Sara Takanashi’s Beauty & Wellness Routine | Skincare, Diet & Sleep

Japanese ski jumper Sara Takanashi has spent much of her life soaring through the air, becoming one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of her sport. Having reached the top of the world rankings while still a teenager, she has set remarkable records and represented Japan on the Olympic stage. Away from the ski jumping hill, however, she has another side: a woman who enjoys makeup and fashion, appreciates beautiful fragrances, takes photographs on film and finds comfort in the everyday rituals of life abroad.

Born on 8 October 1996 in Kamikawa, Hokkaido, Takanashi began ski jumping in her second year of elementary school. She went on to achieve a record 63 individual World Cup victories across men's and women's ski jumping and four overall World Cup titles. In 2024, she also reached her 116th individual World Cup podium, extending her record in the women's competition. She has represented Japan at four consecutive Winter Olympics since Sochi 2014, winning individual bronze at PyeongChang 2018 and mixed-team bronze at Milano Cortina 2026.

Behind those achievements lies a career shaped by persistence and experimentation. As a young athlete, she sometimes struggled to make progress and was inspired by the skills of other competitors her age overseas. Over the years, she has continued refining her technique, her approach to physical conditioning and the way she organises her daily life.

Her relationship with beauty has evolved, too. Around the age of 20, she began embracing makeup more seriously, gradually developing an interest in skincare, haircare and fashion. Living independently overseas also encouraged her to appreciate home cooking, rest and the small routines that make unfamiliar places feel comfortable.

Today, Slovenia serves as her main training base. There, she cooks Japanese rice using a rice cooker brought from home, enjoys walks among lakes and mountains, and surrounds herself with favourite fragrances, even when travelling to competitions.

By the time she turned 30 in 2026, her approach to wellbeing had also become more flexible. Rather than following an inflexible daily schedule, she had learned to adjust her routines according to how her body felt, while continuing to pay attention to balanced meals and the simple pleasure of eating foods she enjoys.

Drawing on interviews, published features and official sources, this article explores Sara Takanashi's beauty routine, skincare, moisturising habits, makeup, haircare, diet, training, sleep, recovery, favourite fragrances, hobbies, family life and relationships with fellow athletes. Together, these details reveal the personality behind her extraordinary achievements and the everyday habits that have accompanied her journey.

1. Sara Takanashi's Beauty Routine: Discovering Makeup and Her Own Sense of Style

To understand Sara Takanashi's approach to beauty, it helps to begin with the female athletes she admired during her teenage years.

In a 2021 interview, Takanashi recalled looking up to senior athletes who enjoyed makeup and fashion while also committing themselves wholeheartedly to demanding training sessions.

What impressed her was the way they embraced both sides of their lives. They were serious competitors who worked incredibly hard, yet they also enjoyed expressing themselves through their appearance. For someone whose childhood had revolved around ski jumping, that balance offered an inspiring example.

Takanashi began taking a more active interest in makeup around the age of 20. Speaking to Women's Health in 2017, she explained that encouragement from people around her to pay more attention to her appearance as a young adult had prompted her to give it a try.

What initially began as a way of looking more polished soon became something she genuinely enjoyed. She started exploring different looks and discovering how makeup could complement the clothes she chose to wear.

A 2018 feature in the Chunichi Shimbun described how her preferences had changed over time. When she first started wearing makeup, she was interested in achieving a more mature appearance. Gradually, however, she became more drawn to natural makeup that allowed her own features to remain prominent.

Getting ready also became part of her preparation for competition. Even when an event required an early start, she made time to wash her face and apply makeup.

That quiet moment in front of the mirror helped mark a transition between ordinary daily life and the demanding concentration required on the jumping hill.

In a 2023 conversation with former Japan international footballer Tomoaki Makino for the beauty magazine VOCE, Takanashi spoke about how makeup could help her feel more confident and comfortable with her appearance.

She also mentioned that her grandmother had always taken care over the way she dressed and presented herself. The example set by her family, alongside the female athletes she admired, appears to have helped shape her own approach to beauty.

