Tempting women to spend big

While many Japanese women are prepared to pay hundreds of dollars a month on cosmetics, some require a little convincing. In such cases, Maquia Salon may help. Located in Tokyo's upscale Marunouchi district, the innovative salon allows women to test dozens of different samples of the latest in expensive cosmetics for free over 90 minutes. If the women have questions, beauty experts are on hand to dispense advice. Reserving an appointment is a cinch: Buy the latest issue of Maquia magazine by publisher Shueisha, call the number to make an appointment, and show up for the session with the coupon from the magazine.