All About Convenience Store in Japan: Chains, Services, and Products

Convenience stores, commonly called “konbini,” are an indispensable part of life in Japan. With their 24-hour operation, diverse product lineup, and various convenient services, they play a crucial role in supporting the lives of busy modern people.
In this article, we will provide a detailed explanation of the overview and characteristics of convenience stores, introduce major chain stores, as well as discuss convenient services, payment methods, and recommended products.

Convenience Stores in Japan

Overview

Convenience stores, also known as “konbini,” are small supermarkets mainly sell foods and miscellaneous goods. There are approximately 58,000 stores in Japan, and they are a part of Japanese culture.

In major cities like Tokyo, you can probably find more than ten convenience stores within walking distance. Apart from foods and miscellaneous goods, Japanese convenience stores are known for providing a wide range of products and essential services for daily life.

Operating Hours

Most convenience stores operate 24/7, making them particularly convenient for sudden errands even during late nights or early mornings. Some stores or regions may have temporary closing hours during late nights.

Product Lineup

One distinctive feature of Japanese convenience stores is their extensive range of products compared to those in other countries. The following types of products are available at most convenience stores:

• Bento boxes, bread, snacks, drinks, desserts
• Freshly brewed coffee, hot snacks prepared in-store
• Frozen foods, seasonings
• Stationery, sanitary products, cosmetics, batteries, umbrellas, and other daily necessities
• Cigarettes and alcohol
• Books
• Gift cards, prepaid cards for games or music, mobile SIM cards, trading cards

Convenience Store Chains

Top 3 convenience store chains

While Japan has a tremendous number of convenience stores, the top three companies, Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson, account for over 90% of the total sales in the industry. Here are the features and strengths of each convenience store.

Seven-Eleven

Lawson

FamilyMart

Other Convenience Stores

Ministop

With approximately 2,000 stores mainly in the Kanto region, Ministop is the fourth-largest convenience store chain. It has been offering hot snacks since its founding, and Mini Stop’s snacks have a dedicated fan base.

Natural Lawson

One of the Lawson brand stores, Natural Lawson, primarily offers products focusing on beauty and health. It operates only in the Greater Tokyo area and has a slightly higher-end image compared to regular Lawsons. It’s commonly referred to as “NatuLaw.”

Daily Yamazaki

A convenience store operated by a bakery company, with around 1,300 stores nationwide. Some stores sell freshly baked bread made in-store.

Seicomart

Japan’s oldest convenience store, currently mainly operates in Hokkaido. Seicomart, often referred to as Sekoma, is so beloved in Hokkaido that it’s said “When you think of convenience stores, you think of Seicomart. They sell products made in Hokkaido, helping local production and consumption.

Poplar

Common in the Chugoku and Kyushu regions. The “Popura Bento,” also known as “Popu Bento,” is particularly popular for its style of purchasing only the side dishes and then having freshly cooked rice packed inside in the store.

Services at Convenience Stores

Japanese convenience stores provide various convenient services, in addition to selling foods and daily necessities. Here are some representative services:

ATM

Convenience stores have ATMs from various banks. While many stores offer 24-hour access, withdrawing cash usually incurs a fee. The fee varies depending on the bank but typically ranges around 110 yen during weekdays and 220 yen during weekends or nights.

Copying, Ticket Purchasing

Besides copying documents and scanning notes, you can use multi-function copiers to print PDF files from a USB drive, print photos, and even print official documents like residency certificates if you have a My Number card.

Additionally, you can purchase tickets for events, concerts, admission for amusement parks and other such items using these copiers. The typical price is 10 yen for black and white prints and 50 yen for color prints.

Delivery & Postal Services

Japanese convenience stores offer services similar to those provided by post offices and delivery services. You can buy stamps and postcards, purchase envelopes called Yu-Pack, and drop letters or documents directly into mailboxes. The charges are the same as those at the post office.

Moreover, many convenience stores provide services to ship large parcels measuring up to 200 cm in the sum of the three sides, as well as receiving items ordered online.

To find out the difference between post office and convenience store postal services, please refer the article following;

Payment Service

You can pay various bills such as gas, electricity, taxes, insurance premiums, or purchases made through online shopping at convenience stores. In most cases, only cash payment is accepted.

Toilets

As toilets are freely accessible in many places in Japan, such as train stations or commercial facilities, convenience stores also offer free access to toilets. Having access to free toilets anytime, especially late at night or when far from the city center, is very convenient. We suggest that you buy something at the store if you are borrowing the toilet.

Payment Methods

Convenience stores accept various payment methods. Here are the main ones:

• Cash: The most common payment method. You can either pay directly to the staff at the cashier or use self-checkout machines.
• Credit Cards: Major credit cards and debit cards like Visa, Mastercard, Amex are accepted at many convenience stores.
• Electronic Money: Various electronic money such as transportation IC cards like Suica, Pasmo, Paypay, Edy, etc., are acceptable. Moreover, each convenience store issues their own electronic money cards like nanaco and Famipay. Of course, payment via apps installed on smartphones is also possible.
• Gift Cards: In Japan, it’s a common practice to send gift cards for celebrations, prizes or campaigns. Among them, QUO cards are widely used. They can be used in increments of 1 yen until the balance is zero.

Must-try Products at Convenience Stores

When using convenience stores in Japan, there are certain products you should definitely try. You’ll be amazed by the high quality of convenience store food.

Onigiri – Rice Balls

Sweets

Hot Snacks

Frozen Foods

Drinks

“Konbini” provide a wide range of foods, daily necessities, and various convenient services 24/7. They are an indispensable part of life in Japan and can be considered a part of Japanese culture. Each company has its own original products and services, so enjoy exploring different konbini while in Japan.