lucky bag (Page 4)
Donguri Kyowakoku delivers one of the best lucky bags of the New Year, with a very unusual Totoro.
Tired of reading about lucky bags but not being able to own one? Well, courtesy of our Kenyan correspondent Luka Sunte some are up for grabs…but it won’t be easy to get one.
Even the world’s biggest sandwich chain is getting in on Japan’s lucky bag retail tradition.
What did we find in our 2016 Toys “R” Us lucky bags? Join us as we open both a “boys’ version” and a “girls’ version” bag!
Yes, in Japan, even IKEA offers new year’s lucky bags — join us to find out what goodies were in their fukubukuro this year!
Popular anime shop Animega makes up their New Year lucky bag with all our favourite Sailor Moon characters, including Luna the cat.
Donguri Kyowakoku, the chainstore that sells nothing but Studio Ghibli items, has delighted fans with the best offering of the year: a bag filled with amazing Ghibli merchandise.
What’s simple, cheap, yet super fashionable? The loot from Muji’s lucky bag! The takeaway from this no-frills retailer was well worth the early wake up call.
The fukubukuro fun continues as we snag a lucky bag crammed full of merch, including limited edition items, from the Evangelion Store Tokyo-01.
A new year means new lucky bags! So, how’s the haul from Starbucks? We find out after waiting in line all night!
Japan has many wonderful New Year’s traditions, including visiting the local shrine, eating auspicious food, and sending postcards to all your friends. But one of the most exciting and potentially disappointing activities that occur on the first day of January is the purchasing of fukubukuro. Commonly referred to as “Lucky Bags” in English, fukubukoro are specially priced parcels of surplus items from popular stores across Japan that are usually valued well over the purchase price.
This year, we sent 10 of our Japanese reporters out on the streets early New Year’s morning to gather up the best Lucky Bags they could find. Some came back with somewhat useless products even Mr. Sato wouldn’t want. Other’s were pleasantly surprised to find rare and valuable items nestled in their bags. But despite deep discounts, Lucky Bags aren’t always worth the wait and price, so in order to save you time on next year’s Japanese New Year’s shopping adventures, each of our writers has chosen the best Lucky Bags this side of the Pacific.
Remember the Muji Fortune Can that we featured a few days ago from our favorite minimalist home goods store, Muji? Following that welcome discovery, our Japanese reporter also managed to get her hands on both a Muji Women’s Clothing Lucky Bag and a Muji Health & Beauty Lucky Bag.
Although she was content with most of the surprises, there was one clothing item in particular that stumped her–can anyone give her a few tips on how best to wear it? Don’t miss her mini fashion show after the jump!
When you buy a fukubukuro (lucky bag) from a store in Japan, you can usually be sure that the value of their contents will surpass the amount you paid for the bag; it’s a guarantee, or else no one would ever buy them! But when you decide to buy a fukubukuro from a secondhand store, you certainly can’t feel 100% sure that you will get your money’s worth.
Are your secondhand items going to be in good condition? Are you going to be getting some good value? Or are you getting the games that even the secondhand store just wants to get rid of? Let Tokyo’s most famous used video game store Super Potato help you decide after the break.




















Tokyo Station’s ultra-rare cakes look, and taste, like a cup of coffee
Studio Ghibli unveils new fluffy purses from films like My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away
Entry to Tokyo’s Pokémon theme park zone has physical fitness requirement, will cost a lot
Kirby mochi arrives at Family Mart, but is it as sweet to eat as it is to look at?【Taste test】
Starbucks Japan unveils the new Soupuccino
Japan’s plus-sized idol singer group releases new video about the joys of eating【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Awesome Japanese sandals give you the footprints of a cat or T-rex
Pikachu’s tail and Snorlax’s tummy join the menu at the Pokémon Cafe!
Japan’s permanent Pokémon theme park zone announces grand opening date, ticket sale start
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Tokyo hotel lets you make your stay a Sanrio one with special My Melody and Kuromi rooms【Pics】
Real takoyaki is almost impossible to find in Tokyo, but this place has it, our hardliner says
One of the busiest stations in Tokyo is changing the name on its signs, but not necessarily to make it easier for people to find their way around.
Studio Ghibli releases new Ursula’s blanket from Kiki’s Delivery Service
Never forget that Mister Donut’s super-simple ramen is actually very hard to beat
Tokyo all-you-can-eat senbei deal is perfect for newbies to the world of beloved Japanese snacks
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys to brighten your days
JR Hokkaido train driver in trouble for reading book about trains on stopped train
Sanrio and Sonic the Hedgehog characters become fast friends with new plushie collection
Tokyo bento boxed lunch shop charges different prices depending on how heavy your laptop is
Studio Ghibli anime stoles are here to keep you warm with a range of famous characters
Japan has vending machines that put protective film on your phone for you — Here’s how to use them
Studio Ghibli releases new anime tea and mugs in Japan
Totoro fountain figurine recreates the sights and sounds of one of anime’s most memorable scenes
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas Frappuccino and holiday drinks for 2025
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers
Japan’s plus-sized idol singer group releases new video about the joys of eating【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Awesome Japanese sandals give you the footprints of a cat or T-rex
Pikachu’s tail and Snorlax’s tummy join the menu at the Pokémon Cafe!
Japan’s permanent Pokémon theme park zone announces grand opening date, ticket sale start
Death of a Japanese man attacked by bear sparks conversation about what to do when facing off with one
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods, drinkware and candles for the 2025 holiday season
Are blank vending machines the future in Japan?
You can now visit a recreation of Evangelion’s Tokyo-3 and live there in miniature form in【Pics】
Bone-chilling taxi tours of Japan’s most haunted places now include all-night course, livestreams
The Japanese ‘80s are back at this Tokyo photo studio that turns you into a Bubble Era-idol【Pics】
We almost cried on our first visit to this under-the-radar budget Italian restaurant in Japan