how about a hair cut in Japan?

[BruceC]

I'll be leaving to Japan for my first time in two weeks. I was thinking about getting a hair cut before I leave. But maybe it would be cool to get one in Japan. Anyone know about how much it would cost and where I should go? I just get the "buzz" cut. Real easy, I’m not worried about it being messed up. Normally my wife, mother or a guy at work does it.

[Mike Cash]

In recent years quite a number of barber shops have opened up which took the Japanese tonsorial status quo and turned it on its head. How? By providing simple haircuts quickly and affordably. Most of them do the job in about 10-15 minutes at a cost around 1,000 yen.

The more traditional barber shops take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and prices are (to the best of my knowledge) from around 3,000 yen and up.

I remember back when I was teaching English thinking one day that on my lunch hour I would dash out and get a haircut and something to eat during my lunch break. I went to the barber shop first, just a couple minutes walk from work. As it turned out, I damned near didn't get back to work before my time was up, and I ended up going without lunch that day. Having grown up thinking a haircut was something that took 10 minutes and cost 5 bucks, I had major trouble wrapping my head around the idea of spending an hour and 30 bucks on it.

If you're used to getting by with home buzz cuts, there is no reason on earth why you can't do the same thing here. Quite a number of my coworkers do it, and I haven't had my hair cut at a barber shop since about 1999. For the price of a single haircut, you can pick up a pretty good set of do-it-yourself clippers at practically any home electronics shop in Japan. I have a cordless one with umpteen attachments and love it.　(Here's the model I have: http://www.yodobashi.com/enjoy/more/i/cat_162_185_613/36016732.html)

If you're just looking to go to a Japanese barber shop for the experience...well, barbers and beauty salons abound in Japan. I don't think you could throw a rock without hitting one. Just pick one and walk in.

[DoctorP]

just so you know...there are usually barber poles (just as you would see in the U.S.) so you can't help but see them.

[ArmandV]

Out of curiosity, what do you get for 3,000 yen? Does that include shampoo, blowdry, manicure...?

[Mars Man]

Ok...I'm pissed off. My son gets his hair cut, trimmed, played with and teased for some 2500 so yen. I go to a different place, of course, and get a regular close cut for about 1900 yen. So, why am I pissed off? I only have a eighth of the hair he has, and it doesn't get anything other than a cut.

This is unfair...for the non-hair !! (or greatly less hair) folks !!! Maybe I should go razor...hee,hee.....

[mad pierrot]

I get my haircut at the barber shop is the shave. The guy down the street from my place gives the best damn shaves I've ever had. Not to mention he massages and also shaves my forehead, trime eyebrows, ears, and neckline. Simply fantastic, and he tosses in the cut, too.

Total cost: 1,500 yen.

[xerxes99]

the place I go to gives a hot towel head massage and a shave and haircut for 1500 yen.

[BruceC]

thanks eveyone! I think I'll give it a try.

[BruceC]

one more thing. How would I say haircut in Japanese?

[Kara_Nari]

Mad P, I wanna see a photo of you before you go to the barber... you must be one hairy monkey, needing your forehead shaved! (j/k) :silly:

BruceC Hair cutto will be fine. I used to work in a japanese hair salon, everyone knows that one!

[BruceC]

ah thank you Kara Nari.

[Kyoko_desu]

I usually say 「カットをおねがいします。」(catto wo onegai shimasu.)
And when I want my hair permed, I say 「パーマをおねがいします。」(paama wo onegai shimasu.)

[yukio_michael]

I got a 'massage' w/ my haircut which like my ex turned out to be nothing like the picture I brought from Choki Choki (there are tons of haircut magazines if you wish to bring a picture of what you'd like)... my ex also tells me this is somewhat normal, common etc...

It was quite a cheap haircut, comparitively to what she gets in Shibuya where her normal stylist was...

[Mike Cash]

one more thing. How would I say haircut in Japanese?

散髪 (sanpatsu). Or, as indicated earlier, "cut" (katto) will do the trick.

[BruceC]

I know this might be a dumb question, but would you pronounce katto like "cat-tow"?
thanks everyone!

[mad pierrot]

Not that hairy!!!

But my 5 o'clock shadow looks horrendous.

[DoctorP]

I know this might be a dumb question, but would you pronounce katto like "cat-tow"?
thanks everyone!

No...it would be more like CUT TOE.

[budd]

bald is $5

[playaa]

I got a few hair cuts during my stay in Japan, and I would rate them as being twice the service as recieving one in the U.S., but there is only one requirement you must be able to communicate with them, or you will be bald :D

[BruceC]

I got a few hair cuts during my stay in Japan, and I would rate them as being twice the service as recieving one in the U.S., but there is only one requirement you must be able to communicate with them, or you will be bald
well that is fine for me. I always ask for the most short blade I can have. Almost looks like a shaved head.

[GaijinPunch]

You guys need to befriend someone in the biyoushitsu businses. With the exception of my first 6 months, I always had my hair cut by a friend in Toyko. It was 1,000 yen at his first place, and is about 2,000 yen now. It's a full wash, cut, rinse, and even a little shoulder massage (it's a 2-3 man job).

I've not gotten my hair cut by anyone else in about 8 years now, but is quite difficult getting haircuts only twice a year as I don't live in Japan at the moment. O_o (Yes, I have long hair now). I think I will break down this time, as no summer trip is in the works.

[Mike Cash]

even a little shoulder massage (it's a 2-3 man job).



With shoulders like those, you must have to go through doors sideways.

[Meiki]

Are you getting a 'windy', anime-like haircut?

[GaijinPunch]

With shoulders like those, you must have to go through doors sideways.

Guess I worded that wrong. The whole thing is a 2-3 man job. A typical salon in Japan if I understand correctly. The higher ups doing the cutting, the trainees and someday-to-bes doing the washing and massaging (even some sweeping).

[Glenn]

いいえ、その言い方は問題なかったんです。Ｍｉｋｅ　Ｃａｓｈさんは恍けた冗談が好きだからそう言ったんで すよ。

[JerseyBoy]

Talking about the hair cut, how do you select the good barber/hair stylist? Good barbers/hair stylists often suggest the better way to cut if the customer is now sure of the style for the particular part of the head.
I went once to a barber near my home in the western Japan and he did a good job. Now that I am living in Tokyo, I (as a guy) am looking for a good barber or hair salon.