Business trendsJapan's cross-dressing salons catering to men increasing in popularity
Tokyo shop in Shinjuku district records its highest number of monthly customers
Nikkei reporters Keiichi Kamei, left, and Nobuaki Nishito after having makeup applied and changing clothes at the cross-dressing salon Raar in Tokyo. (Photo by Hideki Yoshikawa)
NOBUAKI NISHITO and KEIICHI KAMEI
September 15, 2025 17:27 JST
TOKYO -- It may come as a surprise when a beautiful woman turns out to be a man. Such surprises could become more common in Japan, where cross-dressing salons for men are gaining traction. A growing number of men are visiting such salons where they can cross-dress, have makeup applied and hairstyles arranged professionally.