Are you looking for affordable beauty treatments in Japan? Hoping to try something completely for free or at a super low price? I’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into the ins and outs of one of Japan’s best-kept self-care secrets—the Japanese beauty app, Minimo.
So, I’ve been in my self-care era lately—really focusing on skincare, trying out treatments that make me feel confident and pretty, and honestly, just living my best life. That said, it’s only fair to mention that I’m also the queen of discounts, freebies, and coupons in Japan—especially around Osaka. 😂
If you’ve been following me, you’ve probably seen some of my previous beauty and self-care adventures:
Imagine my surprise when one of my students casually mentioned this beauty app that almost no one knows about. I had to check it out for myself—and now I’m sharing the magic with you.
You might be asking, “What even is Minimo?”
Let me break it down.
Minimo is a Japanese beauty and wellness app that connects you with salons, estheticians, stylists, and other beauty professionals offering discounted or even free services. Why? Because many of them are building portfolios, looking for models, or promoting new branches and want to get the word out.
<<Heads up: the app is entirely in Japanese. But with Google Translate or another translation tool, you’ll get the hang of it quickly—even if you don’t speak the language.>>
Literally almost everything beauty-related can be found here. Here’s just a taste of what you can book:
💆 Massages (including body, lymphatic, or facial)
💅 Nails (gel, hard gel, soft gel, nail art)
💇 Haircuts, styling, dyeing, and treatments
🧖 Facials and skincare treatments
🪞 Eyelash extensions and eyebrow grooming
💡 IPL and laser hair removal
✨ Este treatments (Japanese-style esthetician services)
👨 Services for men too!
✨✨✨ And yes, a lot of the services are offered for men as well. You’ll usually see the word “men” (メンズ) in the title, or you can just ask the provider directly.
Depending on the salon or provider, services can be completely free, as they may need models for training or promotional reasons. These free slots often go very quickly and are usually limited to specific days and times.
(If you see a service you want, and your schedule allows, book immediately. Spots fill fast.)
Not free? No worries—prices on Minimo are way cheaper than typical salon rates in Japan. I’ve seen services as low as ¥500 (around $3 USD) to around ¥10,000 (for full treatments). Most fall somewhere in the ¥2,000–¥5,000 range.
You can also request different times or dates if your preferred slot is full—some salons are happy to accommodate if they’re available.
It’s very important to keep in mind that they are offering the services at a discount because it is beneficial not only to you but them. A lot of these workers are starting out as beginners and need to build their portfolio, or they really need models. <You’ll find highly trained professionals there as well :3>
That being said, I think you should go in with confidence in the person you’re working with. More often than not, there’s a reason they are working in their field. It’s because they’re good at what they do! You shouldn’t let them be beginners hinder you from working with them.
Everyone needs to start somewhere~ so I think it’s great that this app is helping them :).
If you’re very concerned, you can always check and see the ratings, reviews, and experience level.
At the time of my posting this article, I will have booked two or three sessions through the app. Long story, short, both went wonderfully. The other is a facial massage (for free) I’l go to after this article is posted (and maybe even do an article about :o…I’ve never gotten a facial before….
1st experience (April 2025)
Before heading back to the States for a month, I wanted to get my nails done with hard gel—something that would last. I booked a session through Minimo and got paired with a nail artist who had just moved to Osaka and was building her client base.
She did such a good job! The price was only ¥2,500, and I told her I needed nails that would go with formal dresses for three events. She designed them specifically to match.
(I usually do my own soft gel nails at home, so this was my first time getting nails professionally done in Japan—and I loved watching her work!)
Unfortunately, I didn’t get many pictures immediately after, but I did send a pic to my friend. Check it out!
2nd Experience (May 24, 2025)
After coming back, my nails had grown out, and I desperately needed the gel removed. I found a completely free appointment on Minimo that fit right after work. It was one of only two time slots that day!
The provider, Onishi, was kind and professional. Even though the post said customers should come with gel already removed (which I couldn’t do myself), she went out of her way to remove it for me.
…and then she performed her magic and here is the end result! I am soooooo in love with my nails. <3
Overall, Minimo is every self-care girl and budget baddie’s dream. I feel like more people should know about this app. Surprisingly, very few Japanese people know about it too, so you know that foreigners don’t know about it. I really hope this article can save you a buck or two and that you can enjoy using some of their services to help you step up your self-care game. I will definitely be writing about some of my experiences with the services on this app as they offer so many different things that I didn’t even know I needed (and for a decent price, of course :-))
Be sure to download this app and check out my future articles on self-care!
Stay happy, relaxed, and in good spirits in the meantime.
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