Display of sponges at Daiso. Photo by Jalapeño

¥100 stores are the Japanese version of Pound shops and Dollar stores, ie. places full of cheap tat. But this is cheap Japanese tat and thus awesome. Daiso is the best known brand of ¥100 stores and you’ll find them all over the place.

They ‘re similar to the Western format with kitchenware, food and drinks, toys, fashion accessories, toiletries and sewing supplies all on offer. The kitchenware section has some great bento accessories and lots of pretty traditional style bowls and cups which make nice little gifts. You’ll also find loads of cute stationery, including things like household accounts books, colouring books and memo pads, along with novelty erasers and little bags and envelopes for packaging gifts, plus hairclips, bags and toys.

Have a good rummage though – you really never know what might turn up! Some of my finds include a little bunny for cleaning your glasses, cute fuzzy bears for holding heat packs, Miffy salt and pepper shakers and kitchen sponges with happy faces.

At larger stores your purchases will be put in another basket along with a carrier bag – take it all over to the Packing Station to pack your goods at your own speed, with free newspaper to wrap your breakables.

If you’re on a budget, Daiso is a great place to pick up some fun souvenirs and gifts at bargain prices, or just to see how the Japanese can cute up even the most boring of household items.

Notepads – orange kitty and watermelon pig!

Hello Kitty cake!

Apple sponge and bear hot pack cover.

Daiso, Harajuku. Photo by wakarimasen82

How to get there

The Harajuku branch is on Takeshita Dori, the teenage fashion street of Harajuku. It’s very easy to find – just take the Takeshita exit from JR Harajuku Station (on the Yamanote Line) and shops start directly opposite. If in doubt, just follow the teenagers! Daiso is a few hundred yards along on the left.

There is also a branch in Sunshine City, Ikebukuro (see my Sunshine City post for directions) and lots of smaller stores in shopping arcades across Japan.

Daiso is also expanding across the globe, with stores all over the US, plus JapanCentre in London has a range of  items.

Last updated: 23 April 2011

[Daiso photo by trulicami on Flickr]

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All content in this blog post is by Marceline Smith, unless stated otherwise. Licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.

Posted by Marceline Smith on Thursday, December 6th, 2007 at 4:51 pm in Japan, Tokyo Shopping Guide.