Fukubukuro, Japanese surprise bags
The fukubukuro
notesofnomads
Discover the Japanese tradition of January 1st lucky bags
For many, winter is a long-awaited period and for good reason, it's the ganjitsu sales season, the January 1st sales! Lasting 2 to 3 weeks, the winter sales are indeed an important event for anyone looking for sale items in the form of fukubukuro, the Japanese surprise lucky bags!
The Fukubukuro, what are they?
Commonly called "lucky bag", fukubukuro are bags filled with "surprise" items that are displayed at the entrance to stores during the sales season.
Their purchase value depends on the brand and where they are sold, we do not know what is hidden inside... That said, we are always certain of one thing: the lucky bag is a real bargain!
- Read also: Cheap shopping in Japan
Japanese lucky bags
Flick/ Danny Cho
Originated several hundred years ago, the exact origin of fukubukuro remains obscure. Some say that the first surprise bag was placed in front of the Echigoya department store (now Mitsukoshi) during the Edo period (1603-1868), while others claim that the concept was invented by Matusya Ginza at the beginning of the Meiji era (1868-1912).
Be that as it may, the fukubukuro is today a veritable institution in Japan! Fashionistas don't hesitate to queue for hours in front of the big names to get one, and special fukubukuro haul videos (opening packages) rain down on the internet the day after the sales!
It must also be said that these small bags are real bargain nests! The real value of the bag being generally MUCH greater than its purchase value, the fukuburo snapped up like hot cakes when the time for reductions struck. And although the products that have been slipped into it do not necessarily appeal to the lucky winners once discovered, the latter always find a way to console themselves by saying that they have made their purchase profitable.
And for good reason, some top brand fukubukuro content can be worth up to three or four times the selling price of the bag!
People jostle on January 1 to hope to have lucky bags.
bbc.co.uk
Generally profitable, it may however happen that the value of the contents of the fukubukuro is barely higher than its purchase value. In this case, we will speak of fukobukuro, the "misfortune bags ".
Where to find fukubukuro in Japan?
Fukubukuro can be found in front of many stores throughout the Ganjisu sales, starting January 1. You can find this in front of any type of store: clothing stores, jewelry stores, cosmetics stores, drug stores (which mainly sell cosmetics or body care), and even supermarkets which offer the opportunity to discover at a lower price. cost of products you don't think to buy every day!
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Among the places where lucky bags are frequently found in Tokyo, let us mention particular shopping centers such as Shibuya 109, Sunshine Ikebukuro, or LA FORËT Harajuku, but also small station shops where shoe and accessory shops offer very advantageous fukubukuro.
Finally, if you are passing through the capital, don't hesitate to take a trip to the luxury stores of Ginza. These last ones attract hundreds of people every January 1, ready to brave the cold and queue for hours to get a precious bag. so big is the profit margin when talking about luxury!
The madness of lucky bags in front of luxury stores
bbc.co.uk
Starbucks and lucky bags online, the new surprise bags for New Year's Day
If for a long time fukubukuro only brought happiness to fashion fans, today the craze for lucky bags is starting to spread to other markets. And whether it's the big coffee chains like Starbucks and Tully's, or the railway companies like Seibu Railways, other brands that have nothing to do with beauty are now also offering their surprise bags!
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Collector mugs, lively restaurant dinners, or concert tickets, it is now possible to find a whole host of things in the lucky bags of the archipelago. And sometimes even without having to leave home, since more and more brands are also starting to market their fukubukuro online!
Finally, last novelty in terms of lucky bags: ''no surprise'' bags, since more and more brands display what will be in the bag to avoid disappointment.
For further:
- Top things to do in winter in Japan
- The most beautiful Japanese landscapes under the snow
- Japanese winter specialties
- Top 7 Snow Festivals in Japan
- The best winter fireworks in Japan
- Otaru Snow and Light Road Festival
- Hanami under the plum blossoms
- 5 Ways to Enjoy Kyoto in Winter
- 5 reasons to go to Japan in winter
- Where to go in the snow near Tokyo?
- Where to admire the cherry blossoms this winter?
- Where to see the Snow Monsters of Japan?
- The Five Best Onsen for Winter
- The best rotenburo in winter
- Skiing in Japan
