The Japanese convenience store is genuinely one of the best things about living in Japan. It’s not just snacks and drinks — it’s a full-service hub where you can pay bills, withdraw cash, print documents, eat a surprisingly good meal, and mail packages. Here’s everything it can do for you.
The Big Three Chains
| Chain | Stores in Japan | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Eleven (セブンイレブン) | ~21,000 | Largest network, best ATM for foreigners |
| Lawson (ローソン) | ~14,500 | Great fried chicken (karaage-kun), strong snack game |
| FamilyMart (ファミリーマート) | ~16,500 | Best hot food selection, popular famiチキ chicken |
There are also regional chains: Sunkus, Ministop, Daily Yamazaki — same concept, slightly different products.
Food: Better Than You’d Expect
Japanese konbini food is genuinely good. Not “good for convenience store” — just good.
Onigiri (おにぎり)
Rice balls in dozens of varieties. Tuna mayo, salmon, umeboshi (pickled plum), takikomi gohan. ¥120–¥160 each. Breakfast of champions.
Hot Foods
The warmed case near the register has:
- Nikuman (肉まん) — steamed pork buns, essential in winter
- Karaage (唐揚げ) — fried chicken, each chain has its own version
- Corn dogs, potato wedges, croquettes
Ask for the item you want — staff will grab it from the warmer.
Ready Meals (弁当 / bento)
Onigiri’s bigger sibling. Full meals for ¥400–¥600. Pasta, curry, fried rice, teriyaki chicken, soba. Microwaveable in-store.
Desserts
The konbini dessert game is serious. Seasonal puddings, premium cheesecakes, parfaits, and the legendary 7-Eleven roll cake are all worth trying.
ATMs for Foreigners
7-Eleven ATMs are the most foreigner-friendly. They accept international Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and Cirrus cards reliably, and have English menus.
Lawson and FamilyMart ATMs also work with foreign cards but are slightly less consistent.
Use the ATM in the konbini — bank ATMs in Japan often don’t accept foreign cards, and the konbini ATM fee (¥110–¥220) is much lower than what you’d pay at a currency exchange.
Pay Bills at the Register
Japanese utility bills, NHK fees, parking tickets, and many other invoices have a barcode on them that you can scan at the konbini register. Hand the bill to the staff, they scan it, you pay cash. Done.
What you can pay:
- Electricity, gas, water bills
- Internet and phone bills
- NHK fees
- Local tax bills
- Insurance premiums (some)
- Online shopping invoices (konbini payment option)
Print Documents (Multifunction Copier)
Every konbini has a Fuji Xerox multifunction machine (usually called a “copy machine” or コピー機). It does far more than copying:
| Function | Price |
|---|---|
| Black & white copy/print | ¥10/page |
| Color copy/print | ¥50–¥80/page |
| Print from USB | ¥10–¥80/page |
| Scan to USB | ¥30/scan |
| Print from smartphone | ¥10–¥80 via app |
| Print residence certificate (住民票) | ¥200–¥300 (with My Number card) |
For printing from your phone, use the chain’s app:
- 7-Eleven: netprint / 7-Eleven Multicopy app
- Lawson/FamilyMart: PrintSmash app
Send Packages (Takkyubin)
Konbini accept Yamato (黒猫ヤマト) and Sagawa packages. Drop off packages for same-day or next-day delivery anywhere in Japan. Great for sending luggage ahead to your hotel when traveling.
You can also receive packages at konbini — many Japanese online stores let you choose konbini pickup, which avoids the need to be home for delivery.
Buy Train Tickets and Event Tickets
FamilyMart’s Famiport and Lawson’s Loppi terminal machines handle:
- Concert and event tickets
- Theme park admission
- Shinkansen and express train tickets (limited routes)
- Sports event tickets
- Travel packages
Other Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do
- Buy stamps and mail postcards — staff handle it
- Charge IC cards (Suica, Pasmo) at the register
- Buy gift cards — Amazon, Apple, Google Play
- Apply for My Number card services — some konbini
- Buy insurance for a day — travel accident insurance at some locations
- Return online shopping items — depending on the platform
Konbini App Tips
All three major chains have apps with loyalty points:
- 7-Eleven: 7iD app — points on every purchase
- Lawson: Ponta / dPoint — link to Ponta or d-point card
- FamilyMart: FamiPay app — cashback and discounts
Set these up early — the points add up fast if you visit daily.