Lost in Daiso: A 100-Yen Wonderland in Suburban Chicago

I went to the new Daiso in Niles, a suburb of Chicago. Daiso is a major Japanese dollar store, and in Japan, they’re in basically every neighborhood. They’re super popular because you can get all kinds of useful items for just 100 yen.

The Daiso in America looked exactly like the ones in Japan! So many things! It made me feel excited the moment I walked in. It was total abundance!!

In Japan, people really value those little ideas that solve tiny problems—like “scratching where it itches.” Daiso is full of that kind of thinking. For example, this slim sink strainer. It’s perfect for when you don’t want to take out a big colander, but you also don’t want to lose your freshly washed rice or boiled pasta down the drain. It’s thin and easy to store upright next to your cutting board. Super handy!

There was also something called an “extendable door pocket case.” You can put it in your fridge door to organize all those tiny tube-shaped condiments that roll around and get lost. Japanese homes are much smaller than American ones, so people come up with smart ways to use every inch of space. That’s why these kinds of storage items exist.

I ended up spending an hour and a half wandering through every aisle. I completely forgot about time and just soaked in this treasure trove of everyday life ideas from Japan.

P.S. Daiso in the U.S. isn’t exactly a dollar store—because, you know, imports, tariffs, life😅