Win your heart over: Hankyu Beauty Academy & UNIQLO craze:: Taipei

This year-end brings a seismic shock to the department store world: Hankyu Department Store has made its move into the prime Xinyi District battleground—and successfully dominated media headlines, generating a red-hot buzz during its grand opening. But what is the allure of Hankyu? The Japanese company, which has always been adept at winning over Taiwanese wallets, is also not to be underestimated this time as it crafts an entire “Beauty Academy” series aimed at women and brings in the much-anticipated brand UNIQLO. Let’s take a look at the charm of Hankyu Department Store!

“Have you been to Hankyu yet?” seems to be the question on everyone’s lips lately. Boasting prime location advantages, Hankyu Department Store is situated at the intersection of Zhongxiao East Road and Keelung Road. It integrates a transit hub, hotel, and department store, with each floor featuring a unique themed design that is truly eye-catching—just as appealing as locations like Taipei Main Station or Shin Kong Mitsukoshi’s Nanxi Store 3rd Floor. Numerous spots inside the store have become popular photo backdrops.

As a department store touting itself as a “beauty mall,” Hankyu naturally offers many features and designs that women just can’t get enough of. The fifth-floor “Beauty Academy” covers nearly 100 ping (approx. 330 m²), making it the first-of-its-kind female fantasy zone in a domestic department store. Entry is available with a Taipei Hankyu Department Store membership card. The moment you step inside, you’re greeted by shades of pink, peach, white, and purple, with court-style furnishings on tables, chairs, and walls that cater to every woman’s inner princess. The ultra-high ceilings and grand crystal chandeliers elicit constant exclamations of “Wow~” from female visitors—clear proof of how successful the “Beauty Academy” is at capturing the female market.

But besides being a great spot for photos, what else makes this space worth lingering in? The Beauty Academy is divided into several zones: the “Three-Step Beauty Transformation,” fashion talks, the Beauty Academy Café, and the VIP Lounge. First up, the Three-Step Beauty Transformation introduces Japan’s full-service styling brand “atelier haruka,” offering women a complete head-to-toe makeover—including manicures, light spa treatments, and makeup & style consultations—that’s as captivating as those extreme makeovers on TV, transforming you completely into a refined lady!(NT$2,000 per person for 1 hour)

The “Beauty Forum” hosts fashion talks and make-up and nail art classes, with two fashion talk sessions held daily and a different theme each week. Meanwhile, the Beauty Academy Café, themed “Creator's Gallery,” is divided into areas such as the Photo gallery, Art gallery, and Fashion gallery, each styled according to different themes—for instance, the Photo gallery showcases suitcases, cameras, photos, and postcards from around the world. The book display area features shelves lined with fashion books and magazines that shoppers can browse freely. The displayed clothing here also changes according to the lecture topics, providing the latest fashion insights. On the other side, there are three classrooms offering personal color & style diagnosis, cross-brand styling courses. The Powder Room is a space where female customers can do their makeup, try on outfits, and get glammed up—the dreamlike environment never fails to wow women.

The café’s menu is carefully curated by a nutritionist, featuring beauty-enhancing ingredients like roses, yams, cranberries, coix seeds, and more. Emphasizing both skin nourishment and healthiness, it’s a big hit with modern women. Being able to chat with friends in this uniquely designed little paradise for an afternoon—or taking a break here after a long day of shopping—is undoubtedly one of the best ways to enjoy your shopping experience.