Welcome the new year with savings — and a lucky bag or two.
Meaning “lucky bag,” Fukubukuro is Japanese New Year custom where shops and merchants offer mystery bags at discounted prices.
Here are a few malls and retailers participating in Fukubukuro this week:
- Ala Moana Center, Thursday, Jan. 1. More than 50 retailers will offer limited-edition “Happy Grab Bags” with mystery merch worth at least twice the price they’re sold for.Participating shops include ABC Store, Aloha Accessories and Cases, Aloha Collection, Anthropologie, Balsam Hill Studio, Big Island Candies, Box Lunch, Brighton Collectibles, COACH, CocoNene, Fossil, Hae Hawai‘i, Happy Wahine, Hawaiian Island Creations, Hawai‘i’s Finest, Herve Chapelier, HIC Surf, H.I.S. Hawaii, Honolulu Coffee Co., Honolulu Sunglass Shop, Hot Topic, K. Minamoto, Kailua Crystals, Kate Spade New York, Kay Jewelers, L'Occitane, Lacoste, Laine Honolulu, Levi’s, Lexbreezy Hawai'i, Local Motion, Lupicia, Mālie Organics, Marc Jacobs, Moomin Shop Hawai‘i, Na Hoku, NOHO HOME, Pink Box, Psycho Bunny, Quay, Ray-Ban, Rothy’s, Sephora, SoHa Living, Sunglass Hut, Swarovski, T&C Surf Designs, TANOA, Tommy Bahama, Tory Burch, TravisMathew, UA Hawai'i and Vim n' Vigor. All bags are sealed, so the contents remain a surprise until they’re opened, and participating retailers will offer a limited number of bags, available while supplies last, the mall said in an announcement earlier this month. Ala Moana Center also will host a Fukubukuro sweepstakes for a chance to win a prize package with gifts from a number of participating merchants. Enter here through Jan. 1.
- International Market Place, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Each Fukubukuro bag will be sold for at least half off the full retail value, while supplies last. Participating stores include ABC Stores, Anthropologies, Crazy Shirts, Crystal Jeans, Jams World, KoaWood Ranch, Mālie Organics, MCM, Michael Kors, Mitsuwa Marketplace, Sun.Daes, Sunglass Hut and Vera Bradley. Those who spend $200 or more on Fukubukuro bags will receive a $20 gift card, while those who spend between $5 and $199.99 can spin a prize wheel for a chance to win gifts. Present the bags and receipts at the customer service desk.
- Royal Hawaiian Center, Jan. 1. Lucky Bags, offering up to half-off retail price, at participating stores that include ABC Stores, Aloha Kira Holiday Pop-up, Dean & Deluca, Harley-Davidson Waikīkī, House of Mana Up, Island Slipper, Junbi, Kāhala, Kate Spade, Kira x Miffy, Lole Hawai‘i, Original Garil, Royal Hawaiian Quilt, Tim Ho Wan, Tory Burch and Yumi Kim. While supplies last.
- Ka Makana Ali‘i, Jan. 1 to 4. Participating stores include 2BDesired, The Blessed Life, The Collective by Hawai‘i’s Finest, Cosmic Beauty, Happy Wahine, Hawai‘i’s Finest, Kawaii Things, No‘eau Designers, Sweet Honey Hawai‘i and T&C Surf Designs.
- Tori Richard at Kāhala Mall, Jan. 1 to 3. Grab men’s and women’s lucky bags for $115 each (valued at over $330) and kid’s lucky bags for $38 (valued at over $115).Also at Kāhala Mall, Compleat Kitchen will offer Fukubukuro grab bags on Jan. 1. Each bag is different and offers more than 50% off regular retail prices. Customers are limited to buy only one.
- Select Ward Village retailers will participate now through Jan. 4, including always a.line, at Dawn, Crazy Shirts Factory Outlet, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, House of Mana Up, Jules and Gem Hawai‘i, Land & Sea Golf, Nā Mea Hawai‘i, Okayama Kobo Bakery & Café; Paul Brown Salon; Rock Candy Hawai‘i, Shop Keiko, and Yireh + MahinaMade.
- Hawai‘is Finest Clothing, Jan. 1 to 4. Get bags valued at $100 for $50.
- Kākou Collective, online beginning at noon Dec. 31 at kakoucollective.com; in-store Jan. 1. at Kākou Collective headquarters, 98-027 Hekaha St., building 3, unit 27, ‘Aiea.
- House of Mana Up. Lucky bags are available now at its South Shore Market location and at the Royal Hawaiian Center and online at houseofmanaup.com beginning Jan. 1.
- Islandboy-Shop is offering mystery grab bags priced from $50 to $500, each of which will have at least double the value of product inside. Order online here.
- Honolulu Museum of Art Shop, Jan. 2. Three different bags offering a mystery mix of merchandise at a discount — $20 with a $40 retail value, $35 with a $70 retail value, and $50 with a $100 retail value — will be available while supplies last.
- Buddah Mochi, Jan. 2. Grab $85-plus worth of items for only $25 in this limited offer. Drops online at 9 a.m.
- Ami Mei Matcha, available through Jan. 2 or until they’re sold out. Some available now at Drip Studio Coffee House. Find online here.
- Diamond Bakery, online Jan. 1 and in-store, 756 Moowaa St. in Honolulu, on Jan. 2. $10, $15 and $25 bags are available in-store while only $25 bags will be available online. Featured items may include new mystery flavor cookie bites, meal crumbs and bonus gift cards.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
