Japanese Convenience Store Guide: What to Buy at 7-Eleven, Lawson & FamilyMart
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Japanese convenience stores (konbini) are open 24 hours, sell surprisingly good food, and handle everything from ATMs to concert tickets. The big three are 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart, and each has its own fans and specialities.
What to eat
- Onigiri (rice balls): try salmon, tuna-mayo or pickled plum (umeboshi). Follow the numbered tabs on the wrapper to open it without tearing the seaweed.
- Egg sandwiches (tamago sando): soft bread and creamy egg filling, a famous konbini favourite.
- Fried chicken: each chain has its own signature, kept warm by the register.
- Bento and noodles: staff will offer to heat them for you. Just nod or say "onegaishimasu" (please).
- Desserts: seasonal puddings, roll cakes and cream puffs that change every few weeks.
Snacks and drinks to try
- Seasonal and limited-edition chocolate and chip flavours (sakura in spring, chestnut and sweet potato in autumn)
- Jagarico potato sticks, Kaki no Tane rice crackers, and other classics. See our list of Japanese snacks hard to find outside Japan.
- Bottled green tea, hot canned coffee in winter, and fruit-flavoured sodas
Useful services
- ATMs: 7-Eleven's Seven Bank ATMs accept most foreign cards. See cash or card in Japan.
- Free WiFi at many stores (registration may be required)
- Printing and copying from your phone
- Tickets and bill payments through in-store machines (menus are mostly in Japanese)
- IC card top-ups: pay with Suica or PASMO, and top up at the register at many stores
Konbini etiquette
- Place your money or card in the small tray at the register rather than handing it over.
- Bags cost a few yen. Say "fukuro wa daijoubu desu" if you don't need one.
- Eating while walking is frowned upon in many places. Eat in the store's seating area if there is one, or nearby.
- Rubbish bins are rare on the street, and konbini bins are meant for items bought there.
Can't get to Japan? Bring the konbini to you
Monthly snack boxes such as TokyoTreat ship a selection of Japanese convenience-store snacks and limited-edition flavours from Japan. Compare options in our TokyoTreat vs Sakuraco guide.
Related guides
- TokyoTreat vs Sakuraco
- 15 Japanese snacks that are hard to find outside Japan
- Best Japanese snack box gift for the holidays
- Gifts for anime fans shipped from Japan
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