Japan Elementary School Supplies Checklist: What to Buy, Where, and How Much

Everything your child needs for Japanese public elementary school — randoseru, uwabaki, gym clothes, stationery, and name labels. Full checklist with prices and budget tips.

What this covers: Everything your child needs for Japanese public elementary school — from the randoseru to the last name sticker. With prices, where to buy, and what to skip.

Total cost estimate: ¥60,000–¥100,000 before school entry (¥55,000+ is the bag alone). Budget options can bring this under ¥30,000.

When to start: December–February for best selection. January–March for best prices.

Information current as of March 2026 based on school supply guides from Koto-koto, Savvy Tokyo, and official elementary school enrollment guides from Tokyo ward schools.

When your child enters a Japanese public elementary school, the school gives you a list of required items. The list is in Japanese, the items have specific requirements (color, size, type), and many can only be bought at designated shops. If you're a foreign parent seeing this list for the first time in February, the panic is real.

This checklist covers every item, explains what actually matters (and what doesn't), and shows you where to buy everything — including budget alternatives.

The big purchase: randoseru (ランドセル)

The randoseru is the rigid leather (or synthetic) backpack that Japanese children use for all 6 years of elementary school. It's the single biggest expense.

Option	Price range	Where
Standard new	¥55,000–¥80,000	Department stores, specialty shops, online
Budget new	¥10,000–¥25,000	Nitori (ニトリ), Aeon (イオン), Don Quijote
Secondhand	¥1,000–¥10,000	Mercari, Book-Off, recycling shops (リサイクルショップ)
Rental	~¥1,000/month	RandSel (online rental service)
Free	¥0	Some ward offices and NPOs run donation programs

Do you HAVE to buy a randoseru?

Technically, most schools don't mandate it. A few progressive schools explicitly allow any bag. But in practice:

99%+ of children use a randoseru
Not having one makes your child visibly different on the walk to school
The bag is designed for 6 years of daily use — it's genuinely durable

If cost is a barrier, go budget (Nitori's ¥15,000 models are solid) or secondhand. A used randoseru in good condition works fine.

Color: does it matter?

Traditionally: red for girls, black for boys. In 2026: any color is common. Purple, blue, brown, pink, green — all normal. Your child can choose. Some schools specify color; most don't.

When to buy

New models launch in May (11 months before school entry). Peak buying season is August–October. Best prices: January–March (clearance). If you're buying new, don't wait until March — popular colors sell out.

Required before the entrance ceremony (入学式)

The school will give you a list at the enrollment meeting (usually January–February). Here's what's typically on it:

Clothing and footwear

Item	Japanese	Price (new)	Notes
Indoor shoes	上履き (uwabaki)	¥1,000–¥2,000	White, sometimes with colored toe/sole by grade. School specifies type.
Indoor shoe bag	上履き袋	¥300–¥1,000	Drawstring bag. Can be handmade or store-bought.
Gym uniform	体操服 (taisou fuku)	¥2,500–¥5,000	Top + shorts set. Buy at the school-designated shop. Size up — children grow fast.
Red/white reversible cap	紅白帽 (kouhaku bou)	¥500–¥1,000	For gym class and outdoor activities. Red = one team, white = the other.
School hat	通学帽 (tsuugaku bou)	¥900–¥1,500	Yellow for 1st graders at many schools. Worn during commute.
Entrance ceremony outfit	入学式の服	¥5,000–¥15,000	Semi-formal. Worn once. Buy secondhand on Mercari (¥1,000–3,000).

Stationery and supplies

Item	Japanese	Price (new)	Notes
Pencil case	筆箱 (fudebako)	¥1,500–¥3,000	Box-type (箱型) required. Many schools ban pouch-type and character-decorated cases. Get a simple magnetic-close box.
Pencils (2B)	えんぴつ (2B)	¥300–¥500 (set of 12)	Most schools specify 2B hardness. No mechanical pencils for 1st graders.
Eraser	消しゴム (keshigomu)	¥100	White, rectangular, plain. Character erasers get confiscated.
Ruler	ものさし (monosashi)	¥100–¥300	15cm, clear plastic. Foldable rulers not allowed at some schools.
Tool box	お道具箱 (odougubako)	¥300–¥500	Stored inside the desk. Holds crayons, glue, scissors.
Crayons	クレヨン / クレパス	¥500–¥1,000	12-color set. Some schools specify the brand (Sakura Crepas).
Scissors	はさみ	¥300–¥500	Child-sized, with safety cap.
Glue stick	のりスティック	¥100	Standard size
Color pencils	色えんぴつ	¥500–¥1,000	12-color set

Safety and daily items

Item	Japanese	Price (new)	Notes
Protective hood	防災頭巾 (bousai zukin)	¥1,500–¥3,000	Earthquake safety equipment. Hangs on the back of the chair or sits on the seat as a cushion.
Protective hood cover	防災頭巾カバー	¥500–¥1,500	Doubles as chair seat cover. Some schools provide; some don't.
Lunch set	給食セット	¥300–¥1,000	Bag + napkin (ランチョンマット). Napkin goes on the desk during lunch.
Handkerchief + tissue	ハンカチ + ティッシュ	¥200+	Carried daily. Taught as part of hygiene routine.
Tote bag / sub-bag	手提げ袋 (tetsage bukuro)	¥300–¥1,000	For carrying items that don't fit in the randoseru (books, gym clothes).

