Value Village

600 questions for when you are stuck or curious on a trip to Japan

What people who come to or live in Japan usually misunderstand. 600 questions, all with sources. If reading does not settle your question, you can send a request to people on the ground.

Everything here is a draft (before legal review; sources not yet verified). Answers on beauty and health will not be published until checks under Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act are complete.

ASK US

Send us the questions that are not here

The 600 questions start with what is most often misunderstood. If your question is not here yet, it becomes the next one. Requests that need on-site photos or a look at how things are right now are accepted at the same place.

Send a question or make an on-site request →

100 questions

Q. What are the common misunderstandings about cleansing? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about the order of skincare steps? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about storing cosmetics? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about cosmetic expiry dates? Beauty
Q. What do people get wrong about Japanese toner (keshōsui)? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about sunscreen? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about how often to wash your face? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about pore care? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about knowing your skin type? Beauty
Q. What do people get wrong about caring for dry skin? Beauty
Q. What do people get wrong about caring for sensitive skin? Beauty
Q. In what order should I do my morning skincare? Beauty
Q. In what order should I do my evening skincare? Beauty
Q. In what order should I take off my makeup? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about how often to shampoo? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about how to wear perfume? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about chapped hands and hand cream? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about antiperspirants? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about lip balm? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about mask-related skin trouble? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about sheet masks? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about exfoliation (scrubs and peels)? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about SPF in foundation? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about washing make-up brushes and sponges? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about using a hair dryer? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about using hair oil? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about bath additives? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about body wash versus bar soap? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about nail care and nail polish remover? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about caring for oily skin? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about emulsions and serums? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about eye make-up hygiene? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about "additive-free" (無添加) claims? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about "quasi-drugs" and "cosmetics"? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about in-store testers and free samples? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about patch-testing hair dye? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about coloured contact lenses? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about after-sun care? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about conditioner and hair "treatment"? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about caring for combination skin? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about make-up primer? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about eyebrow grooming? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about touching up make-up during the day? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about scalp care? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about looking after a hairbrush? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about rough heels and elbows? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about storing perfume and fragrance? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about men's skincare? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about sunscreen for children? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about home hair-removal devices? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about reading cosmetic ingredient lists? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about applying toner with cotton or with your hands? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about booster serums (導入美容液)? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about skin at the change of seasons? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about eyelash serums? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about bathing and dry skin? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about choosing a mirror and lighting for make-up? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about cosmetic samples and travel sizes? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about hand sanitiser and sore hands? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about "organic" and "natural" cosmetics? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about how much toner to use? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about removing sunscreen? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about neck and décolleté care? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about hair-iron temperature and hair damage? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about protecting hair from UV? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about how often to dye grey hair, and which type to choose? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about home beauty devices and electric cleansing brushes? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about the difference between dermatology and cosmetic dermatology in Japan? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about disposing of cosmetics in Japan? Beauty
Q. What are the common misunderstandings about patch-testing cosmetics at home? Beauty
Q. Should I wash my face with hot water or cold water? Beauty
Q. Are eyelash extensions and lash perms bad for my eyes? Beauty
Q. Do gel nails weaken your natural nails if you keep having them done? Beauty
Q. How far can I rely on acne cosmetics and over-the-counter acne products in Japan? Beauty
Q. Do facial massage and face rollers help with sagging and puffiness? Beauty
Q. What is wrong with going to bed with wet hair? Beauty
Q. How soon after a bath should I put on body moisturiser? Beauty
Q. How often should I wash or replace my foundation puff or sponge? Beauty
Q. Does "white teeth" toothpaste actually make my teeth whiter? Beauty
Q. Is it true that drinking collagen is good for your skin? Beauty
Q. Skincare during pregnancy: are there ingredients I should not use? Beauty
Q. How can I slow down hair-colour fading, and how many days does colour last? Beauty
Q. Should women shave facial hair? Effects on the skin, and how to do it Beauty
Q. Body odour and "ageing odour": how should I wash, and can over-washing backfire? Beauty
Q. Do retinol and vitamin C cosmetics really work? What are the precautions? Beauty
Q. How do I get fewer split ends and breakage? Can a hair conditioner fix them? Beauty
Q. Is it true that dark circles under the eyes come in types, each needing a different fix? Beauty
Q. Red face and flushed cheeks: can cosmetics help, and when should I see a dermatologist? Beauty
Q. Make-up removal wipes: is it all right to use them every day? Beauty
Q. What is the "skin barrier", and do ceramide cosmetics work? Beauty
Q. Non-silicone, sulphate-free, amino-acid based… how do you read the words on a shampoo label? Beauty
Q. Do face mists moisturise, or do they dry your skin out? Beauty
Q. Are lip tints bad for your lips? How the colour stays on, and what to watch for Beauty
Q. My hair is falling out after giving birth. How long does it last, and can I do anything? Beauty
Q. Spots on my back and chest — should I care for them the same way as my face? Beauty
Q. How many centimetres does hair grow in a month? Does cutting it make it grow faster? Beauty
Q. Are there different kinds of dark spots? Which ones fade with brightening cosmetics, and which need a dermatologist? Beauty
Q. Hair-removal salons versus medical clinics in Japan — what is the difference, and what should I check before signing? Beauty
Q. What actually happens if you sleep in your make-up? And how do you recover the next morning? Beauty
Q. Cosmetic medicine in Japan (fillers, Botox, double-eyelid surgery) — what should I check to avoid trouble? Beauty