Most homes in Tokyo have products from 100-yen shops. These stores are a great help to those who lead busy lives. Popular 100-yen shops like Daiso and Seria stock almost everything anyone could need. Those who frequent these low-price stores often intend to buy only the bare necessities, only to leave with a shopping bag full of unnecessary items.

However, not all products at 100 yen shops are priced at 100 yen. There is a marketing strategy to get customers to buy higher-priced items along with the lower-priced 100 yen items. There are also products priced in multiples of 100 yen, such as 200 yen, 300 yen, 400 yen, and 500 yen. The important thing to remember when shopping at a 100 yen shop is to have an eye for determining whether the product is worth the price, regardless of the price range.

12 Must-Buy Items at 100 Yen Shops

1. Chopsticks, utensils, or bowls

In terms of quality, most of the products seem to be of standard quality, but they are also inexpensive and, above all, have great designs.

2. Notebooks, notepads, and paper clips

You can choose from a wide variety of designs to suit any age group, and the prices are lower than other stores.

3. Kitchen items from 100-yen shops

There are many products with genius ideas, and a wide range of kitchen items that can meet your needs. Many innovative kitchen items, such as frying pan cover racks and cup holders that attach to the bottom of shelves, are definitely worth trying. Space dividers, such as vegetable holders and bowl stacking holders, are genius and essential items for making your kitchen more beautiful and tidy.

4.Coloring books, sticker books and other fun activity notebooks for toddlers

There are many. Many children's toys are expensive and can quickly become unusable, so 100 yen toys are easy to use because you can easily replace them if they break.

5. birthday balloons

I highly recommend it. Just ask the staff at the counter and they will inflate the balloons for you, so give it a try.

6. Art Paper

If you need many different patterns in a small quantity, art paper is the best choice. Large 100-yen shops often have sections dedicated to crafts and DIY projects, which are fun to browse. 100-yen shops are a budget-friendly option for those who want to start something new.

7.  Gift wrap, gift boxes, lunch boxes, picnic boxes

We have a variety of designs to suit your mood and style.

8.Hairpins, travel cosmetic bottles

This is a great option for people who travel on long vacations and office workers who travel frequently.

9.Tissue

Consumables like tissues that you can carry with you when you're out can be purchased at half the price of drugstores.

10. Floor mopping

They are very easy to use, and although the number of sheets varies depending on the brand, most products are sold for 100 yen.

11.Wire hanger

They're not the highest quality, but they're useful if you have a lot of stock. Wire hangers can be used for more than just hanging clothes: by simply bending them in different directions, you can create plant hangers, photo frames, paper towel holders, frying pan lid holders, belt hangers, and other handy gadgets.

12.Princess Aroma Bath

Although it doesn't have much efficacy, it's popular with children because it foams up in the bathtub.

14 Items You Should Ignore at 100 Yen Shops

While 100 yen shops have some great products, there are also some products that are better purchased at supermarkets or drugstores.

1.  toothbrush

You can buy one for 100 yen, but it's not very durable and you'll likely have to replace it soon. It's better to spend a little more and buy a more durable toothbrush.

2.  Pens and markers

The ink runs out quickly. The colors of the crayons are also poor, so they are not very popular. The pencils also break easily, so it is better to consider purchasing products from famous Japanese brands.

3.  towel

Most are made of synthetic materials and don't absorb much moisture, so they're not very soft. Face towels are the worst because they're very rough on the skin.

4.  Cosmetics

It's incredibly cheap, but since it's something you apply directly to your skin, don't skimp and buy a good product! Finding a brand you can trust and that suits your skin will give you better results in the end.

5.  Soaps and lotions

Skin care products can also cause irritation.

6.  Hair clips and bands

The flashy hair clips and bands you see at the dollar store may look appealing at first glance, but you'll need courage to actually wear them.

7.  pillow

Although this is a pricey item among 100 yen shop products, be careful as it may interfere with your sleep.

8.  sucker

Suction cups used to hang things on walls may have weak adhesive power and may be useless.

9. 100 yen drinks

You can buy them at supermarkets for 75-90 yen, so there's no need to buy them at the 100 yen shop. The candy is sold in tiny packs, but they're not actually that tasty.

10. Knives, razors

All cutting tools can be dull and difficult to use. We strongly recommend purchasing a knife and scissors from stores like Nitori or Ikea.

11.  Masking tape, Scotch tape

It is not sticky enough and should not be used for taping boxes etc. as the box may easily collapse if heavy items are placed inside.

12.  Women's Stockings

The material is so thin that it wears out quickly. It will soon fray and you will need to buy a new one.

13.  Car fragrance

The scent may be lost within a few days.

14.  Foldable Laundry Cloth Basket

It sells for 200 yen, but the wire breaks or pops out when you put something even slightly heavy in it. Especially with winter clothes, which are bulky overall, this kind of basket is almost useless and causes a lot of trouble.

I hope you learned what to buy and what not to buy at 100 yen shops. In the end, we end up buying too much, so it's questionable whether 100 yen shops are really good for our wallets, but such a shopping experience makes life more enjoyable. Shopping is fun, but before you buy something, think carefully about whether you actually need it.

Tricia, Philippines

This article has been partially re-edited by KARUTA from an article originally published in "Guidable."
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