Added during the school year (you'll get a notice)

Item	Japanese	Price	When
Mathematics set	算数セット	¥2,500–¥4,000	1st grade, April–May. Contains counting blocks, number cards, clock model — every piece needs a name label.
Keyboard harmonica	鍵盤ハーモニカ	¥3,000–¥5,000	1st grade music. Brand may be specified (Suzuki, Yamaha).
Swimsuit + swim cap	水着 + 水泳帽	¥2,000–¥4,000	June (before pool season). Navy/black one-piece for girls; trunks for boys. Cap color by grade.
Watercolor set	絵の具セット	¥2,500–¥4,000	2nd–3rd grade art class
Calligraphy set	書道セット	¥3,000–¥5,000	3rd grade onward
Recorder	リコーダー	¥1,500–¥2,000	3rd grade music
Carving tools	彫刻刀 (chokokutou)	¥1,500–¥2,500	4th grade art
Sewing set	裁縫セット	¥2,000–¥4,000	5th grade home economics

Many of these are sold through the school (order forms distributed in class). You can also buy equivalent items elsewhere — but check if the school requires a specific brand or model first.

The name label marathon (お名前つけ)

This deserves its own section because it's genuinely time-consuming. Every item your child brings to school must have their name on it. Every pencil. Every crayon. Every counting block in the math set (there are dozens of tiny pieces).

Your options

Method	Best for	Cost
お名前シール (name stickers)	Most items, especially small ones	¥500–¥1,500 for 200+ stickers (Amazon, Rakuten)
お名前スタンプ (name stamp set)	Fabric items (gym clothes, bags)	¥1,000–¥3,000 for a set with multiple sizes
Hand-write with oil-based marker	Large items	¥100 (marker)
Iron-on name labels	Clothing	¥300–¥800

Recommendation: Order a name sticker set online 2–3 weeks before school starts. Choose one that includes multiple sizes (tiny for pencils, medium for notebooks, large for bags). Include both kanji and hiragana versions of your child's name — or katakana if your child's name is not Japanese.

Tip for foreign names: If your child's name is written in katakana, the stickers/stamps should match what's on the school's registry. Ask the school how your child's name is registered (some use romaji, most use katakana).

Where to buy: store guide

Store	What to buy there	Price level
School-designated shop	Gym uniform, hat, uwabaki (if specified)	Fixed prices
Aeon / イオン	Randoseru, stationery, gym clothes, all basics	Budget–mid
Nitori / ニトリ	Randoseru (budget)	Budget
100 yen shops (Daiso, Seria)	Pencils, erasers, folders, name labels, bags	¥100 each
Amazon / Rakuten	Name stickers, randoseru, keyboard harmonica, watercolor sets	Varies (often cheapest)
Mercari	Secondhand randoseru, ceremony outfit, nearly-new supplies	Budget
Shimamura / しまむら	Gym clothes, underwear, ceremony outfit	Budget

Budget strategy: under ¥30,000 total

Randoseru: secondhand or Nitori budget line (¥10,000–15,000)
Stationery: 100 yen shop (¥1,000–2,000 total)
Gym uniform: school shop (unavoidable, ¥2,500–5,000)
Ceremony outfit: Mercari (¥1,000–3,000)
Name stickers: Amazon (¥500–1,000)
Everything else: Aeon or 100 yen shop

Financial assistance (就学援助 / shugaku enjo)

If you meet the income criteria, your municipality will subsidize school supplies, lunch fees, field trips, and more. Apply through the school or Board of Education at enrollment or the start of the school year. The application is income-based and available to all residents regardless of nationality.

Common surprises for foreign parents

"No character items" rule: Many schools ban pencil cases, erasers, and stationery with anime/character designs. They're considered distracting. Buy plain items.
Handmade bags: Some schools "strongly recommend" handmade bags (shoe bag, lunch bag, tote). If you can't sew, buy ready-made ones — most parents do now. Alternatively, some dry cleaners and alteration shops offer custom bag-making services.
Multiple pairs of everything: Buy 2+ gym uniforms, uwabaki, and lunch napkins. They need washing, and your child needs a clean one the next day.
The math set nightmare: The 算数セット has 100+ tiny pieces, each needing a name. This alone takes 1–2 hours. Use the smallest name stickers.

Need More Help? Ask on LO-PAL

Can't find the right uwabaki size? Need help reading the school's supply list? Or someone to come with you to the school-designated shop? LO-PAL matches you with a local helper who has bought all this before. Post your request and get help navigating the shopping list — in person or online.