1000 Yen Cut - Japanese Encyclopedia

Get A Mid-Trip Haircut For Only 1000 Yen

The “1000 Yen Cut” is a term commonly used to describe a barbershop where you can pay a thousand yen for a haircut that will take up to ten minutes. Due to the speed and excellent technique at these barbershops, they enjoy great popularity in Japan with busy businessmen and students looking to save a few yen.

The longer your trip, the longer your hair will get. Stylists are expensive, and ordering exactly what you want can be complicated. We would like to explain the appeal of “1000 Yen Cut” barbershops, and tell you what to remember when you visit one.

How They Differ From Regular Barbershops

In Japan, a visit to a barbershop typically costs between 3500 to 4000 yen; the barber also shampoos and rinses your hair, then gives you a shave. It usually takes 30 minutes to an hour. The vibe is relaxed, and you can have a peaceful styling session without really thinking about the people around.

In comparison, 1000 yen cut barbershops only offer haircuts, with no shampooing or shaves. Most of these barbershops have very small waiting rooms and spaces for haircuts, but the chairs are set up to put some space between customers.

The Draw of the 1000 Yen Cut Barbershop

1000 yen cut barbershops are appealing because they offer haircuts from skillful barbers that take barely any time at all. The haircuts take a maximum of 10 minutes from start to finish, which is perfect for people who don’t want to spend a lot of time or money on their hairstyle. Moreover, the haircuts are neat despite only taking 10 minutes, so you’re guaranteed to be satisfied with the final product.

In addition, since there’s no expectation to engage in chit-chat other than telling the barber what kind of cut you want, it’s fine even if you don’t speak Japanese. QB House, a 1000 yen cut barbershop which boasts more than 600 branches nationwide, puts a great deal of effort into its customer service. Special vacuum cleaners are placed next to the chairs at a QB House in order to remove fallen hair, so that customers’ clothes are left spotless.

It’s not every day that you can get your hair sucked up in an instant by a giant vacuum cleaner, so it’s a valuable experience. QB Houses can be found in train stations, Aeon malls and other shopping establishments, so by all means, stop by.

What To Remember When You Visit

Since 1000 yen cut barbershops aim to have you in and out in ten minutes, you need to be precise about the kind of haircut you want. Another thing to remember is that if you have too many requests, it may take more than 10 minutes, so we recommend going when you want a small amount of grooming done. When you make your haircut request, make sure to address the overall length, bangs, sides, volume, the specific hairstyle, and any other points you want the barber to be careful about.

For travelers who can’t speak Japanese, it would be a good idea to bring a picture of your desired hairstyle to show the barber. However, these barbershops cannot accept requests for complicated cuts, as well as dye jobs and perms.

In addition, 1000 yen cut barbershops do not accept reservations, so on weekends, the wait can be more than an hour. If you’re lucky, you can get a spot quickly, but since these barbershops are so popular, you should expect to spend some time waiting.

That’s the end of our introduction to 1000 yen cut barbershops. Next time you think your hair is getting a little long, visit one of these places to experience the high-quality haircut artistry and excellent customer service that Japan can offer in only ten minutes.

All pictures from PIXTA