Daiso, 3Coins, Can Do 2026: Japan's ¥100 / ¥300 shop guide — what to actually buy
Japan's ¥100 yen shops are unlike most "dollar stores" elsewhere in the world — the quality is consistently good, the variety is overwhelming (10,000-30,000 items per store), and the Japanese-design aesthetic on everyday items has made them a tourist destination in their own right. The chains: Daiso (~3,400 stores, the largest), Can Do (~1,000 stores), Seria (~1,800 stores, design-focused), Watts (~750 stores). 3 Coins is the ¥300 variant — higher quality, more design-focused, often more interesting for tourists. Tax-free typically does NOT apply (¥100-¥300 per item × ¥5,000 threshold = need 17-50 items per receipt, rare for tourists). The killer category: Japanese-themed souvenirs that look more expensive than they are.
TL;DR
- Daiso ~3,400 stores, mostly ¥100 with some ¥150-¥500 items
- 3 Coins = ¥300 shop variant, more upscale design
- Can Do, Seria, Watts = competing ¥100 chains
- Tax-free: typically not applied (rarely reach ¥5,000 single-store threshold)
- Must-buy categories: Japanese-themed souvenirs, kitchen tools, stationery, beauty
- Quality: surprisingly good for everyday items; not great for premium versions
- Best location: Daiso Harajuku (largest Tokyo flagship, 5 floors)
The chains
Daiso (ダイソー)
- Stores: ~3,400 across Japan
- Pricing: most items ¥100, some ¥150 / ¥200 / ¥300 / ¥500
- Strengths: largest selection, most-iconic chain, biggest flagship stores
- Famous Tokyo store: Daiso Harajuku — 5 floors of merchandise, the tourist magnet
- Vibe: every product imaginable, the "Walmart of ¥100"
Can Do (キャンドゥ)
- Stores: ~1,000
- Pricing: ¥100 base
- Strengths: similar to Daiso, sometimes slightly different selection
- Vibe: feels more "neighborhood store"
Seria (セリア)
- Stores: ~1,800
- Pricing: ¥100 base, occasional ¥200 / ¥300
- Strengths: design-focused — many items have more aesthetic appeal than Daiso
- Vibe: more "modern home goods" rather than utilitarian
- Best for: tourists wanting nicer-looking ¥100 items
Watts (ワッツ)
- Stores: ~750
- Pricing: ¥100 base
- Strengths: smaller, less crowded than Daiso
- Vibe: utilitarian
3 Coins (3コインズ)
- Stores: ~250
- Pricing: ¥300 base, some items ¥500-¥1,500
- Strengths: upscale design — much higher quality per item, more curated selection
- Famous Tokyo store: 3 Coins Shibuya, 3 Coins Harajuku
- Vibe: like a budget Muji or Loft
- Best for: gifts, design-conscious souvenirs
What to actually buy
Tier 1: Cult favorites for tourists
| Item | Chain | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese-pattern washi tape (masking tape) | Daiso, Seria | ¥100 each | Endless designs, popular gifts |
| Sushi-shaped erasers, Japanese stationery | Daiso | ¥100-¥200 | Quirky Japanese-themed souvenirs |
| Furoshiki (wrapping cloth) | Daiso, Seria | ¥100-¥300 | Traditional Japanese gift wrapping |
| Origami paper sets | Daiso, Seria | ¥100 | Educational + cute |
| Tabi-style toe socks | Daiso | ¥100 | Iconic Japanese sock style |
| Cute character pens (Sumikko Gurashi, Pokemon) | Daiso, Can Do | ¥100-¥200 | Gift-worthy |
| Bento boxes | Daiso, Seria | ¥100-¥500 | Functional + cultural |
| Chopsticks (5-pack) | Daiso | ¥100 | Practical Japanese item |
| Matcha + sweet sets | Daiso | ¥100-¥300 | Small Japanese tea-snack |
Tier 2: Kitchen and household
| Item | Approx. price |
|---|---|
| Sushi rolling mat | ¥100-¥200 |
| Tempura strainer | ¥100-¥200 |
| Japanese-style ceramic dishes | ¥100-¥300 |
| Rice scoop | ¥100 |
| Onigiri molds | ¥100 |
| Tea strainers | ¥100 |
| Microwave cooking accessories | ¥100-¥300 |
Tier 3: Beauty and cosmetics
| Item | Approx. price |
|---|---|
| Face masks (1-piece) | ¥100 |
| Cotton pads, cosmetic sponges | ¥100 |
| Eyebrow pencils, mascara | ¥100 |
| Nail files, manicure tools | ¥100 |
| Body soap, shampoo (travel size) | ¥100-¥200 |
Note: ¥100 cosmetics quality varies — for serious cosmetics, see drugstore guide (#107). But basics are fine.
