100 yen shops in Japan are the ideal place to shop for the budget conscious.  They stock a wide range of general items and like the name implies, everything is priced at 100 yen.  Well, actually not quite.  Everything in fact costs 105 yen due to a 5% consumption tax.  100 yen is roughly equal to $1.00 and if you ever get the chance to visit one, you will be amazed at what 105 yen can actually buy.

100 yen shops are spread far and wide across the country, found more predominantly in larger, built up areas like cities and larger towns.  The leading retailer, Daiso, has 2,500 stores in Japan, the largest being Daiso Giga Machida which spans a massive 5 stories high.  100 yen shops aren`t as common as Pacchinko parlors but are probably the next biggest thing perhaps.

Inside you can find things such as tableware, kitchenware, tools, stationary, snack food, household and leisure goods and even banana holders.  The range of items is massive but don`t let the price be deceiving.  A lot of the stock, including plates, cups, towels, slippers and socks (to name a few) are surprisingly good quality and even to the trained eye it can be difficult to spot a 100 yen item amongst other, more expensive goods - so difficult at times, there`s actually a variety show based on this.

Below are links to some of the larger 100 yen stores currently operating in Japan

Daiso

Daiso

Seria

Love bananas but always worrying they`ll get bruised or squished on your way to work?  Ever had a banana literally explode inside your bag on a hot scorching day, leaving a horrible mess to clean up afterward?  …I know I have.

The other day I was rummaging through one of many 100 yen shops across Japan and came across a huge pile of plasticy, yellow things.  A quick squizz and a few seconds to ponder over what I was looking at, I realized just what they were - banana holders! 

The idea struck me as such a simple yet ingenious idea.  I mean, bananas are soft and squishy so why not just whack them inside a plastic case in the shape of themselves.  You`re happy.  The banana is happy and for the price of 100 yen, banana holders may be the best gift ever! (…or not)

Think back to your last 700ml bottle of spirits. How much did you pay? Probably quite a bit I should think. In Australia a bottle of Jim Beam fetches for around $30 and Wild Turkey about $40 - a fair chunk of the price coming from government tax.

The price in Japan for a bottle of Jim Beam and Wild Turkey is 1,300 yen and 1,600 yen respectively. This equates to around $13.00 and $16.00! (One Aussie dollar is roughly 100 yen).  If Vodka is more your taste then a bottle of Smirnoff will set you back 900 yen ($9.00).

The reason you can buy cheap alcohol in Japan is because consumption tax is set at a rate of 5 percent for everything, unlike other countries where governments tag as much tax to alcohol as possible. The same 5 percent consumption tax naturally applies to cigarettes also. A pack of 20 costs 300 yen.

Now, how about going out to drink at a bar you ask? Things start to get a little more expensive here, rivaling prices you are probably more familiar with. On average you will pay around 500 - 600 yen per drink varying from place to place.

However many places such as izakaya`s and yakiniku shops have a nomihoudai (all you can drink) deal, giving you access to many but not all drinks on the menu for 90 minutes (Beer is always included)! The price varies from place to place but for around 1,000 to 1,300 yen you definitely won’t be disappointed. That’s right! 90 minutes all you can drink for a measly 1,300 yen, meaning you can party hard without busting your wallet.

I seriously doubt you will find a better deal than this, anywhere.

kanpaiii…!

(cheers)