We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (2025)

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Rachel Askinasi

2019-03-19T18:51:00Z

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (1)

Daiso — a Japanese dollar store — opened its first location in New York City's Flushing, Queens, in March.
The store has a cult following, according to Time Out, because of its consistently low prices on quality Japanese goods.
We went to the new location just days after it opened and found a huge variety of home goods, Japanese snacks, beauty products, toys, and so much more.
While it was clear they were dealing with the rush of just having opened, the shelves were pretty well-stocked, and the store didn't look like it had been ransacked by excited shoppers — even though there were plenty of them there.
Although Daiso is advertised as a dollar store, there are signs that say everything costs $1.99 unless stated otherwise. Most things were $1.99, and some were marked at either a lower or higher price point.
Here's what the new location looks like and what you can buy there.

Daiso — the Japanese dollar store with a cult following — has a new location in New York City. This new location marks the store's jump onto the East Coast as American shoppers in California, Washington, and Texas have already gotten a taste of the discounts.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (2)

Source: Daiso

Located right off the 7 train's Main St. stop ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (3)

... in Flushing, Queens, ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (4)

... the store is on the second floor of The Shops at Skyview, a shopping mall.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (5)

The mall also has a Nike, Target, Forever 21, Uniqlo, and Chuck-E-Cheese, among other stores.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (6)

Daiso was easy to find. I went up the escalator and followed the flow of the walkway. I passed the large Forever 21, an Adidas store, and a Converse store before I reached the dollar store. There were also a lot of kiosks in the middle of the floor — some had trinkets or food on them, others were completely bare.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (7)

Even though the walkway was fairly crowded, I couldn't ignore the Auntie Anne's pretzel smell. The pop-up was located right at the entrance to Daiso.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (8)

As I turned toward the store, I saw stanchions set up. One of the store employees told me those were left over from opening day, to help control the line of people waiting to shop.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (9)

While no one was lined up in them when I visited, there certainly were a lot of people coming in and out.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (10)

On my way in, I stopped to grab a very pink — and very on-brand — shopping basket.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (11)

There were more stacked up in other parts of the store for anyone who didn't grab one on their way in or who wanted to abandon theirs mid-shop.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (12)

The store gave a somewhat overwhelming first impression.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (13)

One of the first things I noticed were all the signs hanging up around the store. I first noticed signs putting out a call for employees to join the store's Queens team.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (14)

Small, colorful signs pointed out "customer favorite" items, best sellers, and new items.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (15)

They also directed shoppers to the store's social media accounts.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (16)

But the most important sign was the one that said everything in the store cost $1.99 unless stated otherwise.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (17)

There was a table of trinkets to the left when I first walked in.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (18)

Looking around, I saw a wall of reusable bags on the left, with animal-themed neck pillows hanging next to them.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (19)

Some bags were even branded specifically for the store's new neighborhood.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (20)

The front section seemed to be seasonal — it had shelves of decorations for upcoming holidays like Easter and the further-away Fourth of July.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (21)

Hair accessories lined the wall behind the holiday decorations.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (22)

I could tell the store was still getting things set up because of the box of hairbrushes sitting on the floor, nestled between the two hanging displays.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (23)

The rest of the front area followed somewhat of a theme: bath and beauty. Rubber shoes that looked like Crocs hung on the display directly opposite a wall of beauty products.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (24)

Beauty products ranged from fake eyelashes and eye makeup to foundation and nail care.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (25)

There were also lots of beauty gadgets hanging on the wall. I didn't know what a lot of them were, so I had to do a little digging — the tools seen here are all related to some form of acupressure treatment.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (26)

There were also plenty of gadgets to keep your hair dry during a bath or shower ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (27)

... and to create your own at-home sauna.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (28)

There was also a large selection of giant puzzle pieces like the ones here. They're meant to be pieced together to make a mat on the floor of your bathroom.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (29)

There was plenty to choose from when it came to bathing and beauty, but some items were running low on stock. This sparse selection of nail polish wasn't the only half-filled display in the store.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (30)

There were cleaning mitts and slippers ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (31)

... arts and crafts supplies ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (32)

... and storage bins that all seemed to be fairly popular with shoppers.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (33)

Storage was a huge product theme throughout the store. There seemed to be some sort of storage bin wherever I turned. These bins lined the back of the store ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (34)

... these thinner bins flanked one of the aisles ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (35)

... and there was an entire wall of mesh storage bags in the middle of the store.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (36)

