I had a great experience at Ippatsu. Even though the haircut I was requesting was super simple, my stylist took the time to make sure she understood exactly what I wanted. She offered her recommendations when asked, and explained her rationale for her preference very clearly. She also struck a really great balance with conversation--we didn't sit in silence, but she also didn't feel the need to fill every second with chatter.
My hair turned out exactly as I asked--plus a couple of excellent suggestions from my stylist--and I couldn't be happier. I will definitely go back.