Sakura

This spa chain (there are two locations in NYC and one in Tokyo) is not your average nail spot. The decor is upscale enough to pass for a posh lounge, with black-paneled windows, sleek dark-wood tables, moss-green walls and framed photos of Japanese flowers. But the prices mimic those of a much less opulent salon; to wit, a regular manicure costs just $12, while a pedicure fetches $30. From the moment you step inside, you’ll be busy choosing from countless stickers and Swarovski gems offered for Sakura’s signature nail art ($5–$40) or sipping the complimentary green tea, which is served in hand-painted ceramic cups (the Japanese-imported dishware is available for sale; $20–$60). Other Japanese goodies you can walk away with include Tins nontoxic glittery nail polishes ($17) and special Erikonail eyelet-lace fingerless gloves ($16), typically worn in Japan during the summer to protect hands from the sun.