Convenience stores,” which have become as famous among travelers as “ramen” and “sushi.” For Japanese people, convenience stores are an essential and indispensable part of life. When I went to Italy and found no convenience stores, I thought that perhaps Tabacchi would serve as an alternative in Italy. I remember feeling quite ignorant when I realized that there are actually many areas without convenience stores, despite assuming they were ubiquitous worldwide.
Being away from Japan, one realizes the greatness of Japanese convenience stores.
The three major convenience store chains in Japan are Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson. Their stores are found all over Japan, particularly concentrated in major cities. It’s not uncommon to find multiple convenience stores within a 100-meter radius. Rather than debating which is the best, each convenience store has its unique products, so I recommend visiting all three.
Here are some recommended points about Japanese convenience stores from a Japanese perspective:
24-hour operation: Most convenience stores are open 24/7, 365 days a year, without holidays even on Japanese holidays or New Year’s.
Wide variety of products: Convenience stores sell almost everything you need for daily life, including bento, bread, drinks, alcohol, toothbrushes, underwear, contact lens solution, and more.
Delicious food: The bento and sweets are excellent, even by Japanese standards. Especially, each convenience store competes fiercely in the realm of sweets. The level of deliciousness is exceptional.
Delicious hot snacks: Hot snacks are available at the cash register, such as chicken or fried foods. Especially recommended are the “Chicken” items: Seven-Eleven’s “Nana Chicken,” FamilyMart’s “Famichiki,” and Lawson’s “L Chicken.” You might find yourself buying a second one immediately after finishing the first.
Acceptance of credit cards: All three chains accept credit cards. Unlike in some countries where there are minimum purchase requirements for using credit cards, in Japan, you can use them without restrictions.
There are many other wonderful aspects beyond those mentioned above. Since the outstanding points may vary from person to person, I encourage you to discover your own “excellent points.
As a side note, in addition to the three major convenience store chains, there is a shop called “MINISTOP,” and finding this store would be lucky. This shop offers a cold dessert called “Haroharo,” which is available for a limited time from around April to August. Please note that the flavor may vary depending on the year of sale.