2/14/2007

If you look around Japan, you’ll probably find a few psychedelic colored shops around with a big board in front that says “100 Yen Shop“, with the words Yen in Japanese character. 100 Yen Shops are a big thing in Japan because the goods sold there are all 105 yen (100 yen for the stuff and 5 yen for consumption tax) and at that price, it’s a very very good deal indeed; especially for travellers who are on a budget.

The biggest 100 yen shop is Daiso Giga Machida, which spans five floors and its near the Michida Station (30 minutes, 360 Yen from Shinjuku by Odakyu Railways). Currently, the market leader for 100 yen stores is Daiso and they have over 2000 shops around Japan.

You can buy just about anything except fresh food in these 100 yen shops. Stuff like bowls, cups, chopsticks, spoons, forks, mugs, tools, gardenware, stationaries, socks, slippers, markers, swimming googles, pingpong rackets and balls, etc….yea you get the picture. I am definitely a supporter of 100 yen shop because things like cups are in abundance there. It makes a lot more sense to pay USD1 (which is about the equivalent to 100yen anyway) for one cup than to pay USD3-10 for one cup isn’t it? A cup is a cup, just as a spoon is a spoon.

Well, if you’ve just moved to Japan, i’d suggest you buy your nitty gritty but necessary stuff from the 100 yen store. Don’t buy your pots and pans there though…they’re about as hardy as plastics on fire.

Source: Japan Guide