The Best tip when traveling Japan: make full use of the "konbini" convenience stores

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I still remember the international visitors were happy to experience our convenience culture in Japan during the Tokyo Olympics.

Japanese convenience store companies like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson, have worked hard to develop their products and services, earning a reputation for one of the highest quality convenience store products and widest range of services available in the world. 

They have also recently been developing more international visitor-orientated services including Wi-Fi access and ATMs that dispense Japanese yen. 

If you have anything you need, then just drop by the nearest convenience store any time - they’re open 24 hours a day! In this article, we will explain why and how you can use these ever-evolving Japanese convenience stores to your advantage.

*Please note that some of the stores do not operate 24 hours anymore due to saving energy, maintaining profit, etc. But most stores still do.


1. Cheap and delicious freshly-brewed coffee



Who doesn't need a fresh cup of coffee in the morning? :)

The first thing that we want to cover is how you can always enjoy a cup of delicious coffee at the convenience store very cheaply. You can get a regular-sized hot coffee for around 100 yen (including tax) and a cafe latte will set you back around 150 yen - half the price that these items would cost you in a major coffeehouse chain!

Don’t be fooled by the low prices though, these coffees are still packed with flavor.

Many people, my friends included, love 7-Eleven coffee. This convenience store has worked hard to refine the flavor of this coffee by reviewing the bean production areas, distribution, and roasting methods.














Lawson serves original coffee blends that use roasting methods that bring out the flavors of their specially selected beans, including arabica coffee beans. It really is amazing that you can drink this kind of authentic coffee whenever you want for just 100 yen!

The system to brew the coffee is so simple as well.

To order a hot coffee, pay at the register, receive a cup, and head to the coffee machine to serve yourself. The machine does everything for you, even the grinding of the beans!

The system is brilliant as you are self serving this. 

Especially in the morning, convenience stores get really busy and you'd have to wait for the cashier to prepare it for you, which is time consuming. It's the fastest to go to the coffee machine which is located at the entrance of the store, press the button, and off you go :)

The convenience store also saves an enormous amount of time preparing the drinks for the customers, so they can invest on better quality, cheaper coffee, which of course will make the customers happier. It's a win-win!


2. Tasty Ready to Eat Foods will blow your mind!











Not just only the coffee, but the Ready to Eat (RTE) food in the convenience store is really of high standard.

There are frozen foods that you can just put in the microwave and it gives you a taste of a restaurant...

Even locals are always blown away by the innovations and competition of the convenience stores to invent better tasting and convenient foods to enjoy!

More and more stores are also creating “eat-in corners” lately. Here you can enjoy a coffee or a snack as you charge your phone or laptop and you’ll often find people taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi service available there too. It’s the perfect spot for a break during sightseeing.









Please make sure to respect the rules of putting all of your garbage in the bin, and only eating food there that you’ve bought in the store!


Find surprising items like underwear, towels, and batteries

No need to worry if you forgot something while you were packing for your trip! Japanese convenience stores are also well known for the fact that you can get almost any supplies you need there, from makeup to underwear. 

Even Japanese people like us often find themselves rushing over to the convenience store in the middle of the night in a panic. Plus there’s something called “convenience store size,” small shampoo or skincare sets that are the perfect compact size for a short trip, so if you ever need something small to put in your bag, it’s better to visit the convenience store than larger supermarkets. 


Health and Beauty Products

Shampoo sets, toothbrushes, makeup remover, shaving cream, nail varnish, makeup, bug sprays, band aids, feminine hygiene products, diapers, etc.

  • Household goods
  • Laundry detergent, tissues, paper plates and cups, cutlery, batteries, craft tape, pet food, etc.
  • Lifestyle products
  • Underwear, socks, plastic bags, towels, handkerchiefs, razors, mirrors, nail clippers, umbrellas, rain coats, etc.


Use free Wi-Fi, do tax-free shopping, or even go to the toilet

Services tailored towards foreign travelers have been continuously evolving in recent years. Convenience stores now offer free Wi-Fi services, accept credit cards, and have ATMs that dispense Japanese yen any time you need it! Tax-free stores are also on the increase. 

Below you will find descriptions of the three major convenience store chains in Japan with links (in English) to find out more about them. Here you can find more information on the services described in this article, like how to buy coffee and tickets, explanations about their Wi-Fi services, etc., so please make sure to take a look!


The differences between the 3 main konbini in Japan

Seven-Eleven has the most stores. They continuously improve their bento boxes and desserts, which are known to be of great quality. 

The oden soup and nikuman buns are especially delicious. The toilets are also very clean.



Sometimes, I find pastries and ready to eat food from FamilyMart that really exceeds konbini quality. They have bought over smaller konbini chains, so they have taken in what the smaller konbini was competitive on.

FamilyMart also ties up with Tsutaya, Starbucks, Morihico in Sapporo... which makes some of their shops unique. 


Lawson has an extensive cafe menu under the MachiCafe name that serves coffee, lattes, lemonade, etc. We recommend their chicken, like their fried “karaage-kun” chicken and yakitori chicken skewers.









Guide on how to use the toilet and the bin at the konbini


There will be many chances to make use of the bins and toilets at convenience stores during your trip. When you do, how about mirroring the Japanese culture of consideration and buying something small from the store in return since they provided you with a service?

That’s all for this article. If you learn how to use convenience stores to your full advantage then you will find your travels around Japan much easier!


Follow me for more to come :)

In this blog, I post my food trips around the world, as insights to Japanese food in comparison to all the different cuisines I encounter through my trips.

I have traveled to many places in Japan, so I will be sharing what I know to better plan your trip to my home country, Japan!

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