That Random Thing You Suddenly Need on a Trip? Daiso Has It

Some things on a trip you only need for a day. An umbrella because you didn’t check the weather. A pair of scissors to open impossible packaging. An extra charging cable because somehow the one you brought isn’t enough. Buying that stuff at full price feels ridiculous — you’re not going to use it much after this trip, so paying normal retail prices for something you only need temporarily just stings a little. That’s exactly the gap Daiso fills.

The Logic of It

Daiso is a massive low-price chain, and the pricing isn’t an accident — it works backward from the number, not forward from the cost. Instead of pricing a product based on what it costs to make, Daiso decides the price first (usually somewhere between ₩1,000 and ₩5,000), then works with manufacturers to build something that fits inside that number. That price point matters more than it sounds like it should — it’s low enough that you don’t think twice, buy the thing, use it for the few days you actually need it, and move on. It’s the opposite of souvenir shopping; you’re buying this stuff because it solves a problem, not because you particularly want to take it home.

The Kind of Things This Covers

• A cheap umbrella when it starts raining and you didn’t pack one
• Nail clippers or a nail file — the kind of tiny thing you never think to pack until you actually need it
• Scissors, tape, a mini sewing kit — small fixes for problems that only come up mid-trip
• An extra charging cable, phone accessory, or travel adapter if the one you brought fails or you suddenly need another
• Travel-size toiletry bottles if you’re not checking a bag and don’t want full-size containers
• Packing cubes, compression bags, pouches, or a basic tote when your luggage situation gets messier than planned
• A small lock, laundry supplies, or other random travel gear you didn’t realize you’d need

None of it is particularly exciting. That’s the point — it’s not stuff you plan for, it’s stuff that comes up.

Where to Find One

Daiso locations are all over Seoul — there’s a decent chance one is within a few minutes’ walk of wherever you’re staying.

It’s not a stop you plan a whole day around. It’s the place you duck into for ten minutes when something minor goes wrong, and walk out having solved it for a few thousand won.