Visiting Japanese Convenience Stores (Konbini ~ コンビニ) is a rite of passage for any tourist, whether it’s to buy delicious snacks, the famous egg sandwich, or last-minute toiletries. Here’s our guide for you to make the most of your Konbini trips.
What is a Konbini?
A convenience store is a retail store selling a range of everyday items, from ready-to-eat food, groceries, snacks, drinks, newspapers, etc. While convenience stores are available worldwide in many forms, Japan has taken convenience stores or Konbini, to the next level with many unusual services!
Special Services at the Konbini
- Concert ticket purchases
- ATM services
- SIM card purchases
- Bill Payments
- Parcel delivery and pickup services (e.g., Yamato, Japan Post)
- Printing & Scanning service
- Powerbank rental
All konbini stores also provide options to heat up ready-to-eat food, warm drinks, hot water for ramen and even coffee machines for freshly ground coffee! A few local konbini also provide eat-in space, but this has been declining as an aftereffect of COVID-19
Selected konbini also act as safe haven during emergencies. In case of earthquake, fires or floods, konbini stock emergency food supplies, water, batteries and safety gear. They can also provide water free of charge during evacuation.
Popular Konbini Chains in Japan
While Japan has more than 50,000 stores located all over the country, 7-Eleven, Family Mart, and Lawson are the A-tier brands.
In more local or regional areas, you’ll find chains such as Ministop, Daily Yamazaki, Poplar, etc. To the untrained eye, these stores may look like they offer similar products, but each brand has its own speciality.
Must-Try Konbini Food & Snacks
- 7-Eleven is famous for having a variety of bento and snacks, including collaborations with different anime, dramas, seasonal products, and even selling Japanese Barbie Licca-chan!
Must Try- Strawberry & whipped cream sandwich (seasonal), Mochi Donuts - Family Mart is best known for having the crowd favourite – FamiChiki or Family Mart Fried Chicken. While the original is considered to be the best, the spicy Red Chicken comes a close second as a pick-me-up.
Must Try- Original FamiChiki, Egg sandwich - Lawson is known for its variety of sweets, including seasonal flavours. Lawson is also multifaceted –Lawson 100 acts as a greengrocer. It offers a variety of vegetables and fruits. Natural Lawson focuses on natural and organic food products, beauty items and environmentally friendly options for packaging, which are more expensive than other konbini brands.
Must Try- Steamed Buns, popcorn chicken, original Onigiri
Useful Japanese Phrases for Konbini
Now that you know all about konbini, here are a few phrases which you will hear in any convenience store:
- いらっしゃいませ (Irasshaimase)- Welcome. You will hear this phrase every time you enter a store.
- お次の方どうぞ (O tsugi no kata douzo) or どうぞ (Douzo)- Next customer, please come forward!
- ○○温めますか？ (○○ atatamemasuka)- Would you like this heated?
- You can reply either はい、お願いします (Hai, onegaishimasu)- Yes please
- or いいえ、大丈夫です (Iie, daijoubu desu)- No thank you.
- ○○はご利用ですか？ (○○ goriyou desu ka)- Do you need ○○?
- For example- お箸はご利用ですか？ (Ohashi wa goriyou desu ka) Will you be using chopsticks?
- レジ袋はご利用ですか？ (Rejibukuro wa goriyou desu ka) Will you be using a bag?
- レジ袋にお入れしますか？ (Rejibukuro ni oire shimasu ka) Do you want to keep (your items) in the plastic bag?
- そのままでお願いします (Sono mama de onegaishimasu) You can give it as it is (without a plastic bag)
- ○○ポイントカードはお持ちですか？(Point card wa omochi desu ka) Do you have a point card?
- You can reply either はい、あります (Hai, arimasu)- Yes, I do or いいえ、ありません (Iie, arimasen)- No, I don’t.
- お支払方法はいかがですか？ (Oshiharai houhou wa ikaga desu ka) What will be your mode of payment?
- You may also find many stores with a touch screen with English translation for selecting payment options.
- カード/現金/Suicaでお願いします (Kaado,/genkin,/Suica de onegaishimasu)- I will pay by card/cash/Suica
- ○○ください (○○ kudasai) – Please give me ○○
BONUS: Look out for these stickers and signs!
- 新発売 (Shinhatsubai)- Stickers for products which have been newly released
- 期間限定 (Kikangentei)- Limited edition items
- ご自由にお使いください (Gojiyuu ni otsukai kudasai) Feel free to take these if needed
(Not unlimited use—just for your purchase)- For example: Chopsticks, stirrers, sugar packets, etc.
- 割引 (Waribiki)- Discount
Konbini frequently mark down food close to its best-before date.
Konbini stores are an eclectic world of their own and a true mark of Japanese innovation. They are handy when it comes to late-night dinners or early morning breakfast options, especially when it comes to staying at hotels or hostels with no cooking space. During your Japan visit, don’t forget to visit a variety of konbini to try all the delicious and quirky items that you can!
