Japan Convenience Store

Convenience store or Japanese like to call "Konbini" are found everywhere in Japan. Sometimes you can find the same store in the same street just in the opposite side. They are even at subway station, inside a hotel, almost every corner of the streets. Convenience indeed :-) 

I remember when i was in Japan in 2009, one of my friend, Miss F, want to go to Lawson Convenience Store close by the hotel, but she told my other friend, Mr. V, she want to go 7 Eleven and when Mr. V bring her to find a 7 Eleven store, and after walking a long way & found one she say "no not this one". Apparently she calls all convenience store in Japan 7 Eleven. Mr. V goes "get your convenience store name correct".

What can you buy at the store? Let's see i bought food & drinks mostly, an Umbrella. Well food & drinks is the main reason i go to the convenience store. What i know is the store mostly sell different type of meals, snacks and sweets, such as Onigiri (rice balls), sandwiches, bread, Obento (lunch boxes), instant noodles and hot foods like fried chicken and Corn dog, and many more. You can also request the staff to heat up your food using a microwave oven, and hot water is available for your instant noodles too.

The stores also sell all kinds of hot and cold beverages including soda, sport drinks, coffee, tea, water, juice, milk & vitamin drinks. They also sell alcoholic beverages including beer, Chuhai, Sake and Wine. Every time i visit Japan i always buy my favourite "Kirin Afternoon Milk Tea". Look for it, it's very nice.

The convenience store also sell other things such as household products, batteries, blank CDs, Disposable cameras, Toys, body care products, cosmetics, stationery, newspapers, magazines and comics (to name a few). Oh ya want to look for a rubbish bin, just go to any convenience store, you can always find one there.

Convenience stores in Japan also offer different services, but not in all. This is what i know from personal experience during my visit there in Japan. They have:

-Photocopying service.
-Courier and postal service.
-Fax service.
-Automated teller machines (ATM).
-Payment service for utilities & other bills and taxes.
-Pre-paid cards for cellular phones.
-Ticket service for concerts, theme parks, airlines.
-Digital Camera print
-Toilets (FOC)

Most of my Convenience Store photos are taken at night, why? Because it's the only shop i can find open late in Japan to buy some stuffs, well it's 24 hours, so very convenience. Any of you can't sleep after midnight in Japan, go have a walk and visit the closest convenience store. It is easy to find one, the sign board are always brightly lid. I've so far visited Lawson, FamilyMart, Circle K Sunkus, & Am/Pm. Any photos of Japan Convenience Store you have, share with us at our Facebook page.

Watch the video below link from Youtube about inside a Japan Convenience Store.