Very Large 100-yen Shop (2005-05-17)
The 100-yen shop in Machida (
) has got to be the largest
one I have ever seen in Japan. It is 5-stories tall with each
floor occupying a vast area, it looks more like a department store than
just a shop. The building itself actually has six floors, the
basement level of which is a supermarket and is not part of the 100-yen
shop. The shop is situated diagonally across Tokyu Hands store on the
pedestrian level in Machida, and the large metal arch near the shop is
an eye-catching landmark for those looking for the store.
The 100-yen shop is so huge that they carry more merchandise than
you can imagine. They sell anything from bras (Yes, a buck for a
bra) to batteries. Like the other 100-yen shops, don't expect top
craftsmanship and quality in their merchandise, afterall you do just
pay a dollar for them, although many items are clearly worth more than
a buck (I don't know where they get their supply of some tools and
kitchenware from, but many pieces look like they cost much more than a
dollar to manufacture).
Machida's 100-yen shop also sells limited items for over 100 yen a
piece. In the bag section there are some rather pretty and sturdy
tote bags for three or four dollars each. I have also seen
$10-walking sticks on the second level. If you have the patience
to look at every aisle on every floor, you will find non-100-yen items
tucked away in some shelves.
Well-stocked 100-yen shops like this five-stories one is a good place for people on a tight budget to buy household items. My kitchen is still full of goods that I bought from a 100-yen shop when we first moved to Japan. A very good bargain I must say.
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