basic information

More than 40,000 convenience stores (konbini) can be found across Japan. Strong competition between the major operators, such as Seven Eleven, Lawson and Family Mart, constantly produces new innovative products and services and makes Japanese convenience stores truly convenient.

Most convenience stores are open 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.

Goods offered

Food products offered include a large range of meals, snacks and sweets, such as rice balls, sandwiches, bread, rice crackers, chips, chocolate, lunch boxes, salads, dairy products, instant noodles, microwave meals and various hot dishes like nikuman and oden. Cold dishes can also be heated up by the store personnel.

Beverages offered range from sport drinks, tea, coffee, soft drinks, juices, water and milk to vitamin drinks. Both, hot and cold beverages are available. Many convenience stores also sell alcoholic beverages including beer, happoshu, chuhai, nihonshu, shochu and wines.

Other goods available include body care products, cosmetics, batteries, blank CDs and tapes, umbrellas, newspapers, magazines and comics. Some stores, particularly outside of the city centers, have a toilet.

Services offered

Convenience stores also offer a wide range of services, many of which can be accessed through automated multi-purpose terminals (the user menu is usually in Japanese only):

• ATM: ATMs offer various banking services and often also serve as the above mentioned multi-purpose terminals. Foreign credit and debit cards are usually not recognized by the ATMs found in convenience stores.

• Copier/Fax: A copy machine and fax is available at most convenience stores. If not the ATM, it is usually the copy machine which serves as the store's multi-purpose terminal.

• Ticket Reservations: Tickets for sport events, concerts, theme parks, highway buses and other travel services can be purchased at the multi-purpose terminal.

• Digital Camera Prints: You can get prints of digital pictures by inserting your camera's memory card into the multi-purpose terminal. Depending on the store, the prints will be ready instantly or can be picked up later.

• Bill Payment: Many bills, including utility, cell phone and insurance bills, can be paid at convenience stores.

• Delivery Services: At many stores, it is possible to drop off or pick up deliveries (takuhaibin), such as parcels or luggage. A limited range of postal services, such as the sale of post cards and stamps, is also available.

Below is a sample layout of a typical Japanese convenience store:

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