Japan Convenience Store Guide: What to Buy, What to Skip
By Tour in Japan editors · Updated
Japanese convenience stores (コンビニ) are legendary — fresh food, ATMs, tickets, and services you'd never expect. Here's what to know.
Japanese convenience stores (コンビニ) are legendary — fresh food, ATMs, tickets, and services you'd never expect. Here's what to know.
The Big Three
| Store | Japanese | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Eleven | セブン-イレブン | Best ATMs, best sandwiches, most locations |
| FamilyMart | ファミリーマート | Best fried chicken (Famichiki), best egg sandwiches |
| Lawson | ローソン | Best sweets (Uchi Café), best oden |
What to Buy
Food (Excellent)
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Onigiri (rice ball) | ¥120–180 | Best snack in Japan |
| Sandwich | ¥200–350 | Egg sandwich is legendary |
| Bento box | ¥400–600 | Fresh, filling, cheap |
| Fried chicken | ¥200–300 | Famichiki (FamilyMart) is famous |
| Oden | ¥100–200 | Winter hot pot dish |
| Noodles (cup) | ¥200–300 | Instant ramen, udon |
| Dessert | ¥150–300 | Pudding, cake, mochi |
| Coffee | ¥110–180 | Freshly brewed, surprisingly good |
Drinks
| Drink | Price |
|---|---|
| Water | ¥110 |
| Green tea | ¥110–160 |
| Canned coffee | ¥110–180 |
| Soda | ¥150–200 |
| Alcohol | ¥200–500 |
| Energy drink | ¥200–300 |
Non-Food
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phone charger | ¥1,000–3,000 | Emergency only |
| Umbrella | ¥500–1,000 | For sudden rain |
| Underwear | ¥500–1,000 | Emergency purchase |
| Toiletries | ¥200–500 | Toothbrush, razor, etc. |
| Magazines | ¥300–600 | Manga, fashion, news |
| Stamps | ¥84 | For postcards |
| Concert tickets | Varies | Buy at Loppi (Lawson) or Famiport (FamilyMart) |
Services (Surprisingly Useful)
| Service | What It Does |
|---|---|
| ATM | Withdraw cash from foreign cards (7-Eleven best) |
| Bill payment | Pay utility bills, taxes |
| Package pickup | Receive online orders |
| Printing | Print documents from USB or phone |
| Fax | Send and receive faxes |
| Ticket purchase | Concert, event, train tickets |
| Copying | Self-service copiers |
| WiFi | Free WiFi at most locations |
| Toilet | Clean, free, always available |
| Luggage storage | Ship via Yamato (Takkyubin) |
Late-Night Deals
Many convenience stores discount ready-to-eat food after 7 PM:
| Time | Discount |
|---|---|
| 7:00 PM | 10–20% off bento, sushi, sandwiches |
| 8:00 PM | 20–30% off |
| 9:00 PM | 30–50% off |
| 10:00 PM+ | Up to 50% off |
Look for yellow discount stickers (割引 stickers) on items.
Tips
- Onigiri is the perfect snack — cheap, filling, delicious
- Use 7-Eleven ATM — best foreign card support
- Check the hot food section — fresh fried chicken, oden, corn dogs
- Grab an egg sandwich — it's a Japanese rite of passage
- Late-night food — discounted bento is surprisingly good
- Free toilet — always clean, always available
- Ask for a receipt — for expense tracking
- Bag your own trash — no bins in stores (take it with you)
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