Japan Trip 2009

My best pedicure ever came from a mall salon in Tokyo, Japan. It included the most detailed cuticle work about 10 minutes of exfoliation with a foot file. While the exfoliation was nonabrasive, it included pressure point therapy to the entire foot. M y feet felt as though they were detailed and pampered. This pedicure was actually two services, nail care and exfoliation, all while sitting in the most incredible massage chair I have ever sat in. I could come back for the pedicure only.
Kanin, student of nail design
The Institute of Beauty and Wellness

Although the public transportation in Tokyo can be very intimidating at first glance, give it a try. It becomes increasingly easier when you take an extra 5-10 minutes to make a plan of your destination(s). Once you know where you want to go, you then need to determine which train (above ground) or subway (underground) will get you closest to your destination. Once that is complete, you need to make a choice of purchasing a day pass or round trip. After purchasing your ticket or pass, you walk through a turn style where as you insert the ticket, walk through the gate and retrieve your ticket on the other side. If you purchased the wrong ticket, a red minus sign will appear and the gate is blocked. Trust me when I say, this will happen to most people at one point or another.

Each of these tickets are for a specific subway line or train and are non-transferrable. If you are taking the subway, there are so many different lines that you really need to follow your subway map. Once you successfully make it through the gate, you need to determine which direction you need to go. Again, follow the map and you should be fine. Once you enter the subway or train, try your best to find a seat although that may often not be an option. If not seats are available, hold on to the holster hanging from the roof of the subway as the subway jolts you around a bit.

You may also want to brush up on your subway etiquette as you will learn very quickly, the best thing to do on the train is look down and not make eye contact with anyone. This is strange for Americans to see as it appears that all of these people are sleeping but really, most of them are just bowing their heads and closing their eyes as to not offend others. Lastly and most possibly the most important thing to know about the transportation in Tokyo, KEEP YOUR TICKET OR PASS. Not only do you need to go through a gate on the way on the subway, but also as you depart. The ticket needs to be the same one that went through the machine on the way in. If you purchase the one way ticket, the ticket will go into the machine but not come out on the other side.
If you purchased an all day pass, the ticket or pass continues to come out on the other side to be used for future trips. If you lose your ticket or pass, there is security at every gate and you can try to plead your case to them however due to the language barrier that is not an easy task. If you try to purchase another ticket, it will not work since you need to use the same ticket in as you use out. Again, tricky at first but once you get the hang of it, you can get through these gates very quickly. My advice is to use the public transportation as it is certainly an experience worth talking about!
Bonnie Zeutzius, operations
The Institute of Beauty and Wellness

When we decided to try going to the Kabuki Theater, I have to admit that I was a little nervous about the language barrier. The show was amazing! We waited in line for over an hour to catch one act (we did not have reserved seating). When we got inside, we sat down in very tiny seats, anyone with long legs or over 5’10” would have a problem. The music was beautiful and the make up and costumes were precise and colorful. The funniest thing about Kabuki theater is that they are a bit “cheesy”. They have a man dressed in all black from head to toe moving props around while everyone is on stage. They also are very humorous when it comes to fighting scenes. For example, when two characters are fighting and one strikes the other, there is fake injuries which is something that we are not used to seeing these days considering today’s advanced technology. Overall, I recommend catching a show. It was an experience of a lifetime.
Krysa Skaramagos, faculty
The Institute of Beauty and Wellness