Have you heard of Japanese 100 yen stores? It’s the equivalent of dollar stores in the United States, and as its name implies, Japanese 100 yen shops are exactly that: shops that sell items at only 100 yen. The biggest 100 yen stores in Japan are Daiso and Cando, but you’d be surprised that even a convenience store like Lawson has its own 100-yen store called Lawson 100. Read on to find out what 100 yen shops are there in Japan, what you can get at these shops, and what are the best things to get. 

Jump to:

• What is a 100 yen shop?
• What 100 yen shops are there in Japan?
• Japanese 300 Yen Stores
• What can you buy at 100 yen shops?
• What are the best things to buy at 100 yen shops?
• Conclusion

What is a 100 yen shop?

In Japan, 100 yen shops are called “百均 hyakkin”, also displayed as “100均”.  As its name suggests, 100 yen shops sell products at 100 yen only. They’re a great way to budget the living cost in Japan, which is known to be notoriously high. Note that this price is excluding tax. With tax inclusive, each item is actually 110 yen as the consumption tax rate in Japan from 2021 onwards is 10%. 

Aside from 100 yen plus tax-only items, many 100 yen shops in Japan also sell limited “premium” items at higher prices. This can range from 200 yen to 600 yen. These items are usually marked with a special price sticker to alert customers of the price difference. 

What 100 yen shops are there in Japan?

Daiso is definitely the most famous 100 yen shop in Japan. Daiso shops can be found almost everywhere in Japan but especially in major city centers, there are also neighborhood smaller scale Daiso stores but these are reducing in number as they are forced to close down, a reflection of the economic suffering that Japan is facing post-Covid. 

Aside from Daiso, other popular 100 yen shops in Japan include:

• CanDo 
• Seria 
• Watts 
• Flet’s
• Lawson Store 100

Each of them has its own charms and product designs. It is not unusual for someone to have a favorite 100 yen shop whilst boasting its better quality, better-designed items, and spacious classier stores compared to the other stores. 

Japanese ¥300 Shops

With the same concept as 100 yen shops, Japan also has several 300 yen shops. The most popular is 3 Coins. Compared to 100 yen shops, the quality and make of products are higher, as it should be, and there is also a wider range of products available. Likewise, the 10% consumption tax also applies, so the final price will be 330 yen for 300 yen items. 

Aside from 3 Coins, other 300 yen shops in Japan include: 

• THREEPPY
• CouCou
• Mikazuki Momoko 300
• Illusie300

What can you buy at 100 yen shops?

As we mentioned above, there is a wide range of products available at 100 yen shops. Generally, most 100 yen shops sell the same types of items but some of them are unique compared to their other 100 yen counterparts. 

The most classic example is Lawson Store 100, which is run by one of the big-name convenience store chains in Japan, Lawson. Lawson Store 100 stands out because they mostly sell food and grocery items, including fresh vegetables, meat products, canned food, bread, snacks, etc. at 100 yen plus tax. 

Here are the common categories of products you can buy at 100 yen shops:

1. Kitchen and Household Goods

Japanese 100 yen shops are the best place to buy essential kitchen and household goods, especially when you have first moved to Japan or moved to a new place. 

For kitchen items, you can get everything from chopsticks, forks & spoons, bowls & plates, glasses & mugs, pots & pans, spatulas, spice containers, etc. 

As for household goods, they have everything you need, and even stuff that you did not know you needed but must get now! There are trash bags, fridge magnet hooks, storage containers, dehumidifiers, cleaning supplies, bathroom supplies, drain nets, etc. 

2. Stationery and Office Supplies

100 yen shops are stocked with notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, and other common stationery items. As for office supplies, files, folders, paperweights, post-its, and paperclips, are also available. Do keep in mind that buying these items at 100 yen shops is not necessarily cheaper. Depending on the brand, there may be cheaper options at actual stationery shops, like pens and pencils for example. However, if there is a 100 yen shop near your home, school or workplace, consider the extra cost as the price for convenience. 

3. Gardening Supplies 

Gardening is quite a popular hobby in Japan. Walking around the neighborhoods here, you can come across houses with beautiful flowers and sometimes even fruits, or a mini vegetable plot run by the neighborhood community. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that gardening supplies are sold at 100 yen shops. Aside from gardening tools like spades, trowels, shears, and gardening gloves, you can also find vegetable and flower seeds, garden hoses, and storm protection covers for the typhoon season. 

4. Hobbies and DIY

Many 100 yen shops have a section dedicated to DIY and hobby products. Colorful yarn & thread for knitting & sewing, beads & crystals for making jewelry, cupcake molds & pie pans for baking, soft clay and playdough for sculpting, and so on. They even sell sports items like hand grips, fitness balls, and badminton racquets, and games like trump cards, Othello, chess sets.

5. Beauty & Cosmetics

Recently there has been an increase in beauty and cosmetic products in 100 yen stores. Hair ties, scrunchies, and hairpins are of course available, but beauty products like eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, nail polish, etc. can be found too, and in Daiso! Many people are, with good reason, concerned about the quality and safety of using such cheap cosmetics but they actually come with good reviews! We do recommend that people with sensitive skin do an allergy skin test first. Other things you can find in this section include cushion puffs, makeup brushes & cleaners, compact powders, and nail art stickers. 

