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FROM THE TRAVEL ARCHIVE

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café

Originally published · Korean source last modified

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 1

I visited a much-discussed café in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 2

Its name was YUBUNE.

The building was on the way from Shinjuku Station toward Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 3

The glittering interior seemed designed for social-media photos and likely to appeal especially to women in the original account.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 4

The system was unusual: buying one of the shop’s cosmetics gave access to the footbath downstairs.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 5
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 6

Testers were available throughout, so products could be tried before purchase.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 7

A washbasin for washing after testing was convenient.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 8

The products did not seem exceptionally expensive or cheap, but since the footbath was my main purpose, the required purchase felt a little costly.

I chose an approachable solid perfume for JPY 1,650.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 9

At the counter, staff asked whether it was a gift and whether I wanted initials engraved.

Since engraving was offered, I had my initials added.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 10

To use the footbath café, I then ordered a matcha latte and a seasonal manju sweet.

As it was spring, the manju was shaped like a cherry blossom.

There were also rice balls using branded rice and sandwiches.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 11

Seasonal manju was limited to the pieces displayed at the counter; once sold out, it was finished for the day.

After I bought the cherry-blossom one, only a round manju remained.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 12

An espresso machine suggested they took coffee seriously too.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 13

Small accessories were also sold beside the counter.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 14

Downstairs was a large whirlpool bath.

This appeared to be where the footbath took place.

It fitted the name YUBUNE, which the source glosses as warm bathwater.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 15

There was also a very heavy diatomaceous-earth platform to absorb splashes quickly.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 16
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 17

We put shoes and belongings in the free lockers,

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 18
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 19

took a neatly arranged towel, and went to the wash area.

I washed my feet thoroughly before entering.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 20
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 21
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 22
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 23

Soft lighting made the milky water shimmer.

It had an almost ceremonial atmosphere.

The bath additive gave the water a strong, pleasant fragrance.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 24

The limited seasonal cherry-blossom manju.

It was almost too pretty to eat.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 25
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 26

The matcha latte had distinct layers of milk below and green tea above.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 27

Staff suggested adding the syrup gradually.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 28

As I enjoyed it alone, another person came in.

It felt a little awkward at first.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 29

A large mirror on the ceiling made the room feel more spacious.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 30
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 31
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 32

I stirred the latte and tried it without syrup first.

The bitter green tea and smooth milk worked wonderfully together.

I actually preferred its appeal without syrup.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 33
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 34
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 35
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 36

The cherry-blossom manju had a very sweet filling, a good match for the latte.

A bite of manju, a sip of latte, and feet soaking in fragrant water made a lovely pause.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 37
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 38
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 39

Afterward, we could try the shower gel and lotion provided behind us.

They were fragrance-free, so had little scent.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 40

Back upstairs, I looked at the products.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 41

The shower gel seen downstairs cost JPY 3,300.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 42

Hair oil: 100 ml for JPY 3,850; 300 ml for JPY 7,700.

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 43

Perfume: a small 3.5 ml bottle below for JPY 2,750, and a large 75 ml bottle above for JPY 19,800.

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 44

Hair treatment: JPY 2,750.

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 45

I looked at the neighboring display too.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 46

Lip balm: JPY 2,150.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 47
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 48

Scented candle: JPY 1,980; candle stand: JPY 2,200; set: JPY 4,400, as displayed in the source.

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 49

Body lotion: JPY 5,500.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 50

Skin toner: 100 ml for JPY 2,750; 300 ml for JPY 5,500.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 51

Sea-salt soap: JPY 2,750; sea-clay soap: JPY 2,950.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 52

The least expensive YUBUNE product I saw was a clay bath additive for JPY 1,100.

I joked that using something like that at home might earn a scolding from my mother.

 

YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 53
YUBUNE, Shinjuku: Cosmetics, Sweets, and an Unusual Footbath Café — original photograph 54

YUBUNE was a thoroughly photo-friendly footbath café.

It combined browsing cosmetics with good sweets and a footbath made for photographs.

Creating such a photogenic place to introduce and sell the products seemed a clever idea.

 

 

YUBUNE

Address as recorded: 1F, Daini Sky Building, 5-10-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo (第２スカイビル 1F)

Read the original Korean account