Retail & Shopping · Practical guide
DAISO
100-Yen Shopping, Self-Checkout & Best Buys
What to expect, how it works, payment details, and common mistakes — in one place.
Quick Facts
Last checked against official information: 2026-11-10.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Japanese name | ダイソー (Daiso) |
| Category | Retail & Shopping / Variety Retail Store |
| Store Count | Over 3,800 stores across all 47 prefectures in Japan, plus locations across 26 countries worldwide (Store Locator) |
| Ordering Style | Self-service retail shopping basket; self-checkout kiosks (or staffed cashiers) with barcode scanning and on-screen payment selection (DAISO One-Price Concept) |
| Membership Required? | No membership, registration, or ID required |
| Approximate Price Range | Base price of ¥100 per item (¥110 tax-included with 10% consumption tax; items without a price tag are ¥100). Higher-tier items (¥200, ¥300, ¥500, up to ¥1,000) have clear tax-inclusive price tags printed directly on the product |
| Payment Methods | Varies by store; generally accepts cash, credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, etc.), transit IC cards, electronic money (iD, QUICPay, Rakuten Edy, WAON, nanaco), and QR code payments (PayPay, Rakuten Pay, d-barai, au PAY, Merpay, etc.); search filters available on the store locator |
| Multilingual Support | Self-checkout kiosk screens support multiple languages (English, Chinese, Korean, etc.); packaging frequently features English product descriptions and illustrations |
What it is
DAISO (ダイソー), operated by Daiso Industries Co., Ltd. (Daiso-Sangyo), is Japan's most ubiquitous 100-yen variety store chain with over 3,800 locations across all 47 prefectures and a presence in 26 countries worldwide. It offers an immense selection of affordable household goods, stationery, kitchenware, beauty items, electronics accessories, and traditional Japanese souvenirs. Most items are priced at a uniform ¥100 (¥110 with tax), while select higher-value products clearly display separate price tags. With intuitive self-checkout registers featuring multilingual interfaces, DAISO is an essential, budget-friendly stop for tourists looking for travel essentials and gifts.
How to shop
Shopping at DAISO is self-service retail with automated self-checkout registers:
- Grab a shopping basket at the entrance: Baskets and shopping carts are stacked right inside the front doors.
- Browse the aisles and check product price tags: Any item without a separate price sticker or printed price badge is standard ¥100 (which rings up at ¥110 with 10% tax). If an item costs ¥200, ¥300, ¥500, or more, it will have a prominent price badge directly on the front of the packaging.
- Head to the self-checkout kiosks (serufu-reji): Follow the queuing lines to an open self-checkout terminal.
- Select your language on the screen: Tap the English, Chinese, or Korean language button in the upper corner of the monitor.
- Select shopping bags: Japan charges a small mandatory fee for disposable plastic shopping bags (usually ¥2–¥5). The screen will ask how many shopping bags you need; select the quantity or tap "No Bag" if you brought your own tote.
- Scan item barcodes and complete payment: Hold the barcode of each product in front of the optical scanner. When finished scanning, tap the payment button, select your payment method (cash, credit card, transit IC, or QR code app), insert or tap your payment, and pack your items at the bagging counter.
Services & options
All product categories below are verified on the DAISO Official Website and the Company Product Information:
- Authentic Japanese Souvenirs: Folding fans (sensu), Japanese tenugui cotton hand towels, wooden chopstick sets, Mt. Fuji-themed stationery, and origami paper sets; standard ¥110 tax-included.
- Travel Essentials & Luggage Organizers: Compression packing cubes, luggage tags, TSA-approved travel bottles, inflatable neck pillows, and universal travel adapter plugs; priced from ¥110–¥330–¥550 tax-included.
- Stationery & Washi Tapes: High-quality Japanese ballpoint and brush pens, grid notebooks, character stickers, and decorative washi masking tapes; standard ¥110 tax-included.
- Bento & Kitchen Gadgets: Rice ball (onigiri) shaping molds, hard-boiled egg timers, silicone food divider cups, and vegetable cutters; standard ¥110 tax-included.
- Japanese Snacks & Green Tea: Travel-friendly packaged rice crackers (senbei), matcha candy, roasted green tea (hojicha) bags, and dried seaweed snacks; priced at standard ¥100 base (taxed at the 8% reduced rate = ¥108).
Payment & practical info
Prices and details checked: September 2026.
Payment methods and accepted cards vary significantly between standalone street stores and shopping mall tenants:
- Accepted Payment Methods: Many locations accept cash, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, etc.), transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, etc.), e-money (iD, QUICPay, WAON, nanaco), and QR code apps (PayPay is the most widely supported). Always verify payment acceptance icons at the register or via the DAISO Store Locator.
- Tax-Free Status: Available only at designated tax-free stores. DAISO publishes no chain-wide rule by store format, so do not assume a branch participates (or does not) from whether it is a street store or inside a mall — check the official store page or ask at the store, and look for the Tax-Free emblem.
- Plastic Bag Fee: Japan requires a nominal charge for single-use plastic bags. Bring an eco-bag or purchase bags on-screen at checkout.
- Wi-Fi & Power Outlets: In-store public Wi-Fi and power outlets are not provided.
Good to know / Common mistakes
- Expecting the register total to be exactly ¥100 per item: In Japan, sales tax is calculated at checkout. Standard items cost ¥100 before tax, meaning your final price is ¥110 (10% standard consumption tax). Food and beverage items carry the 8% reduced tax rate, totaling ¥108.
- Overlooking higher price tags on premium goods: DAISO sells items at ¥200, ¥300, ¥500, and up to ¥1,000. Always check the packaging: if there is no price sticker, it is ¥100; if there is a price sticker, that is the actual price.
- Assuming all locations accept the exact same cashless methods: Payment terminals vary by store landlord. Some smaller or older branches only accept cash and PayPay. Check entrance stickers or the online locator.
- Assuming tax-free at the till: Most DAISO branches do not offer tax-free service; it is limited to designated stores, so check before you fill a basket.
FAQ
Q1: How much do items actually cost at DAISO in Japan? Items without a price tag cost ¥100 before tax, which equals ¥110 tax-included for general goods (10% tax) or ¥108 for food and drinks (8% tax). Products priced at ¥200, ¥300, ¥500, or ¥1,000 have distinct price stickers.
Q2: Can I get tax-free shopping at DAISO? Tax-free shopping is offered only at designated stores. There is no chain-wide rule based on store format, so check the official store listing or ask at the branch before you shop.
Q3: Can I pay with credit cards or transit IC cards? Payment options vary by location, but most modernized branches equipped with self-checkout kiosks accept credit cards, transit IC cards (Suica/PASMO), and PayPay, alongside Japanese cash.
Sources
- DAISO Official Website: https://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/ (Verified: 2026-09-13)
- DAISO Official Store Locator: https://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/shop (Verified: 2026-09-13)
- DAISO One-Price Philosophy & Information: https://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/company/oneprice (Verified: 2026-09-13)