will be been inserting comfortable. The staff who had high technology when coming with up-to-date information, and the sensitivity which evolves it makes fresh feeling. Also polite counseling and the connection customer of agreement are delightful. Going wherever, as for the person whom it cannot be satisfied trying experiencing by all means?"
Arranger – Minami Toyama city 076- 493- 3734
Arranger is very friendly to foreigners, and the manager, Takao, knows a fair amount of English! Bring a picture if you want something specific, however. They also have diagrams where you can draw what you want, but I usually just let them do their thing.
Cost for a cut is about 3500 – 4000 yen.
They are open Tues, Wed, Thurs and Sat from 10am – 7pm; Fridays 10am – 8pm; Sundays and public holidays 10am – 6pm; closed Mondays.
Directions: From Toyama station, take the tram south to Minami station (the last stop). From here, walk back to the street the tram was on, and continue south about 2 – 3 blocks. It is on the right side of the street and has a pink exterior.
3 Q Cut – Takaoka
http://www.3qcut.com/map_toyama.html
3 Q is a budget place and the cut is supposed to take only 10mins. The price is a standard 1000yen. It is uni-sex, but usually guys are in there. Best bet is to take a picture if your "hairdresser japanese" is not up to scratch. Naturally as it is a cheap place they do not wash your hair, so best to do that before you go there.
Directions: To get there from Takaoka station, turn right at the main street outside the WingWing side of station and walk straight for about 1km. You will be walking/cycling past Kojo Park for about half the distance. When you get to the far end of Kojo Park (you will know you are at the right place as there is a big green footbridge over the crossroads there), turn right. Then go straight and over the road bridge that crosses the Himi Line. As soon as you get off the bridge you will see the place on your right.
Ks Bee – Takaoka 0766 27 4000
Ks Bee is on Route 156 in Takaoka (the tram street) about 200m past Shangri-la on the right hand side of the road if you’re coming from the station. Some of the stylists speak a little English. If you want your style to be a bit funkier it seems that this is the place to go. ALTs have advised that taking a picture of the style/color is a really good idea. There are also Ks Bee salons in Tonami and Oyabe.
Warp – Takaoka
Right above Danke and reportedly staffed by the hottest man in Japan. They’re happy to try Western styles and many ALTs have always been happy with the results, though I’ve heard one sad story of a cut gone terribly wrong. They don’t speak English, so depending on how adventurous you’re feeling, it might be best to bring a picture.
La Sora – Aeon (in Takaoka)
I hear they don’t speak much English, but are friendly and do a nice job. If you are looking for a straight perm, La Sora has been specifically recommended. The cuts are about 4,000 (straight perms about 15,000). If you recommend a friend, they get a thousand yen discount. Also run a discount card service if you visit regularly!
DoDo Next – Himi, Tel: 0766 91 0300
Funky young staff. Not great English speakers though!. On highway 160 as you enter Himi from Takaoka, turn left at the Meibundo bookstore and you’ll see it on your right.
Feel (Hair and Make) - Namerikawa 076 476 1166
The staff don’t speak English but they are very patient and competent.
It is open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00~19:30. Saturday and Sunday it's open 9:00~18:30. It is closed on Mondays. The telephone number is 076-476-1166
Directions- It is in Namerikawa, across the street from Sushitopia and next door to a Lawson's. It is on route 8.
Price- Expect to pay around 4000 yen for a haircut and style. The best part is that they wash your hair for about 10 minutes and give you a scalp massage and use hot towels. I think the shampoo was the best part.
Ageha – Kurobe 0765 57 3777
"Ageha" in Kurobe is near Apita, just off of Route 8. They have done several ALTs hair and do a good job with highlights. A cut and highlights will cost about 10,000. One of the stylists is taking a special English class for his job, so he likes to practice. Telephone: 0765-57-3777, Fax: 0765-57-3768
They are closed on Mondays.
Lido Group – Uozu 0765 23 5165
They are competent and reasonably priced, about 3-4000Y for a cut. I don’t believe they speak English.
Boudoir – Harajuku http://www.boudoirtokyo.com/en/
For those who need waxing and can't find one in Toyama (cause I can't find one either), this place in Tokyo has been tested by other ALTs who've seen good results.
Hair ism Anzu – 076 445 1205 http://www.h-anzu.com
No English, but very friendly! When you first visit, you fill out a questionarre (in Japanese) so they can get a feel of what kind of haircut will suit you. They will take into consideration of what you might normally do to your hair on a regular basis and make the cut/style around it. Very considerate! No English, but definitely worth a try.
Mod's Hair – Kanazawa, Korinbo Area
No English, but the hairdresser is supposedly used to western hair.
Zippy – Toyama 076 443 0453
www.zippy-h.com On the tram road; take the Toyama tram toward the university and get off in front of Toys R' Us. It's in the parking lot. The favorite of a lot of Toyama girls; the owner speaks English and they have a super friendly staff who can do basically everything. Tons of style books and magazines, so it's possible to pick and choose without having to speak Japanese or English. Around 4000 for a wash, haircut, blowdry. Twenty-percent off if you call and make an appointment beforehand.
Guys, if you are looking for a barber:
Morikoshi - Takaoka (sign in katakana)
On the tram street (156), in the last covered block in the Katahara-machi, shopping district It’s about a block from Foolish, on the opposite side of the street. It is very inexpensive and the atmosphere is wonderfully laid back.
Complementary services include a head rub and, um, ear wax removal with a little metal tool.
and finally, if you should happen to be in the big city:
Sin Den - Tokyo 03 3405 4409
Experts with Western hair. All of Sin Den's stylists hail from salons in London, New York and Sydney. They also import a lot of Western products that are hard to find in Japan. They reportedly do an excellent job, though it is quite pricey. Hair cut prices range from 6,300 for a Stylist to 8,500 for a Master Stylist. Foil highlights start at 14,500 for a virgin application on medium hair (re-growth & short hair is cheaper).
open daily 10am - 9pm
3-42-12 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-001