6. Food & Drinks

Snacks, sweets, and drinks are commonplace at 100 yen shops. You may think 100 yen is too expensive for a small chocolate bar, which is why 100 yen for 3 sweets or 100 yen for 2 drinks are common at 100 yen shops. Bigger-sized shops may also sell household staple items like soy sauce, mirin, sake, miso paste, spices, etc. 

Going to a supermarket is usually preferred, but if you only need one item and just happened to drop by a 100 yen shop, it is very convenient. And, as we mentioned above, in the case of Lawson Store 100, many people who live nearby would frequent it as they would a regular supermarket. Some Lawson Store 100s even sell hot food items like yakiimo (roasted sweet potato) and croquettes, reminiscent of its convenience store counterpart. 

7. Seasonal Items

And saving the best for last, seasonal items is one of the best charms of 100 yen shops. Whether it is the changing of Japan’s four seasons or the celebration of events, the front of a 100 yen shop is a great way to tell something fun and exciting is approaching. When passing by a 100 yen shop and noticing that something has changed, one cannot help but enter to explore.

Here are some examples of seasonal items throughout a year at Japanese 100 yen shops: 

• Spring: Lots of cherry blossom-themed items appear of course, but 100 yen shops will also stock up on picnic mats and picnic-related goods (paper cups, paper plates, disposable chopsticks, etc.) because it is the season for cherry blossom viewing, aka hanami. 
• Summer: Products to help you cool down (cool wipes, handheld fans, cool handkerchiefs, etc.), products to ward off bugs (bug spray, bug repellent, mosquito coil and its holder, etc.), and classic Japanese summer decorations (windchimes, etc.) 
• Autumn & Winter: Products to keep you warm (gloves, warm socks, warm hats, scarves, earmuffs, etc.) 
• Celebrations: For Halloween, dress-up masks or headbands, and spooky Halloween decorations. For Valentine’s, ingredients to make homemade chocolate and cute wrapping for it, there are also easy DIY chocolate sets with instructions to make homemade chocolate for a special gift filled with love. For Christmas, festive decorations include Santa hats, shiny tinsel, Christmas trees, and wreaths.

What are the best things to buy at 100 yen shops?

Here are some recommendations for what we think are the best things to get at 100 yen shops. 

Character Goods

Sanrio (Hello Kitty, Pompompurin, Cinnamoroll), Peanut (Snoopy), Disney (Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse & Friends, etc.) and other corporations love doing collaborations with 100 yen shops. It can be notebooks, scrunchies, pouches, calendars, stickers, bento boxes, really anything goes! Official merchandise for these is usually quite pricey so it is a great opportunity to get your favorite character merch for cheap, only 100 yen plus tax! 

If you know someone who loves a particular character and spot something here, it will definitely make for a wonderful surprise present! 

Microwave Cooking Utensils

Cooking can be a hassle, but not with a microwave! Daiso, in particular, has designed a line of microwave cooking utensils. The line includes tools for cooking pasta, udon noodles, perfect onsen tamago (soft-boiled eggs), rice, vegetables, and sunny-side-up eggs with only a microwave! It is recommended for people who are too lazy to cook but want to eat healthy or those who want to cut down on cooking time. 

Camping Goods

Yes, 100 yen shops sell camping goods, especially in the summer season. Camping goods can be expensive, especially branded ones that you hope to last long or if your goal is to go glamping in Japan. For frequent campers, investing in high-quality camping goods is, in the long run, an excellent decision, but for first-time campers who are not sure whether it will be a continuing activity or the occasional camper, something cheap that works are probably good enough.

Do not expect full-blown tents and sleeping bags. By camping goods, we mean camping chairs, foldable compact tables, barbecue grates, cooking tools for camping, water tank, bonfire stands, hammocks and camping ropes.

Bento Making Items

Bento is a part of everyday life in Japanese culture. It is common to see students bringing bento to school, and adults bringing bento to work. To prepare a classic Japanese bento, the essential items required include a bento box, bento bag or furoshiki (cloth to wrap goods or bento for travel), and utensils, all of which you can acquire at a 100 yen shop. But is that all? 

Those may be the basic essentials for bento-making but there is more to bento culture than meets the eye. Bento accessories include food cups for food separation and available in different shapes and sizes, seasoning or sauce containers for condiments, lunch box belts to make sure your bento and its contents arrive in peace, and food dividers some of which contain anti-bacterial and anti-mold properties. I100 yen shops also sell handy bento tools to help make cute bento; for example, seaweed shape cutters, food molds, and cute food pick. 

Practical Everyday Items

And these are just everyday household items that you can get at supermarkets too but are available at 100 yen shops as well, maybe for cheaper. 

• Dehumidifier 
• Fridge Deodorizer
• Cling Wraps and Aluminium Foil
• Antibacterial Floor Wet Wipes and Dry Wipes
• Trash Bags
• Cleaning Rags
• Vacuum Seal Storage Bag (for travel or storage) 

Conclusion 

Japanese 100 yen shops can be found everywhere in Japan. Not only do they provide affordable goods, it is also a great place for some window shopping. Do be careful when entering a 100 yen shop though, since the prices are so good, you may end up buying way more than you planned!

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