When most people hear Shiseido, they think of luxury skincare and timeless beauty. But few know that the iconic Japanese brand’s story began not in cosmetics, but in cuisine. In fact, L’OSIER in Ginza, Tokyo, the French restaurant run by Shiseido, has been awarded three stars for the eighth consecutive year in the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2026.
Founded in 1872 in Tokyo’s Ginza district by Arinobu Fukuhara, Shiseido started as Japan’s first private Western-style pharmacy. Fukuhara, inspired by what he’d seen in American drugstores during his travels to the U.S. after the 1900 Paris World Exposition, decided to bring a taste of the West home. In 1902, he installed a soda fountain inside the Shiseido pharmacy — serving Japan’s very first soda water and, even more remarkably, introducing ice cream to the public. At the time, it was a rare luxury that quickly became a sensation in Ginza.
By 1928, Shiseido’s culinary venture evolved into the Shiseido Parlour, a dining destination that became synonymous with authentic Western cuisine. Its menu and refined atmosphere helped define Ginza’s cultural identity, blending art, beauty, and gastronomy in equal measure. To this day, Shiseido Parlour continues to innovate, expressing the brand’s philosophy of “Beauty Innovations for a Better World” through food.
In 1973, Shiseido expanded its gastronomic vision with the opening of L’OSIER, an authentic French restaurant that brought Parisian fine dining to Tokyo. The restaurant relocated to the Shiseido headquarters on Ginza Namiki-dori in 1999 and, under the leadership of executive chef Olivier Chaignon since 2013, has continued to earn international acclaim — including Michelin recognition. This year, L’OSIER celebrates its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of culinary artistry and refined service.
Not stopping at French cuisine, Shiseido ventured into Italian fare with the opening of FARO Shiseido in 2001. Reimagined in 2018 as FARO, the restaurant reflects contemporary Italian dining infused with Shiseido’s elegant aesthetic and focus on innovation.
From beauty counters to fine dining tables, Shiseido’s story is a remarkable testament to its enduring mission — creating beauty in every form, whether in a bottle of serum or a perfectly plated dish.
