If you are a nut for the Dollar Tree like I am, then you know that dollar stores can be a gold mine for cheap toys and things for every day life. Some dollar stores are a flat fee of $1 for everything, and others offer a range of prices not typically exceeding $5 or $10. After shelling out literally close to $12,000 for a family trip to Japan this year, one could certainly worry about the price tag on taking home souvenirs, so I had to be frugal. Luckily, Japan is full of shops called 100 Yen Stores to save the day.

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What Is a 100 Yen Store?

Like the United States' dollar stores, a 100 Yen Store is essentially just that - a place full of all sorts of wares all for the low low price of 100 Yen.

At the time of this writing, 100 Yen = 73 cents (USD). That's LESS than a dollar for all the "unmarked" things in the store.

The Dollar Tree has recently raised their prices from $1 to $1.25, so to find thousands of items in these 100 Yen Shops for less than $1 is mindblowing.

What Is the Difference Between a 100 Yen Shop and The Dollar Store?

The major difference between the 100 yen stores and the dollar stores at home is the quality of the products. Typically at home in the US dollar stores offer shabbier goods. The toys are great but can often be like cracker jack prizes or happy meal toys.

There is nothing particularly "American" about the goods at American dollar stores, either. At the Japanese 100 yen stores you will find very Japanese things from kawaii cutie toys to offbeat man goods and even better, you will find Japanese housewares and food stuffs that you cannot find in the states cheaply.

How Does Pricing Work in a 100 Yen Store?

Simply put, everything in the store is 100 Yen unless specifically marked otherwise in the top right corner of the product.

You may see things that say 200 yen, 300 yen, and the highest I recall seeing was for 550 yen. At less than $5 USD, that's still a steal.

What Are The Top 100 Yen Shop Brands?

• Daiso

• Seria

• CanDo

What Do 100 Yen Stores Offer?

Buckle up, because the list is crazy! You can literally find anything at these stores, and each one is slightly different than the last.

Souvenirs and Gifts

Stock your goody bags here!

• Fans

• Father's Day Gifts

• Mother's Day Gifts

• Birthday Gifts

• Keep Your Kid Quiet at the Dinner Table Gifts...which leads me to:

Toys

• Kawaii plush toys

• Tiny everything (tiny erasers shaped like food, tiny dolls, etc)

• Dry erase and sticker books

Stationery

• Wedding Cards

• Notebooks

• Origami paper

• Fun writing utensils

Cosmetics and Toiletries

• Toothbrushes

• Make up remover

• Face masks

Purses and Bags

• Phone purses

• Clutch bags

Jewelry and Hair Accessories

• Clips

• Headbands

• Hats

Food and Drink

• Snacks

• Coffee drinks

• Dry goods like ramen

• Spices

• Utensils for kids

• Chopstick helpers (makes a great gift for your kid's daycare class!): get them now on amazon

• Chopsticks of all varieties

• Bento boxes and lunch boxes

Kitchen Items

• Rice bowls

• Soup bowls (get them now on Amazon)

• Sushi plates

• Pots and pans

• Linens

• Sake sets

Very Japanese Items

• Plastic crates with Japanese writing for doll houses

• Various sized tatami mats (we use them as a "traditional Japanese bed" for my daughter's smaller plush toys)

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• Sakura everything - from fake leaves to full on table decor for a party

• Coverings for arms (common to see women wearing these as protection from the sun)

Outdoor Supplies

• Camping gear like flint and steel, fire starting fibers, and other totally specific but very useful items!

• "Men stuff" like grill grates, BBQ tongs, fire resistant gloves and stainless steel soap are common and very fun to look through for gift ideas.

Electronics

• Chargers

• Cables

• Lights

Things to Consider When Shopping at a 100 Yen Store

If you need a bag, expect to pay a bag fee, which is minimal - around 5 cents.

Items are not bagged for you. You must take your shopping basket or items over to a side table to keep the flow of people moving through the cashier lane.

Stores are often multi-level in Japan, so don't assume the floor level is the only part of the store.

Which 100 Yen Stores Are The Best?

The most popular stores are Daiso and Seria, but similar stores include the '3 coins' store, the aptly named '100 yen shop', La