Win your heart over—UNY Hankyu’s “Beauty Academy” and UNIQLO craze:: Taipei

This year-end, the department store world is set to be rocked by a major bombshell: UNY Hankyu Department Store has entered the prime battleground of Xinyi District and successfully dominated media coverage, generating fiery buzz during its grand opening. But what is the allure of Hankyu? This Japanese company, known for its uncanny ability to attract Taiwanese wallets, has also launched a series of “Beauty Academies” tailored for women and introduced the highly anticipated brand UNIQLO. Let’s take a look at the charm of UNY Hankyu!

“Have you been to Hankyu yet?” seems to be the question everyone’s been asking lately. Boasting a prime location at the intersection of Zhongxiao East Road and Keelung Road, UNY Hankyu combines a transit hub, hotel, and department store. With different themed designs on each floor, it’s truly eye-catching—just as appealing as the Taipei Main Station or Shin Kong Mitsukoshi’s Nishi branch. Many spots inside the mall have become popular photo backdrops.

True to its slogan as a “beauty department store,” Hankyu offers several features and designs that women simply can’t get enough of. The fifth-floor “Beauty Academy” spans nearly 100 pyeong (approx. 3,300 sq. ft.), making it the first women’s fantasy zone of its kind in a Taiwan department store. Accessible with a UNY Hankyu Taipei membership card, the space greets you with tones of pink, peach, white, and purple, along with palace-style furnishings on tables, chairs, and walls—all designed to satisfy every woman’s inner princess. The ultra-high ceilings and giant crystal chandeliers elicit constant gasps of “Wow!” from female visitors, showcasing just how successful the “Beauty Academy” has been in capturing the female market.

But besides being photogenic, what else makes this space worth visiting? The Beauty Academy is divided into several zones: the “Three-Step Beauty Makeover,” fashion lectures, the Beauty Academy Café, and the VIP Lounge. First up, the Three-Step Beauty Makeover introduces Japan’s holistic beauty brand “atelier haruka,” aiming to give women a complete head-to-toe transformation—from manicures and light spa treatments to makeup and styling consultations. It’s as captivating as the dramatic makeovers seen on TV, helping women fully embrace their inner elegant ladies!(NT$2,000 per person / 1 hour)

The “Beauty Forum” hosts fashion lectures and makeup & nail art classes, with two sessions held daily and a new theme each week. The Beauty Academy Café, themed “Creator's Gallery,” is divided into a Photo gallery, Art gallery, and Fashion gallery, each styled differently based on its theme—for example, the Photo gallery features suitcases, cameras, photos, and postcards from around the world. The book display area showcases shelves filled with fashion books and magazines for customers to browse freely, while outfit displays change according to lecture themes to offer the latest fashion insights. On the other side, there are three classrooms offering personal color and style consultations, cross-brand styling lessons, and a Powder Room where women can do makeup, try on outfits, and dress up in a dream-like environment that leaves them amazed.

The café’s menu is carefully curated by nutritionists, featuring beautifying ingredients like roses, yams, cranberries, and Job’s tears, all emphasizing healthy, skin-brightening benefits—perfectly suited to modern women. Whether chatting with friends for an afternoon in this design-forward little haven or taking a break here after a long day of shopping, it’s undoubtedly one of the best ways to enhance the shopping experience.