Tier 4: Travel and tech
| Item | Approx. price |
|---|---|
| Phone charging cables (USB-C, Lightning) | ¥100-¥300 |
| Travel-size containers | ¥100-¥200 |
| Eye masks, neck pillows | ¥100-¥300 |
| Earplugs | ¥100 |
| Mini portable batteries | ¥300-¥500 |
| Cable organizers | ¥100 |
Tier 5: Quirky / Instagrammable
Daiso's most-photographed items:
- Sumikko Gurashi everything (the cute character chain)
- Sanrio (Hello Kitty) merchandise — small items
- Pokemon limited-edition stationery
- Japanese-themed phone cases
3 Coins (¥300 shop): when it's worth it
The ¥300 step-up shop is closer to a budget Muji. Worth visiting because:
What's good at ¥300
- Tote bags (¥300-¥1,500): proper canvas bags, gift-worthy
- Phone accessories (¥300-¥800): better-quality cases, stands
- Kitchen aprons, kitchen gloves (¥300-¥800)
- Travel-sized perfumes, organizers (¥300-¥800)
- Higher-end stationery (¥300-¥1,500)
- Cute character bags / accessories (¥300-¥1,500)
The price-quality ratio at ¥300 is sometimes better than ¥100 — items feel more substantial and last longer.
When ¥300 is wrong
If you only need a quick replacement item (a single cotton pad, a single chopstick set), ¥100 is faster and adequate.
Tax-free reality
The ¥5,000 threshold
Tax-free requires ¥5,000+ same-day same-store purchase. At a ¥100 shop, you'd need 50 items to reach this. Possible for big souvenir hauls, but typical tourist visits don't reach the threshold.
When tax-free applies
- Bulk souvenir purchase: 100+ small items for friends back home
- 3 Coins ¥300 shopping: 17+ items
- Premium Daiso categories: ¥500+ items reach threshold faster
What you save
8% tax-free on ¥5,000 = ¥400. Not transformational, but meaningful if you're buying gifts in bulk.
Best Tokyo ¥100 / ¥300 shop locations
Daiso
- Daiso Harajuku (Takeshita-dori): the 5-story tourist flagship, ~20,000 items, biggest selection in Tokyo. Open until 21:00, multi-language signage.
- Daiso Shinjuku Station East Exit: convenient central Tokyo
- Daiso Akihabara: gadget + anime supplies focus
- Daiso Sky Square (Tokyo Sky Tree): tourist-area flagship
3 Coins
- 3 Coins Shibuya Mark City: central Tokyo flagship
- 3 Coins Tokyu Plaza Shinjuku: large variety
- 3 Coins Tokyo Skytree: tourist-friendly
Can Do / Seria / Watts
- Spread across Tokyo, less destination-focused
- Useful for filling gaps in your shopping list
Payment
Cash
Always works.
Credit card / IC card / PayPay / Apple Pay
Yes at all major chains since 2020+. Smaller stores might still be cash-preferred.
Tax-free counter
Usually a dedicated counter at flagship stores (Daiso Harajuku, etc.). At smaller branches, the regular cashier handles tax-free if you reach the threshold.
Common mistakes
① "¥100 shop quality is poor"
For Japanese ¥100 chains, the quality is genuinely good for everyday items. Not premium quality, but adequate for most uses.
② "¥100 shop ≈ dollar store at home"
Not really. Japanese ¥100 shops have far more variety (10,000+ items), Japanese-design aesthetics, and consistent quality control.
③ "I'll skip Daiso since I have similar at home"
Skip the household-basics tier (which may be similar to your home country's). Focus on Japanese-themed items that are genuinely cool souvenirs.
④ "I'll find tax-free at every Daiso"
Only at large flagship branches do you reliably get tax-free service. Small Daiso branches usually don't offer it.
⑤ "3 Coins is just Daiso × 3"
Not really. 3 Coins is curated more like Muji — fewer items, but each more design-focused.
Worked example: souvenir haul
A typical "Japanese gift run" at Daiso Harajuku:
| Item | Quantity | Price each | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumikko Gurashi pens | 8 (for friends) | ¥100 | ¥800 |
| Hello Kitty notepad | 3 | ¥100 | ¥300 |
| Washi tape sets | 5 | ¥100 | ¥500 |
| Origami paper sets | 4 | ¥100 | ¥400 |
| Japanese-pattern wallet | 1 | ¥300 | ¥300 |
| Furoshiki wrapping cloth | 3 | ¥200 | ¥600 |
| Tabi socks | 6 pairs | ¥100 | ¥600 |
| Bento box | 1 | ¥200 | ¥200 |
| Onigiri mold | 1 | ¥100 | ¥100 |
| Total | ¥3,800 |
For ¥3,800 (under tax-free threshold), you have 30 Japan-themed gifts plus a few for yourself. Per-gift cost ~¥130. Excellent souvenir efficiency.
Cultural notes
Shopping pace
¥100 shops in tourist areas (Daiso Harajuku) can be crowded. Saturday afternoon is genuine chaos. Off-peak: weekday morning 10:00-11:00.
Stacking
Customers grab baskets and walk through the floors picking items. The cashier scans everything at the end.
Tax-free vs regular checkout
If you're under ¥5,000, just check out at the regular register. ¥5,000+ takes 2-3 extra minutes for tax-free processing.
Practical playbook
- Visit Daiso Harajuku for biggest selection (especially after lunch at Takeshita-dori)
- Add 3 Coins for higher-quality souvenirs
- Bring ¥5,000-¥10,000 in cash + IC card
- Plan: ~30-60 minutes per shop
- Goal: 30+ gift items for friends + 5-10 personal items
- Photograph items at a few places to remember what you bought
Related
- #88 Tax-free shopping walkthrough
- #89 Consumption tax explained
- #107 Drugstore cosmetics shopping
- #101 Harajuku money guide
Last verified 2026-05-19. ¥100 shop chains expand and contract; specific store inventory rotates seasonally.