Article by: yana

Get to know what is a convenience store and why people love it so much

If you come from a western country, you might get surprised by how many convenience stores are there in Japan – especially in big cities like Tokyo. More than 50,000 convenience stores, known as konbini, can be found across Japan. Three mains are Seven Eleven, Family Mart, and Lawson. It is not uncommon to see two different convenience stores right next to each other, and sometimes you might even come across two stores of the same chain located on the same street just across the road. You can find anything in a convenience store in Japan – from snacks and alcoholic drinks to cat food and cosmetics. They even sell underwear in case you urgently need one. Convenience stores are also quite famous for their cooked meals – they are delicious and are definitely a good way to save money when you do not have time to cook at home. These are usually slightly more expensive than regular grocery stores – so this is the only downside. But in exchange convenience stores in Japan are open 24 hours so you can eat yummy pasta at 3 am! They also often have seasonal desserts and drinks which are often limited time and are worth trying.  Some larger stores even have an eat-in area. Microwaves and kettles are also available for those who wish to warm up their food or add some boiling water to their instant ramen. Sometimes instead of having a microwave, anyone can use the stuff will ask you if you want your food heated up at the register. They will also provide you with free chopsticks or any cutlery you might need for your meal. It is being discussed now to charge a fee for the plastic cutlery, so you might be safer by bringing your own. 

Other than buying stuff, you can also pay your taxes, utility bills, print out your pictures or documents, and cash out your card. Most stores have printing machines, ATMs, and machines that can be used for ticket reservations.  There are also various campaigns and discounts all the time.  Most also have free Wi-Fi and are offering delivery services, so you can order a package to be delivered to a nearby convenience store and send it from there.