JUN2025-OPEN! Daiso Japan at Sylvia Park, Auckland
- Aya
- Jun 29
- 4 min read
Hi there! I'm LITTLE FUJI, a freelance multidisciplinary designer based in New Zealand. On a recent trip from Hamilton to Auckland for some shopping, I discovered a new Daiso Japan store inside the Sylvia Park shopping mall!
Daiso Japan in New Zealand: Now Expanded to Four Stores
When you move from Japan to New Zealand, you realize just how convenient and high-quality Japanese products are. One of the stores I missed most was Daiso. From tableware to stationery and daily essentials, Daiso is known for its variety of affordable and practical goods.
As of June 2025, there are now four Daiso stores in New Zealand:
Auckland - Sylvia Park, Mount Wellington (2025 Jun Open) https://g.co/kgs/owgbLkJ
Auckland -St Lukes Store Westfield Shopping mall https://maps.app.goo.gl/5UiXpzRy5NP41u197
Auckland - Queen Street https://maps.app.goo.gl/CVbRnHn3njQFuBbNA
Wellington - Manners Street https://maps.app.goo.gl/dTEc4AqfAua8QcTP6
I've visited the stores in Wellington, Queen Street, and now Sylvia Park. I didn’t even know there was one at St Lukes!
The Queen Street Daiso is always lively and well-stocked. With three of the four stores located in Auckland, I hope we’ll soon see one in Christchurch or even in my city, Hamilton.
Visiting Daiso Japan at Sylvia Park
The new Daiso Japan store is located at one end of the Sylvia Park mall, right next to The Warehouse.
Sylvia Park is a large shopping center in Mount Wellington with a wide variety of restaurants and even a Japan Mart—great for getting your hands on Japanese groceries.
We initially visited for dinner and to shop at Japan Mart, but I happened to spot a "DAISO JAPAN" ad on an in-store screen.
Curious, I looked it up and realized it was opening day!
The new store also includes two other Daiso-owned brands: THREEPPY and Standard Products.
THREEPPY is a Daiso brand launched in Japan in 2021, focused on cute and affordable items with a soft, pastel aesthetic. It’s essentially a 300-yen (about $2.5) store featuring accessories, tableware, travel goods, and more.
At the Auckland location, I saw earrings, hair accessories, and handy items like portable fans.
The store was buzzing with teenage girls and families exploring Japanese-style "kawaii" goods. It’s exciting to see these kinds of designs gaining popularity in New Zealand.
Standard Products: Simple, Sustainable, and Thoughtful Design
Standard Products is another Daiso brand, aimed at creating high-quality, long-lasting items with a sustainable focus.
Their concept is "A little bit better is a lot better".
The brand emphasizes collaboration with local Japanese craftsmen, offering products like:
Pencils from Hokusei in Tokyo
Gloves from Hinode in Wakayama
Cutlery from Tsubame-Sanjo, Niigata
The philosophy is to value the story and craftsmanship behind the product.
Buying from Standard Products feels meaningful, like you’re supporting traditional industries while making environmentally responsible choices. You can explore their story, including products and partnerships with local artisans from thier website:
Interestingly, the brand has also started collaborating with international manufacturers.
One of the June 2025 releases in Japan includes recycled glassware made in San Miguel, Spain.
At Sylvia Park, I found wooden toys, USB fans, cleaning tools, incense holders, and bamboo storage cases.
I especially liked the minimalist, functional storage boxes—perfect for organizing small collectibles or hobby items.
The store's design felt clean and approachable, appealing to a broad audience from families to older shoppers.
It’s a great way to introduce Japanese quality and traditional techniques to a wider, global market.
Pricing and Impressions
The price tag shows the original price in Japanese yen, but the local New Zealand price is calculated based on their conversion chart.
For example, if you see 150 yen on the tag, the price will be NZ$5.
As of June 2025, NZ$1 equals about JPY 88. While this makes the pricing feel expensive compared to what you’d pay in Japan, it’s still reasonable when you consider the import costs.
For those of us living abroad, it’s worth paying a little more for the reliability and thoughtful design of Japanese-made goods.
It still beats buying cheaply made local alternatives that don’t last as long.
I even noticed a staff member from The Warehouse shopping there—friendly competition, perhaps?
The Experience of Daiso Japan at Sylvia Park Store
Compared to the Queen Street Daiso, this new store felt more spacious and easy to walk through. Being the first day, it was quite crowded, but well-organized.
All purchases, including THREEPPY and Standard Products items, can be made at Daiso's main checkout counters.
The product selection was broad, from Japanese "noren" curtains and tableware to baking tools, candy, and green tea bags.
There were even yakitori trays and compact camping gear—perfect for New Zealand's outdoor-loving culture!
Easy Access to Sylvia Park
Sylvia Park is easily accessible by train from Auckland CBD.
Just head to Waitemata (Britomart) Station and it’s a short walk from there.
We drove from Hamilton and, as usual, hit some traffic near Auckland. But parking at Sylvia Park is plentiful, so it wasn’t an issue.
If you are looking for Japanese goods, I highly recommend checking out the new Daiso Japan at Sylvia Park, with THREEPPY and Standard Products included.
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