10 Must-Buy Items From Japan's 100 Yen Shops!

 

 

1. Travel Storage Case

Do you want to travel for a night or two without carrying a bulky and heavy luggage case? Or have you done some shopping during your travels and need an extra case? Whatever the reason, this compact travel case can fit in tight spaces when folded and can store up to 6 T-shirts and 5 pants when unfolded. With a height of 11.5 cm, a width of 41 cm, and a length of 30 cm, you don't need to worry about it taking up much space. It's simple and lightweight design is perfect for travelers or anyone on the go. 

2.  Regular or Inflatable Neck Pillows

Speaking of travel, are you in need of a neck pillow but don't want to pay those high prices at the airports? For only 300 yen at Daiso, you can buy a nice regular neck pillow with a soft cotton outer layer. The regular neck pillows also have a lock button in the front, so you don't have to worry about it sliding off while you are snoozing. Seria or Daiso also sells inflatable neck pillows for only 100 yen. Inflate them when you want to use them, and deflate them when you're done - super space-efficient. 

3. Wacky Eye Masks

If you're going to buy a neck pillow, you might as well grab an eye mask while you're at it. Have some fun and purchase these Japanese animated eye masks. Whether if you're into anime, cute animals, or not, you will find an eye mask best for you (they also sell plain ones).

4. Cute Socks

No one likes cold feet, so keep those toes warm with these adorable and fashionable socks. Daiso has a wide variety of sock designs ranging from animal prints, simple striped or checkered patterns, solid colors, emoji and much more. They also come in different thicknesses and textures to meet your fashion needs. If you have kids, Seria sells kid-size socks with Disney prints as well.

5. Adorable Hand-held Fans

Going along with this adorable theme, what about these mini fans? What's neat is that they have a two-way design. If you're on the go, you can carry it with the hand bar or if you want to stay put, you can make it into a stand. These fans are run by AA LR6 batteries, which can be found in practically any convenience store. The box comes with a simple to follow how-to-use directions in Japanese, English, and Spanish.

6. Compact Umbrellas

Don't let unexpected weather ruin your travels. Instead of swinging by a convenient store and purchasing a long umbrella that is inconvenient to carry around, go to a 100 yen store to buy a compact umbrella. Its small size can fit into backpacks, large purses, travel cases, etc. It also comes with a matching cover case, to avoid water drippings everywhere you go. Well-known store outlets such as Tokyu Hands or Don Quijote cannot offer this type of bargain, as their umbrella prices usually start around 3,000 yen to 7,000 yen!

7. Bug Spray & Wipes

Daiso's insect repellent wet sheets contain natural plant-derived ingredients. It is non-alcoholic, DEET free, paraben-free, etc., making it safe to use on children and those with sensitive skin. It also has a refreshing mint scent! The mini bug spray is compact and easy to carry, however, it does not contain all-natural ingredients, so use it with caution on children. 

8. Egg Timers

Have you ever struggled in trying to cook an egg perfectly? Well, Japan has solved your problem in an adorably cute (and clever, might I add) way. This is not your average kitchen timer that beeps when a certain amount of time has passed. You place the egg timer into the boiling water with the eggs! For this specific egg timer, the yellow portion of the gradually shrinks as you let it sit in the boiling water; letting you know the firmness of the actual egg yolk. For example, if you wanted to make a hard-boiled egg, you would wait until the yellow portion of the egg timer either completely disappears or shrinks into a small circle around the word 'Hard'. Different versions with different colors are also sold. To give you an idea of how they work, check out the video posted below. Once you get the hang of it, you can also make a 'hot spring' egg with this egg timer; which is a delicacy in Japanese cuisine.

9. Humidifier (& Night Light)

Have you ever worried about not having a humidifier during your travels? Or just need one in general? Japan has you covered, (and of course) with a little added cuteness. These mini humidifiers just need 30 mL of water and can last up to 4 hours. A USB cable is included so you can conveniently plug it into your laptop or any other port. The animal series has a bear, panda, and rabbit. They can also light up, so you can use them as a night light too! Outside of this series, there are other humidifier designs as well. Some are shaped like fruits, cats, whales, or simple modern boxes. Depending on the humidifier some have different features. For example, you can add liquid aroma into the modern box humidifier to make your place have a lovely scent.　

10. Bluetooth Earphones

Bluetooth earphones at a 100 yen store?? Yes, we are now living in a day and age where this is possible. Listen to music, watch YouTube videos, or talk on the phone - all hands-free. These earphones work with both apple and android products (iOS 6.0 or higher; Android 4.3 or higher) and are compatible with Bluetooth 4.1+ERD-compliant devices. It can also connect to devices up to 10 meters away. A USB cable for charging is included - all of this for only 300 yen. The only shortcoming is that usage time lasts for about an hour. But hey, it's only 300 yen, can't complain right?

 

Check Out These Great Products at Your Nearest 100 Yen Shop!

There you have it! 10 recommended goodies sold at 100 yen stores across Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and more. What do you think? Are you ready to go shopping at some 100 yen stores? The stores referenced for this article were: Daiso, Seria, and Can-do. However, there are other 100 yen store brands out there such as Watts, Natural Kitchen, Orange Terra, etc. Be sure to check those out as well. Who knows, you might score on a great product that you always wanted! 

Header image: PIXTA