Enjoying Makeup While Staying Focused on Competition

For Takanashi, makeup is something she enjoys for herself. Once she steps onto the ski jumping hill, however, her attention belongs to the competition.

During her conversation with Makino, she even joked about occasionally giving interviews after competing with her eyeliner no longer looking quite as neat as it had earlier in the day.

That contrast is part of her natural approach. She enjoys makeup and fashion in everyday life while giving her full attention to the technical and mental demands of ski jumping when she competes.

Takanashi has spent many years in the public eye, where athletes' appearances can attract attention alongside their sporting achievements. Her own comments suggest that beauty has become a personal pleasure and a way of preparing herself mentally, rather than simply something she does for other people's approval.

Her story also shows how an athlete's interests can evolve with age. The girl who once spent most of her time training gradually discovered new forms of self-expression, while maintaining the determination that made her successful in sport.

2. Skincare, Moisturising and Haircare: Beauty Habits for Life on the Snow

Ski jumping takes place in challenging outdoor conditions, with cold temperatures, wind and bright light reflecting from the snow.

For Takanashi, who spends so much time training and competing outdoors, moisturising and choosing practical makeup have become part of her everyday preparations.

In 2022, the Japanese beauty magazine Biteki featured the contents of her makeup bag. At the time, she described paying attention to moisturising and choosing base makeup suitable for days that involved physical activity.

Among the products shown were a SHISEIDO pressed powder and UV-related makeup products from ANESSA, including UV foundation and UV milk.

She also carried cotton buds and tissues, useful for making small adjustments to her makeup while away from home.

Her cosmetics were organised in a vanity-style makeup bag that made its contents easy to see and access. For an athlete who frequently travels internationally, practicality matters just as much as personal preference.

In August 2024, Takanashi shared a sponsored video collaboration with skincare brand La Roche-Posay, showing parts of her daily routine.

The video included her morning face washing, training activities and evening skincare. One of the featured products was La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+, a moisturising cream she was shown applying as part of her routine.

As this was a brand collaboration, it is best understood as a documented example of her skincare at that particular time. It offers a glimpse of the attention she gives to moisturising and looking after her skin alongside her athletic commitments.

She has continued showing an interest in skincare and trying different products in more recent posts, reflecting how her enthusiasm for beauty has developed since she first discovered makeup in her early twenties.

Why She Also Pays Attention to Her Feet

One of the more distinctive details about Takanashi's personal care routine appeared in a 2018 Chunichi Shimbun feature: her attention to the soles of her feet.

At the time, she made a point of applying moisturising oil to her feet after bathing, including the soles.

For a ski jumper, awareness of balance and weight distribution through the feet is particularly important during the inrun. Takanashi also described using a golf ball to massage the soles of her feet before heading to the competition venue or during her warm-up.

It is an interesting example of how her personal care extends beyond facial skincare. Her approach also includes attending to the parts of her body that play an important role in the sensations she relies on during competition.

These habits are distinctive because they connect her everyday grooming with her awareness of her body as a professional athlete.

Although Slovenia is her home base during much of the training season, Japanese beauty and personal care products remain part of her everyday preferences.

Choosing a new shampoo may seem like a small thing compared with competing at the Olympics, yet such ordinary pleasures reveal another side of her international sporting lifestyle.

3. Diet and Nutrition: Japanese Rice, Miso Soup and Amazake Abroad

Food plays an important role in Sara Takanashi's approach to maintaining her condition as a ski jumper.

In ski jumping, the rules governing athletes' body measurements are connected to the length of skis they are permitted to use. Managing physical condition is therefore part of the sport's highly specialised demands.

Over many years, Takanashi has learned to pay careful attention to her body while adjusting her eating habits and training.

In a 2017 Women's Health interview, she spoke enthusiastically about Japanese rice. A meal of freshly cooked white rice, miso soup, pickles and grilled fish was, to her, a particularly satisfying breakfast.

Once she began cooking for herself, she also gained a new appreciation for the effort her mother had put into preparing breakfast every day during her childhood.

Her attachment to Japanese food continued after she moved abroad.

