If you check out the camping goods section of your local Daiso store in Japan, you'll surely find lantern lights displayed. However, since they're so popular, they may not all be in stock on the day of your visit.

Lantern lights have become very popular in recent years as more and more people are enjoying outdoor activities, including camping. In addition, since Japan is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunami, lantern lights can also come in handy as a source of emergency lighting. Finally, in the last few years during the novel coronavirus pandemic, camping has been in the spotlight since many people consider it a good way to spend some quality time, either alone or with family members or small groups of friends, in well-ventilated natural environments away from crowded areas.

Eager to find out why Daiso's lantern lights are so popular, we bought some of the most popular types priced at about 300-500 JPY (under 5 USD). Here's our review.

This article is based on information available as of January 2022. Also, products may not be available in some regions, stores, or at certain times of the year.

Daiso's lantern lights are getting more and more popular!

Lantern lights sold at Daiso are popular for their low prices, good cost performance, and stylish and good-looking designs.

They're so popular, in fact, that some stores are often sold out.

On social networking sites, most people want to get lanterns as camping goods, but some people also say they want to use them as props for cosplay.

This is why Daiso lanterns are attracting so much attention from a wide range of people, and have a reputation for their high quality.

If you see a lantern light in the store that you think you might want, it might be a good idea to snag it while it's still in stock!

What types of lantern lights are available at Daiso?

There are two main types of lanterns sold at Daiso:

The cylindrical lantern light in the photo is extendable.

Some of the camping lantern lights at Daiso cost as little as 100 JPY plus tax, but the most popular products are the following ones, which sell for about 300-500 JPY:

As for color hues of the light, there are lanterns available in "incandescent", "daylight", and switchable (both hues can be selected) versions.

Some lanterns come in an identical package but have different light hues, so check the box carefully and buy a lantern that corresponds to the one you want.

There are also lanterns with lights that flicker like a flame, just like a real lantern.

Which type of lantern glows more flame-like is explained in detail later in this article.

Review: Daiso's "Extendable Lantern Light (6SMD) K814"

One of the most popular lanterns sold at Daiso is the "Extendable Lantern Light (6SMD) K814." The color of the light is incandescent. There are two types of products with different brightness.

These lanterns are so popular that they are sometimes out of stock on the official Daiso online store, and they're priced at 300 JPY plus tax. A smaller size is available for 200 JPY plus tax.

It comes in two colors, black, and gunmetal. We chose gunmetal, an iron-like color that we thought gives the lantern light a cool vibe.

It runs on three AA batteries.

Lift and extend the two handles on the sides of the lantern to the top to turn on the light.

We were quite surprised at how bright it was.

The estimated continuous use time of the "Extendable Lantern Light (6SMD) K814" is about 43-48 hours with unused batteries. It's amazing that you can use it even if you leave the light on for two days.

When not in use, the light can be turned off by lowering the extended part and retracting it.

This light will definitely be useful not only for camping but also in times of natural disaster.

Incidentally, although the design of the package was different, there was also a product on the sales floor called "Flame/White Switchable Lantern," in which you can make the light flicker like a flame, to create the illusion of a real lantern.

This one has a maximum of 24 hours of continuous lighting and costs about 500 JPY, so the functionality and price are very different. You can choose the one you prefer.

Trying out Daiso's "Flame-White Switchable Lantern Light"

One of the most popular lanterns sold at Daiso is the "Flame-White Switchable Lantern Light". The color of the light can be switched between "flame" and "white light" modes.

The price is a little high at 500 JPY plus tax, but it's popular for its stylish looks and the high quality of the flame-like glowing light.

The lantern light itself is available in two colors, dark silver, and copper. We purchased the former for our review.

The length of the lantern is about 18 cm (7"), so at least for this writer, it felt big in his hand.

The main material is plastic, and it doesn't weigh that much. We think it would be easy to carry it around for a long time.

This lantern light also runs on three AA batteries.

Twist the knob on the front of the lantern to the "ON" position to light it up.

The first thing we did was to light it up in "white light" mode.

The top photo shows the light turned on at a low setting with a slight twist of the knob, and the bottom photo shows the light turned on to the maximum setting.

It's a slight difference, but both seemed bright and easy to use even in dark places.

Next, we tried the "flame" mode.

This one can also be dimmed with the knob, just like in "white light" mode.

Our writer enjoyed the camping-like atmosphere with the lights flickering like a flame in a real lantern.

To change the color of the light, twist the knob in the direction of the "OFF" position and you will hear a "click" sound.

Some of the lantern lights with the same design in the camping goods section at Daiso don't allow you to change modes, so please be careful when purchasing.

Some people are customizing Daiso lantern lights

According to what we've seen on social media, it seems that some people enjoy customizing their Daiso lantern lights by giving them a "rust finish" with spray paint or ink.

This gives the lantern lights a more antique vibe and makes them look like something that might appear in a movie. As you can imagine, cosplayers enjoy that kind of thing too.

If you decide to customize your lantern light, please remember that it's an electrical appliance, and take necessary precautions.

Summary

We introduced the different types of lantern lights sold at Daiso, and gave a review of what it's like to use them.

For about 300 to 500 JPY, you can buy highly functional and stylish lanterns! No wonder they are often sold out...

Even if you don't go camping, you can enjoy the atmosphere just by having one. Whether you're visiting a brick-and-mortar store or shopping at Daiso's online store, look for them the next time you're shopping!