Convenience Stores

The local convenience store or Konbini as they are called is one of the most useful stores in Japan for that quick purchase or service, and there is not much these stores don’t sell.

There are estimated to be over 40,000 of these stores throughout Japan and several major chains including 7 eleven, Family mart and Lawson most are open 24 hours and 7 days a week making them really handy for just about anything you may need in a hurry.

The stores carry a huge variety of products and they are so plentiful, you will find them on just about every corner. Being so many there is good competition which keeps prices fairly reasonable, and like all Japanese stores all items are well labelled with prices.

These stores are great for that great snacks or meals, with everything from sandwiches to sushi- hot or cold. They also sell a huge assortment of hot and cold drinks and most carry liquor including beer and wine, plus a large range of toiletries, cosmetics newspapers and cigarettes.

One cost saving trick is to avoid the hotel breakfast or mini bar and purchase your needs the night before at a convenience store and leave in the refrigerator until morning. Over your trip you will save considerable money not paying expensive hotel prices.

Many of the stores offer other services like photocopying, faxing, ticket reservations for concerts, sporting events and attractions. You can buy batteries, blank CD’s and tapes, camera memory cards and usually there is a facility to print your digital photos. Most have a service where you can print your own or you can also leave there and pick up your prints later. The convenience store as the name suggests has just about anything a traveller would need.

Some stores also have a public toilet which makes the store even more convenient. Many 7-11 stares also have an ATM that accept foreign Visa cards which is quite handy considering most banks in Japan wont accept foreign cards.