Speaking of reusable bags, the store carried a variety of canvas bag options with different sayings on them. This bag bearing the phrase "Bring The Sunset" cost $3.50.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (37)

There were more on hooks near the register.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (38)

In addition to bags, Daiso also had tons of buckets and waste baskets for sale. You could find some better suited to be indoors and decorate a room ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (39)

... or some that work better outside with gardening supplies. An entire section was dedicated to gardening pots.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (40)

And on the other side were accessories for growing and taking care of smaller plants.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (41)

There were shelves of fake plants, too. But these were in one of the home and crafts sections.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (42)

Walking through the aisle, I passed picture frames ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (43)

... Daiso-branded candles ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (44)

... Daiso-branded potpourri ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (45)

... and a selection of piggy banks.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (46)

Crafting supplies were located near the stationery and gift-wrapping section. There were the iconic ribbon bows that are known for topping presents ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (47)

... colorful pens, markers, and clay molds ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (48)

... crafting kits ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (49)

... and stationery. There was certainly a wide variety of notebooks and pads to choose from.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (50)

The store also had matching sets of paper and cards for anyone who wanted to put together a stationery kit themselves.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (51)

The stationery was appropriately placed with the school supplies, which included three-ring binders for $1.99 ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (52)

... and carrying cases for posters or art projects on sale for $4.50 —one of the more expensive items in the store.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (53)

There were also dry-erase markers, white boards, and magnets shaped like pieces of sushi around the corner at the head of another aisle.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (54)

There were rows of little trinkets like yo-yos, keychains, and marbles.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (55)

Other games included hand-held puzzles and toys designed to make you think a bit.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (56)

The main toy section was positioned next to the electrical section. So that means rubber ducks were hanging next to wire covers.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (57)

And at the head of the aisle was a selection of over-ear headphones and rolled-up exercise mats.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (58)

Making my way down the aisle, I walked past some toy swords hanging on the wall.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (59)

There was another selection of toys one aisle down and closer to the front door.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (60)

There were also plenty of toys for pets. There's a hanging wall filled with toy balls for tossing ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (61)

... and mice that squeak when they're squeezed.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (62)

There were also little soccer jerseys for dogs that cheer on team Japan.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (63)

There's also clothing options for humans.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (64)

Socks and stockings hung next to neck ties and bandanas.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (65)

Shoppers can also pick up men's and women's underwear.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (66)

There were also accessories like the gloves seen here — both for working and keeping warm —...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (67)

... and reading glasses at a variety of strengths.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (68)

Closer to the line for checkout was a whole aisle of dishes. There were plastic plates with sayings on them, like this one for $3.50 ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (69)

... and drinking glasses for $1.99 each.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (70)

Other home goods I found were plungers ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (71)

... clothes hangers ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (72)

... gardening tools to keep birds off of ledges ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (73)

... window decals ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (74)

... sponges that can be cut to any size you want ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (75)

... and tools to make the dreaded process of doing laundry a little easier.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (76)

Much like any drug store, candy and snacks line many of the aisles at Daiso.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (77)

The main food aisle, though, is where shoppers were lining up to wait their turn to check out at the register.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (78)

It was stocked with Japanese snacks, including potato chips in flavors like seaweed and salt ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (79)

... hot chili with seaweed ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (80)

... and shrimp.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (81)

There were plenty of cookies ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (82)

... fruit chews ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (83)

... and chocolates to choose from.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (84)

There were also more savory snacks on offer ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (85)

... like dried squid ...

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (86)

... and curry-flavored Cup Noodle.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (87)

A selection of soft drinks sat at the end of the aisle right before you get to the register — it's as if they know you already broke into that bag of chips you picked up and need something refreshing to wash them down.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (88)

Pouches and cans of juice were on sale for $1.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (89)

And they even had some soda inside a refrigerated case if you wanted something that's already cold.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (90)

There were seven registers at the front of the store, but only four of them are permanent.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (91)

An employee told me the other three registers were set up in anticipation of the rush of opening-week customers.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (92)

It's important to make sure you read the fine print. The return policy at Daiso is simple: no returns and no exchanges.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (93)

I visited around lunchtime on a Tuesday, and the store was extremely crowded. It was difficult to move through aisles and take time looking at things on shelves.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (94)

After walking through and seeing the wide selection of Japanese goodies on sale for around $1, it wasn't hard to figure out why so many people love this store.

We visited a wildly popular Japanese dollar store's first NYC location days after it opened. Here's what it's like to shop there. (95)

Source: Eater, Time Out