Great deals alert！15 must-buy "Japanese lucky bags" in 2017 — scoring a DSLR is totally worth it

▲ Illustration of Japanese lucky bags. (Photo / Sourced fromRetrip)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

As 2016 comes to an end, for the Japanese, besides welcoming the new year, the most important thing at the start of each year is "snatching lucky bags"！A Japanese travel website has compiled a ranking of the 15 most popular lucky bags for 2017. Plus, this year many brands have started offering online reservations, so those eager to grab one should pay close attention to each brand's release and reservation times.

1. Yodobashi Camera (ヨドバシカメラ) Lucky Bag
The most popular every year is the electronics specialty store Yodobashi’s lucky bag, which not only includes DSLR cameras but also a variety of great-value electronic goods, making it a must-snatch target every year！

▲ Starbucks illustration. (Photo / Reporter Cai Wenjun)

2. Starbucks
Although the details for this year haven’t been announced yet, based on previous years’ practices, they are typically sold at each store on New Year’s Day or the first day of sales. The contents of the lucky bags mostly include Starbucks thermoses or tumblers, coffee beans, discount coupons, or eco-bags as a bundle; however, some stores may not sell lucky bags, so it’s best to check with your nearest branch first.

3. Muji (无印良品)
Also a perennial must-snatch target, Muji usually includes various stationery or practical items in their lucky bags. This year they’ve even adopted a lottery system, where interested customers must first register online, choose the price range of the lucky bag they want, and then wait for the lottery results to be announced.

▲ Illustration of L'Occitane, not part of the lucky bag contents. (Photo / Provided by the merchant)

4. L'Occitane (欧舒丹)
L'Occitane’s lucky bags usually come packed with plenty of fragrant products, such as shampoo and conditioner sets, hand creams, face masks, soaps, and more all in one go — buy one and you can stay fragrant from head to toe all year！It’s a favorite for many.

5.Francfranc
The furniture and household goods brand Francfranc naturally focuses on lifestyle goods for their annual lucky bags. The 2017 offerings include a kitchenware lucky bag (5,400 yen), which contains six types of items including tableware, kitchen tools, and even appliances！There’s also a beauty products lucky bag (5,400 yen) that includes six items, one of which is an appliance. Those interested can check the Francfranc Japan official website for details.

6.Gelato Pique
Gelato Pique sells adorable pajamas in soft, pastel colors, and even offers comfortable options for kids and men. The 2017 lucky bags are already available for pre-order on the Hankyu website. Don’t miss out if you want to get cute pajamas for the whole family.

7.TULLY'S Coffee
The popular coffee shop TULLY'S Cafe is a must-visit for coffee lovers looking for lucky bag deals. In 2017, they’ve launched lucky bags priced at 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen, containing limited-edition coffee beans, drink discount coupons, and other store merchandise. Check online for more details.

▲ Illustration of SABON, not part of the lucky bag contents. (Photo / Provided by the brand)

8.SABON
The well-known beauty and skincare brand SABON is most famous for its body scrubs made with Dead Sea mineral salts. Although the 2017 sales info hasn’t been announced yet, in previous years the lucky bags were priced around 12,000 yen and included three or four popular items such as the body scrub and lotion.

9. marimekko (マリメッコ)
The Nordic-style homeware brand marimekko from Finland is best known for its cute goods featuring various bright floral designs, including tableware, bags, tablecloths, and more, which are especially loved by women. The 2017 lucky bags are already on sale on the Rakuten Marketplace official website, with each 10,000-yen bag containing four items. Check the Rakuten Japan official website for details.

10.nano universe
The well-known clothing brand nano universe has released its 2017 lucky bag info, which is available for purchase on its official direct-sales website. The contents include the latest trendy clothing for both men and women, and even coats and outerwear. Each lucky bag is 16,200 yen.

11.KALDI Coffee Farm
Another must-visit lucky bag brand for coffee lovers is KALDI, which also sells a variety of foods from around the world. The 2017 offerings include a 3,500-yen food lucky bag, a 2,000-yen ingredient lucky bag, as well as wine and coffee lucky bags that will all be on sale. Check the official website for details.

12.john master's organics
A New York-based organic goods brand, its high unit prices make its annual lucky bags a hot target for bargain hunters. The 2017 lucky bag info hasn’t been announced yet, but based on previous years, the bags include multiple popular items such as shampoo, with each bag priced at 10,800 yen.

13. Shu Uemura (植村秀)
The globally beloved beauty brand Shu Uemura is set to release 2017 lucky bags priced at 12,960 yen and 10,800 yen, featuring its super-popular cleansing oil, as well as skincare and makeup products. Check the Hankyu Online Shop or the Shu Uemura official website for details.

14.Afternonn Tea
Also focusing on cute home goods, Afternoon Tea will release 2017 lucky bags priced at 20,000 yen, 10,000 yen, and 5,000 yen. According to user sharing, previous years’ bags included slippers, blankets, towels, cups, and plates and containers in various sizes — a must-grab for any home goods enthusiast.

▲ Illustration of SK-II, not part of the lucky bag contents. (Photo / Reporter Li Wei)

15.SK-Ⅱ
The highly popular yet pricey skincare brand SK-II offers an annual value pack that always sells out quickly. Although the 2017 pack details haven’t been announced yet, in previous years they released a basic skincare pack featuring a set of three bestsellers (30,000 yen), a popular items pack with five items (50,000 yen), and the highest-priced special skincare pack with nine products (100,000 yen). These can be ordered through various online channels; for more information, visit the Japanese SK-II website.