When you treat your bathroom as a sacred space, it will become your haven of peace.
About 14 million people live in Tokyo, so, understandably, space is at a premium. And if you look at the modern apartments in this bustling city, you’ll notice that most of them have a similar interior design—classic white walls, faux wood flooring and off-white bathrooms. Speaking of the latter, bathrooms in Tokyo are compact, functional and (between us) a little monotonous. However, if you look closer, you will find beauty in monotony.
With a creative spirit, you can transform your tiny bathroom into a haven of serenity with these aesthetic products. Allow me to show you how!
Set The Vibe With Candles
Greetings from my Tokyo bathroom! As you can see, I’ve decorated the room with candles and artificial plants. I intended to create a space that would allow me to recharge and rejuvenate after a long day at work. The LED candles are from Ikea. I think they add a sense of coziness to the space. To create a spa-like experience at home, I often turn off my bathroom lights, play some lo-fi music and put these candles on while I indulge in a relaxing soak and sip on green tea.
Price: ¥1,499
Buy: Ikea
Add Sakura Petals To Your Bath
If you’re obsessed with Japanese cherry blossoms, then you will surely love this Sakura Bath Confetti from Loft. Sprinkle a handful into your bath and the water will slowly transform into a blissful shade of pink. It’s the perfect pick-me-up product when you’re feeling under the weather.
Price: ¥350
Buy: Loft
Pamper Your Skin With Honey
This luxury body wash from Hacci is one of my favorites to use when I want to pamper myself. The mellow honey scent is soothing and it makes the skin feel smooth and smell delicious.
Price: ¥4,950
Buy:Hacci
Mini Plants For The Win
I’m a big fan of artificial plants. They’re low maintenance and look like the real deal. I placed these cute succulents on my bathroom rack to add instant color to my plain white bathroom. It’s a minor detail that contributes to the overall low-key Zen aesthetic.
Price: ¥499
Buy: Ikea
Bathe With Yuzus
You don’t have to visit a sento (public bathhouse) to enjoy a yuzu bath. You can recreate the same experience at home! Yuzus are available throughout the year in Japan; you can buy them at supermarkets or order them online. Bathing with these aromatic citrus fruits will melt the stress away and raise your vibe.
Note: If you can’t find yuzu fruit at the supermarket, they have a bath salt version as well.
Price:¥1,000
Buy: Amazon
Buff Away Those Dead Skin Cells
Most body scrubs in the market today are either too harsh or too fragrant. Some of them could even irritate your skin and cause it to flare up. This one from Sabon is the perfect product for sensitive skin. It is a cult favorite among Japanese women for its powerful scent. A bit pricey, but worth every yen! It has almond and jojoba oil in it. Not only does it exfoliate your skin to perfection, but it also leaves your skin smelling divine.
Price: ¥3,740
Buy: Sabon
Try Dry Brushing
Japanese washcloths are physical exfoliators made from nylon and polyester. You can use them with or without soap and water to cleanse your body. It is like dry brushing if you use them without water. Besides exfoliating the skin, dry brushing with this washcloth helps improve blood circulation, elevates your mood and makes your skin feel softer and smoother. Living in Tokyo, I’d recommend dry brushing once or twice a week.
Price: ¥799
Buy:Amazon
Organize Your Bath Salts
Bath salts and tablets are affordable and widely available in Japan. I like to keep mine in this large bowl. You can also store them in baskets and mason jars. The idea is to spread them out to know how many are with you. Depending on the size of your bathroom, you can choose the container that is best suited to storing your bath products.
Price: ¥1,430
Buy: Amazon
Invest In a Reed Diffuser
A reed diffuser in your bathroom will make the room smell fresh at all times. Unlike candles and electric diffusers, they don’t burn or require power to work. The one in the picture is from Daiso (yes, Daiso stores in Japan now sell reed diffusers as well!) If you’re looking for fresh scents in your bathroom, consider lavender, musk, eucalyptus, lemongrass, tea tree, citrus and rosemary. These scents will make you feel relaxed throughout the day.
Price:¥1,800
Buy: Daiso
Bath Bombs For a Luxurious Soak
Lush is one of the best places to shop for bath bombs in Japan. While they offer a variety of them, keep an eye out for the ones exclusive to Japan. I recommend their Temple in the Sky bath bomb. It depicts a sparkly golden Japanese temple and has a fresh citrus scent.
Price: ¥920
Buy: Lush (Japan Only)
I wrote this story to inspire you to take your cozy Tokyo bathroom space and transform it into a sanctuary. If you have more creative design ideas, please share them in the comments below. I’m excited to read yours!
