Japanese convenience stores (konbini) are unlike anything in most other countries. Open 24/7, they handle banking, bills, printing, food, medicine, and more. If you’re new to Japan, this guide will save you a lot of time.
The Big Three
| Store | Notable For |
|---|---|
| 7-Eleven (セブンイレブン) | Best food quality, ATM (accepts foreign cards) |
| Lawson (ローソン) | Best snacks, Loppi terminal for tickets |
| FamilyMart (ファミリーマート) | Good selection, Famiport terminal |
There are also Ministop, Daily Yamazaki, and others, but 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart are everywhere.
What You Can Do at a Konbini
ATM
7-Eleven ATMs accept Visa, Mastercard, and foreign debit cards. This is one of the most reliable ATMs for foreign cards in Japan. Available 24/7.
Lawson and FamilyMart also have ATMs that accept some foreign cards, but 7-Eleven is most reliable.
Pay Bills
Bring any bill (electricity, gas, water, tax) to the register and pay in cash. Just hand it to the staff and say “お支払いをお願いします” (oshiharai wo onegaishimasu). Takes 30 seconds.
Print Documents
All major konbini have multifunction printers. You can:
- Print from a USB drive
- Print documents sent via email or app
- Scan documents
- Copy
Cost: Around ¥10–¥30 per page. Very useful for printing forms for visa applications.
Buy Concert/Event Tickets
Use the in-store terminals (Loppi at Lawson, Famiport at FamilyMart) to buy tickets for concerts, movies, sports events, amusement parks, and buses.
Send Packages (Takukyubin)
Ship packages through Yamato (ヤマト) or Sagawa from any konbini. Bring your package, fill in a slip (staff will help), and it’ll be delivered next-day in most cases.
Receive Packages
Order something online and don’t want to miss the delivery? Choose konbini pickup (コンビニ受け取り) at checkout. Your package waits at the store until you pick it up.
Fax
Yes, konbini have fax machines. Still used occasionally for official documents in Japan.
Food Worth Knowing About
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Onigiri (おにぎり) | Rice balls — cheap, filling, ¥130–¥200 |
| Hot foods | Fried chicken, nikuman (pork buns) — good quality |
| Sandwiches | Fresh, changed twice daily |
| Bento boxes | Full meals, microwave on-site |
| Instant noodles | Huge selection, hot water dispenser in-store |
| Desserts | Quality is surprisingly high |
Konbini food is genuinely good. Many locals eat here regularly.
Useful Phrases at the Register
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 袋はご利用ですか？ | Do you need a bag? (Say いいえ to decline) |
| ポイントカードはお持ちですか？ | Do you have a points card? (Say いいえ) |
| 温めますか？ | Shall I heat it up? (Say はい for yes) |
| レシートはご利用ですか？ | Do you need a receipt? |
You don’t need to understand everything — just watch what others do.
Points Cards
Each chain has a loyalty program:
- 7-Eleven → 7iD / nanaco
- Lawson → Ponta / d-point
- FamilyMart → T-point / d-point
Not essential when you’re starting out, but worth getting once you’ve settled. Points add up over time.
Bottom Line
Learn to use your local konbini well and it will solve a lot of problems. Pay bills, print forms, ship packages, withdraw cash with your foreign card — all from a store that’s open at 3am. 7-Eleven ATMs are the most reliable for foreign cards. Keep the address of your nearest one saved.