Speaking with Tomoaki Makino in 2023, Takanashi described cooking rice and preparing miso soup in her Slovenian home. During a 2025 conversation with former Japanese table tennis star Kasumi Ishikawa, she revealed that she brought a rice cooker and a generous supply of Japanese rice with her from Japan.

Even while living thousands of kilometres from Hokkaido, she has maintained familiar food traditions. The simple combination of rice and miso soup offers an enjoyable connection between the international sporting world and the meals she grew up eating.

In a 2026 interview, Takanashi explained that she tries to maintain a balanced intake of vegetables, protein and carbohydrates, while also enjoying foods she likes.

Her approach has evolved over time. Earlier in her career, she was accustomed to making careful dietary adjustments around competition periods. With greater experience, she has developed a more flexible understanding of what works for her own body.

Amazake, Between-Round Snacks and Everyday Japanese Meals

A 2018 Chunichi Shimbun article also described Takanashi drinking amazake with her evening meal.

Amazake is a traditional Japanese drink, often made from fermented rice and enjoyed for its naturally sweet flavour. In Takanashi's case, it was simply one of the drinks she incorporated into her diet at that time.

She also paid attention to when she ate snacks during competitions.

Ski jumping events can be delayed when wind conditions change, leaving athletes waiting longer than expected. Takanashi therefore considered the timing of food between periods of activity and waiting.

Her dietary preparation involved more than deciding what to eat. The unpredictable rhythm of competition also influenced when she chose to eat.

In December 2024, she shared photographs of some of her meals on social media. The dishes included miso-marinated grilled salmon, salad, lightly pickled celery, black soybeans, simmered hijiki seaweed, pumpkin salad and miso soup.

The variety of dishes provides a vivid illustration of the Japanese-style meals she has described in interviews over the years.

These glimpses into her kitchen also make her overseas lifestyle feel more personal. Behind the international travel and demanding competition schedule is someone who takes time to prepare familiar food and enjoy an ordinary meal.

Takanashi has always enjoyed treats, too. In 2017, she mentioned her fondness for Japanese sweets such as dorayaki and daifuku. She also recalled enjoying hamburgers while training in Hawaii.

In Slovenia, she sometimes eats local pizza and pasta, appreciating the different foods available near her European training base.

During a Japanese television appearance in May 2026, she was also shown shopping for Japanese foods to take abroad, including seasonings and rice accompaniments that make familiar meals easier to prepare.

That same year, she spoke about the importance of enjoying meals alongside paying attention to nutritional balance.

For Takanashi, food is both part of the preparation required by elite sport and an everyday source of pleasure. Her eating habits reflect the experience she has gained from living abroad, cooking independently and learning more about her own body.

4. Training and Physical Conditioning: The Focus Behind 63 World Cup Victories

Sara Takanashi's remarkable longevity in ski jumping has been built on years of careful practice, observation and a willingness to keep learning.

She began ski jumping in the second year of elementary school in Kamikawa, Hokkaido. Her older brother and friends were involved in the sport, while Japanese female jumper Izumi Yamada became one of the athletes she admired.

As a child, progress was not always easy. Takanashi has recalled times when she struggled to jump as well as she wanted. Even so, she continued going to the jumping hill after school, inspired by the athletes she hoped to emulate.

When she travelled overseas as a young teenager, she was struck by the abilities of other competitors her age.

In an interview with the Japan Sport Council, she discussed the importance of learning from unsuccessful jumps.

She studied video recordings of her training sessions, comparing what she had felt during a jump with what the footage actually showed. She also recorded details such as wind direction, weather conditions and the sensations she experienced.

Each jumping hill presents its own challenges, and changes in the wind can alter the conditions from one jump to the next. By reflecting on a wide range of experiences, Takanashi worked to refine her technique.

Around Eight Jumps a Day: Why Concentration Matters

In a 2023 interview, Takanashi offered an interesting insight into the number of jumps she might complete during training.

She explained that, taking concentration into account, around eight jumps in a day could be a useful guideline.

A single ski jump involves far more than the seconds spent in the air. Athletes need time to prepare, travel to the starting point, assess the conditions and complete the jump.

The technical demands also require considerable mental focus. Takanashi has described ski jumping as a sport that can leave the mind feeling just as tired as the body.

