I wish I could live in Daiso, the Japanese dollar store that sells the cutest stationery and home goods

sarah holding a bundle of stuffed plush toys in a daiso store — Daiso carries a ton of different items, super-soft plushies included.
Sarah Saril/Insider

Daiso is my one-stop-shop for affordable and adorable stationery, kitchenware, and cleaning tools.
Most things at the store you can buy for only $1.50, some of which are listed below.
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If I were to be trapped in one store for eternity, please, let it be Daiso. While it's famously known as the 'Japanese dollar store,' make no mistake: the quality of its products surpasses anything you'd find from Dollar Tree or 99 Cents Only Stores. Also, most things are under $2.

For the uninitiated, here's how the Daiso works: if an item doesn't have a price tag, it's $1.50 (or slightly more in New York, and some other locations.) If it does have a price tag, you can use one of the handy conversion charts around the store to figure out how much it'll cost you. The clerk will give you a heads up if you have anything selling for more than the standard rate-however, the vast majority of the store sells for $1.50.

daiso's price chart breakdown showing how price tags convert JPY to USD — Item tags are in English, but largely pricing is still printed in Japanese Yen. Charts like these are all around the store to help shoppers.
Sarah Saril/Insider

As a long-time Southern California resident, I'm spoiled with Daiso accessibility. In fact, there are over 20 locations within an hour's drive away for me. If you live in Washington, Texas, New York, or New Jersey, you might be lucky enough to have one of the 77 stores close by.

Shopping Daiso's website is possible, if you aren't lucky enough to live near one. Sadly, it pales in comparison to the in-store shopping experience, in terms of ease and selection. If you're looking for goodie bag fillers and stocking stuffers, it's definitely worth a look but if you have a chance, definitely visit one.

Keep scrolling to see what's in store for you if you ever visit a Daiso.

Daiso sells surprisingly high-quality porcelain dishware. It's my go-to for sauce dishes, rice bowls, and dessert plates.

daiso dishware side by side with a closeup of a calico cat dish — Sarah Saril/Insider

From cute chopsticks to colorful sponges, Daiso's kitchen section has everything you can think of. (It even has some things you probably haven't thought of.)

kitchen utensils and cleaning tools from daiso including chopsticks, sponges, steel wool, and more — Sarah Saril/Insider

If you need a box, divider, basket, tray, or anything in between, Daiso has your back. It even has a pretty robust selection of plastic planters.

daiso organizational bins, boxes, trays, jars, and more — Sarah Saril/Insider

From novelty erasers to animal-themed sticky notes, Daiso has a ton of stationary for back-to-school shopping.

daiso stationary including erasers, highlighters, pencil sharpeners, note cards, flags, and sticky notes — Sarah Saril

Daiso has makeup, grooming, and personal hygiene on lock, including individually-packaged charcoal cotton swabs, if that's your thing.

daiso beauty and grooming supplies including eyelid tape, eyelid glue, cotton swabs, children's toothbrushes, and more — Sarah Saril/Insider

Though you probably won't find anything large or strong enough for your Great Dane, Daiso's pet aisle is full of toys and essentials for every pet owner - even silly cat hats.

cat and dog supplies and toys from daiso — Sarah Saril/Insider

When it comes to stocking up on crafting supplies, Daiso comes in clutch. It has a wide array of eccentric hobby toys too, from squirt guns to tiny block building sets.

sewing supplies and petit blocks from daiso, including measuring tape, sewing needles, embroidery floss, and mini building blocks — Sarah Saril/Insider

Daiso also offers a large selection of cheap tools and tech in a pinch. Whether you need a pair of cheap earbuds for a car ride or some tiny screwdrivers to fix your glasses, Daiso's $1.50 tools will be there for you.

daiso tools and tech including charging cables, wire wraps, storage pouches, pliers, screwdrivers, and more — Sarah Saril/Insider

Though it's a Japanese store, oftentimes you can find Korean, Chinese, and even Hawaiian drinks, sweets, and chips here. It also has a pretty solid repertoire of instant noodles, of which I recommend the Goku-Uma brand.

daiso's snack and drink aisle, including pocky, calbee chips, ito-en tea, and more — Sarah Saril/Insider

The bottom line

Sarah after Checking out of Daiso with her groceries in hand and the Daiso in the background — Sarah Saril/Insider

Daiso is awesome. If you have one nearby, you should check it out.

Even if you have a stronger resolve than I and manage to find your way out without buying anything, you won't regret browsing. It's full of products that you don't usually see in the United States — and you might be surprised what might be a game-changer in your lifestyle.

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