What's new

Shaving notes from a trip to Tokyo

I'm just back from a business trip to Tokyo, and thought I'd lay down some thoughts from my trip:
  1. Palmolive shave stick + synthetic shave brush = pretty good lather. The shave stick is to get through airport security without too much liquid/gel. Plus, no bowl to clean or carry!
    I only have a synthetic brush, but I am glad it dries quickly for travel purposes. An empty toilet paper roll tube keeps the knot neat.
    I've only ever used creams before. I may keep using this setup now that I am home too.
  2. Mach 3 - there is some serious friction with this thing! Coming back from my DE, I was amazed at how much drag I could feel. But, using small strokes and no pressure, I was pleased at how close the shave was (and I didn't need to make a second pass). I normally only shave WTG, and need multiple passes with my DE razor.

Shopping tips for Tokyo (not that I did much shopping for shave gear!):
  • Tokyo Hands (what a great store, worth a visit just for the sheer number of gizmos and gadgets they carry!) stock the Feather Popular for Y840, less than $10. Can't get it for less than $20 in Sydney. Bought one, have yet to use it.
  • Lucido (fragrance-free aftershave) is available in some chemists for Y740. Nice. Just remember to pack it in the checked luggage for the return flight home.

Did I miss any tips or tricks for travel? Let me know!
 
Bic Camera has a pharmacy section, they sell a few aftershave lotions and seemed to be the cheapest for feather blades.
 
And Tokyo Hands in Shinjuku sells the Kai toenail clippers, can't recall the exact model, but the are a kind of matt gold color. Best I've bought, reassuring snap sound with each cut. Bet that was what was used for the sound effects when Steve McQueen went through the wire on The Great Escape!
 
Yes! I bought the Kai toenail clippers! Complete overkill but wonderfully made and engineered.
 
BIC camera is my favorite place for aftershaves and other toiletries. Tokyu hands has a nice selection of nail clippers (KAI, Feather). I found the 4711 Portugal ASL and ASB there. They also have some brushes but I was not convinced in buying a Japanese brush
Pharmacies also have a ton of aftershave and sometimes at a better price than big stores.
I'm a big fan of Japanese aftershaves.
 
I would have gotten a bottle of Mandom AS if I were you :biggrin1:


Unrelated but if you ever go to Tokyo again, there is a bar outside of Ueno Station by the Starbuck Entrance, The World is End. Very good bar with lot's of great beers!
 
BIC camera is my favorite place for aftershaves and other toiletries. Tokyu hands has a nice selection of nail clippers (KAI, Feather). I found the 4711 Portugal ASL and ASB there. They also have some brushes but I was not convinced in buying a Japanese brush
Pharmacies also have a ton of aftershave and sometimes at a better price than big stores.
I'm a big fan of Japanese aftershaves.

Same here, and there's a huge thread with info about those same aftershaves...

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/121870-In-Praise-of-Japanese-Aftershaves
 
I was there in Tokyo couple of weeks ago and I completely missed the thread about Japanese aftershaves. Since I had a year's worth of my favorite Feather blades, I returned from Tokyo empty handed, wet shaving wise:mad3: Oh well, hopefully I will go there again in the near future and buy the Japanese AS & the Kai nail clippers and try the beers at World's End!!

On the other hand, my Japanese colleagues took me to a traditional Japanese Teppenyaki dinner, which was excellent:001_cool:
 
I left my bottle of lucido in a hotel in Vegas last month.. :thumbdown

This is what I picked up (except the Kai 'Great Escapes'!).



And I took this pic in Tokyu Hands in Shinjuku.



Thanks for the tip about the bar, I rarely get up around the Uno area, but it's one for the book for next time.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nice to see Mandom at the front line, storming the beaches.

Mg5 is an underrated AS. Seems that Bravas and Lucido get all the attention


P.S. That bar is on the opposite side of the street. To the left of the train underpass.
 
Nice to see Mandom at the front line, storming the beaches.

Mg5 is an underrated AS. Seems that Bravas and Lucido get all the attention


P.S. That bar is on the opposite side of the street. To the left of the train underpass.

MG5 gets plenty of love in the thread I listed above, but it (like a bunch of others) appear to be made in Vietnam rather than Japan now, so people are a little disappointed with that. I'm still a big fan though, I even have the MG5 skin conditioner! 👍
 
Top Bottom