Rather than simply trying to complete as many jumps as possible, she places importance on the quality of each attempt.

Training away from the hill also matters, including physical conditioning and exercises that develop balance and strength.

In earlier interviews, she emphasised that each element of a training programme has its own purpose and deserves proper attention.

Takanashi later established a training base in Slovenia, partly because of the facilities available there.

The country has a range of ski jumping hills, from smaller practice facilities to large venues, allowing athletes to train under different conditions.

She has spoken about how living there gave her more time to think about her jumps and examine her performance from a broader perspective.

Her curiosity also extends beyond training. In 2026, Hirosaki University officially announced that she was enrolled as a graduate student in the Department of Social Medicine at its Graduate School of Medicine.

Continuing her studies while competing internationally offers another illustration of her willingness to learn and explore new ideas.

5. Sleep, Physical Wellbeing and Mental Preparation: A More Flexible Routine at 30

One revealing part of Takanashi's approach to wellbeing is the way she adjusts her sleeping and waking times around the demands of competition.

In a 2026 interview, she explained that she plans her wake-up time according to when an event is scheduled to begin.

If a competition takes place in the morning, she gets up early. For evening events, she may wake later so that her daily rhythm better suits the timing of her performance.

Ski jumping events are held in many different countries and may be affected by weather, local schedules and changing conditions. Being able to organise each day around those circumstances is an important part of her sporting lifestyle.

During the off-season, however, Takanashi enjoys a much simpler luxury: sleeping without worrying about the time.

She has admitted that she is not naturally an early riser and may happily sleep until around noon on a day off.

It is a charmingly ordinary detail about an athlete whose competitive life requires extraordinary discipline.

From Strict Schedules to Listening More Closely to Her Body

In May 2026, Takanashi reflected on how her attitude towards daily routines had changed over the years.

Earlier in her career, she tended to organise her days around carefully planned schedules. She decided when to get up and what to do at particular times, sometimes trying to follow the plan even when she was feeling below her best.

As she gained experience, she came to recognise that her physical condition could vary from day to day.

She now places more importance on adjusting what she does according to how she feels and responding flexibly to changing circumstances.

The discipline developed during her younger years remains part of her character, but it has been complemented by a more adaptable approach based on experience.

Takanashi has also discussed her attitude towards rituals immediately before competing.

During her 2023 conversation with Makino, she explained that she preferred remaining adaptable rather than relying too heavily on an exact sequence of actions before every jump.

Her approach combines careful everyday preparation with the ability to respond to the conditions she encounters at the venue.

Another important development in her mental approach became evident around the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Takanashi has acknowledged that she once found team events particularly stressful because she worried about letting her teammates down.

During the 2025–26 season, however, members of the Japanese team spent more time training together and getting to know one another.

That shared experience strengthened their trust and helped her feel more comfortable approaching competition as part of a team.

Her comments suggest that mental preparation is shaped not only by personal routines but also by the relationships and sense of trust built over time.

6. Favourite Fragrances and Relaxation: Bringing Familiar Scents on the Road

One of the most distinctive aspects of Sara Takanashi's beauty and lifestyle preferences is her appreciation of fragrance.

In a June 2026 interview with SPUR, she spoke in detail about the perfumes she chooses for different occasions and the scents she brings with her while travelling.

Takanashi is particularly drawn to gentle, woody fragrances. She associates these scents with the natural environment of Kamikawa, Hokkaido, where she grew up surrounded by trees and mountains.

For everyday activities and training, she mentioned Pure 1 by Son Venin as one of her preferred fragrances.

For more formal occasions, she chooses Santal Blush by TOM FORD, which she said she had been wearing for around five years at the time of the interview.

She appreciates its understated woody character and takes care over how much perfume she applies.

Rather than creating an overpowering scent, she prefers a subtle application, sometimes spraying fragrance lightly around the lower part of her body or applying a small amount to her fingertips.

Her international travels have also made her aware that the same perfume can seem different depending on where it is worn.

She recalled using a fragrance bought overseas after returning to Japan and noticing that its character seemed to change in the more humid conditions.

It is the kind of observation that reflects her experience of moving regularly between countries and climates.

Making Her Slovenian Home and Hotel Rooms Feel Familiar

At home, Takanashi also enjoys Burbs by APFR, a fragrance from a Japanese lifestyle brand.

She discovered the scent in Japan and liked it enough to introduce it into her home in Slovenia.

She has described using fragrance oils and room sprays around her living space, including on household fabrics such as curtains, cushions and bedding.

Room spray sometimes accompanies her on overseas trips, allowing her to enjoy a familiar scent even when staying in a hotel.

For someone who frequently moves between unfamiliar rooms and competition venues, bringing an element of home along is a thoughtful way to personalise her surroundings.

When she returns to Japan, Takanashi also enjoys visiting hot springs and sharing meals with friends.

In a 2025 conversation with Kasumi Ishikawa, she described going to an onsen after the competition season had ended.

Whether she is surrounding herself with familiar scents in Slovenia or spending time at a Japanese hot spring, she seems to value small experiences that make everyday life feel enjoyable and comfortable.

7. Hobbies and Lifestyle: Film Photography, Reading and Life Close to Nature

Away from the intensity of the ski jumping hill, Takanashi enjoys quieter interests that reveal her creative and reflective side.

One of her favourite hobbies in recent years has been taking photographs with a film camera.

During her 2025 conversation with Kasumi Ishikawa, she spoke about enjoying photography with a film SLR camera. In a 2026 interview, she also discussed the pleasure of developing photographs taken during her overseas travels after returning to Japan.

Unlike digital photography, film often involves waiting before seeing the finished pictures. That anticipation becomes part of the enjoyment.

For Takanashi, photographs taken during her journeys are like personal souvenirs, capturing places and moments she wants to remember.

She also enjoys reading. In 2017, she described stopping at cafés during walks and settling down with a novel.

During trips, she sometimes exchanged books with other athletes. One title she mentioned enjoying was The Man Called Pirate by Japanese novelist Naoki Hyakuta.

Takanashi now spends much of her time in a scenic part of Slovenia. In a 2026 interview, she spoke about walking around a nearby lake in the morning and sometimes venturing towards the surrounding mountains.

She also enjoys driving and has described her car as a private space where she can spend time on her own.

Taking photographs, going for walks, reading and driving give her opportunities to enjoy life at her own pace between training sessions and international events.

Her connection with the natural environment has also encouraged her to become involved in environmental initiatives.

Travelling to ski jumping venues around the world has made her aware of the challenges created by reduced snowfall and changing winter conditions.

In 2023, she launched JUMP for The Earth PROJECT, an initiative reflecting her desire to protect snowy environments and help future generations continue enjoying winter sports.

Having grown up among the mountains of Hokkaido and later made her home near the lakes and forests of Slovenia, Takanashi has a personal appreciation of the landscapes surrounding her sport.

That appreciation now extends beyond her own training and into efforts to support the natural environment and younger generations.

8. Family, Teammates and Life at 30: The People Behind Sara Takanashi's Journey

Sara Takanashi's sporting career has been shaped by the encouragement of her family and the many people who have supported her throughout her life.

Growing up in Kamikawa, Hokkaido, she became interested in ski jumping through her father, her brother, who is four years older, and other people around her.

Her mother prepared family meals, while her grandmother helped shape her appreciation of personal grooming and dressing neatly. Izumi Yamada, one of the ski jumpers she admired as a child, later became a figure who supported her development as a coach.

During an appearance on the Japanese television programme Sakurai & Ariyoshi THE Yakai, broadcast on 7 May 2026, Takanashi also shared some unexpected details about her family's background.

Her family had run a fish shop, and her parents had also operated a 7-Eleven convenience store. That background offers an interesting connection to the fish dishes and Hokkaido-style meals she remembers fondly from childhood.

The programme also discussed her older brother's employment at Japanese broadcaster TBS.

The siblings had appeared together on television around the time of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, and footage from that period was revisited in the 2026 programme.

From the relatives who encouraged her to start ski jumping to the family meals and personal values she remembers from childhood, these relationships remain an important part of her story.

Hokkaido continues to hold a special place in her heart despite the amount of time she spends overseas.

In a 2026 interview, she spoke about wanting to place her Olympic bronze medal around her grandparents' necks. She also hoped to show the medal to the people at a local restaurant she had visited as an elementary school student.

For an athlete whose achievements are celebrated internationally, the desire to share a special moment with people from her hometown is a touching reminder of the relationships behind her success.

Winning Olympic Bronze Alongside Her Teammates in 2026

The mixed-team bronze medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics marked a particularly meaningful chapter in Takanashi's career.

At the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, she had experienced the disappointment of being disqualified during the mixed-team event because of a ski suit regulation violation.

During the difficult period that followed, she considered stepping away from the sport. Encouragement from those around her, including letters from fans, helped her find the motivation to continue.

Four years later, she competed in the mixed-team event alongside Nozomi Maruyama, Ryoyu Kobayashi and Ren Nikaido.

Her teammates offered encouragement as she prepared to jump.

Takanashi drew confidence from Maruyama's performance, while Kobayashi stayed close to her as they travelled towards the jumping hill in the gondola. Nikaido also reassured her with words of encouragement, telling her that he would do his part for the team.

In a subsequent interview with the Japanese Olympic Committee, Takanashi also spoke warmly about Yuki Ito, describing the supportive presence she brought to the wider team.

Takanashi had previously found team competitions particularly difficult because of the pressure she placed on herself. Through shared training and stronger relationships, however, she developed a greater sense of trust and enjoyment in competing alongside others.

Returning to the Olympic podium as part of a team after the disappointment of Beijing was therefore a significant milestone in her long sporting career.

Takanashi has also shared glimpses of her everyday personality through conversations with athletes from other sports.

In 2023, she discussed makeup, personal presentation and athletic preparation with former footballer Tomoaki Makino. In 2025, she spoke with former table tennis star Kasumi Ishikawa about Olympic experiences, life abroad, food, hot springs and photography.

The conversations reveal shared experiences among elite athletes while also showing how naturally their discussions can turn towards everyday pleasures and interests.

On 8 October 2026, Sara Takanashi celebrated her 30th birthday.

From starting ski jumping as an elementary school student to winning 63 World Cup events and standing on Olympic podiums, she has experienced remarkable success and difficult setbacks while competing at the highest level for many years.

Over that time, her attitudes towards beauty, health and daily life have also developed.

She discovered the joy of makeup in early adulthood, learned to cook and create a comfortable home while living overseas, and gradually developed a more flexible approach to looking after her physical condition.

In 2026, she also spoke about her ambition to return to the podium at the next World Championships.

Her achievements have already secured a place in ski jumping history, yet she continues exploring new goals, maintaining meaningful relationships and finding enjoyment in everyday life.

It is this combination of sporting determination, curiosity and ordinary human warmth that makes her story so compelling.

Conclusion: Sara Takanashi's Beauty and Wellness Habits Reflect a Life of Balance and Growth

Looking at Sara Takanashi's beauty and wellness habits reveals an athlete who values both the demands of professional sport and the pleasures of everyday life.

The female athletes she admired as a teenager inspired her interest in makeup and fashion. Over time, beauty became a personal enjoyment and a way of preparing herself to face each day with confidence.

Her skincare routine has included moisturising and UV-related products suited to an outdoor lifestyle, along with careful attention to her feet and the physical sensations important in ski jumping.

Her food preferences reflect the importance of Japanese rice, miso soup and familiar home cooking, while past habits such as drinking amazake and planning snacks around competitions reveal the practical details of life as an elite athlete.

Favourite fragrances, film photography, reading, hot springs and walks through the Slovenian countryside show a quieter side of her character.

Her approach to sleep and daily routines has also evolved with age, allowing her to respond more flexibly to her condition and the changing demands of competition.

Throughout it all, she has continued learning from training, appreciating the support of her family and teammates, and working towards new sporting goals.

Sara Takanashi combines the determination required to compete at the highest level with a genuine appreciation for beauty, personal interests and the people around her. As she enters a new chapter in her thirties, both her sporting journey and the everyday life behind it remain fascinating to follow.