Konbini (Japanese convenience stores) are one-stop shops that grace every corner of every Japanese street, shining like a beacon of hope in the dead of night and wee hours of the morning when everything else is closed. Konbini (the abbreviated word for konbiniensu sutoru, "convenience store") are quite different from convenience stores in other countries. In Japan, the 24/7 konbini are essential in so many ways, from paying bills to picking up packages and, of course, serving as a place to grab a late-night bite.
Konbini are Essential to Life in Japan
Due to long working hours, short break times, and fast-paced modern life (especially in cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto), convenience is of the utmost importance in Japan. Japanese konbini make life a bit easier, with services such as Wi-Fi, bill payments, ticket reservations, ATMs, delivery services, and printing services, all in one place. You can even have packages delivered to konbini, so you can pick them up instead of waiting at home for the package to arrive. Even if you are just in Japan for a short visit, the ease of access will make you fall in love with Japanese convenience stores.
Biggest Konbini Chains in Japan
With high demand for Japanese convenience stores, many brands are competing for the top spot in the market. Here are the top 3 biggest konbini chains in Japan.
1. 7-Eleven
7-Eleven is a convenience store chain that was founded in 1927 in Dallas, Texas. In 1974, the first 7-Eleven in Japan opened in Tokyo; today, Japan has the highest number of 7-Elevens of any country in the world. In 2018, the number of convenience stores in Japan reached 20,000 according to a News Release by Seven & I Holdings Co, meaning Japan accounts for over 30% of the 7-Elevens in the world! If you need to take out money with an international card, 7-Eleven has foreigner-friendly ATMs with English menus. You can also purchase tickets for films, concerts, exhibitions, and more. 7-Eleven is the go-to place to grab a chuhai (shochu highball) or beer before a night out, or pick up some Japanese curry on your way home.
2. FamilyMart
Family Mart originated in Japan and is close behind 7-Eleven, with the second highest number of convenience stores in Japan. The first branch opened in the prefecture of Saitama around 1973. Today, FamilyMart even has stores in Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, and China, just to name a few. Like 7-Eleven, they have ATMs (though FamilyMart ATMs are not as foreigner-friendly) and you can buy tickets for major attractions like Disneyland and LegoLand. They also have an impressive range of hot foods like steamed buns, korokke (croquettes), and the famous famichiki (FamilyMart Chicken).
3. Lawson
Lawson comes in third in the Japanese konbini race, but it has its own special appeal. Lawson should be your go-to konbini for breads and pastries, home to an enormous aisle of danishes, cakes, donuts, curry bread, melonpan, and more. When you've had a bad day, carbs from Lawson will always be there to cheer you up. Anime fans, as well as carb-lovers, will be drawn to Lawson, as the konbini also has exclusive rights to sell tickets for the Studio Ghibli Museum.
Top 10 Konbini Foods
Konbini food is one of the most convenient options when you get the munchies. Satisfy your cravings for Japanese food at any time of the day. Even when the jet lag hits and you find yourself awakened by a grumbling stomach at 3:00 a.m., you know you can turn to these top 10 konbini foods.
1. Onigiri
With so many different filling options, onigiri are an always tasty, never boring, on-the-go bite. The inventive Japanese packaging makes sure that the crispy nori (seaweed paper) doesn't touch the rice as it sits on the shelf. This thoughtful attention to detail elevates the onigiri-eating experience, preventing the dreaded soggy nori. As you open the packaging, the nori and the rice ball finally unite; the fresh, crisp nori shatters between your teeth--that perfect first bite.
2. Bento
Bento or obento are Japanese packaged lunches. They can be mass-produced or homemade or anywhere in between. The classic Japanese bento includes rice, grilled fish, pickled veggies, tamagoyaki, and sometimes chicken karaage or a meatball.
3. Sandwiches
Sandwiches? Yawn. Okay, hear me out. Sandwiches might seem pretty basic for a convenience store, but Japanese konbini seriously hit it out of the park. Take, for example, the furutsu sando: two slices of fluffy Japanese milk bread filled with sweet whipped cream and juicy seasonal fruits. Served chilled, what could be more refreshing? Or if you're in a savory mood, turn to the tamago sando, which the late Anthony Bourdain raved about in Parts Unknown: Tokyo: "At Lawson’s, you can dig into their unnaturally fluffy, insanely delicious, incongruously addictive egg salad sandwiches. I love them. Layer after layer after layer of awesome."
4. Anpan
Anpan, a sweet red bean filled bun, was conceived of a marriage between Japanese traditional sweets and Western pastry. It is one of the most iconic Japanese breads, even with a cartoon superhero, Anpanman, made in its image. It's an arguably healthy konbini food, containing a plant protein alongside carbs (at least, that's what this writer tells herself).
5. Sushi
This is one is a no-brainer. But while you might be a little turned off by the idea of convenience store sushi, Japanese konbini sushi, specifically Lawson's sushi, doesn't sacrifice quality for convenience. Konbini sushi is affordable and accessible when you're in a pinch, and due to the high product turnover rate, you should have no worries about freshness.
5. Oden
Oden comes out every year, once the first chill of winter hits Japan, to combat those nippy days. It is a type of hot pot that includes different ingredients of your choice, such as daikon radish, kamaboko fish cake, fried tofu, sausages, fish balls, and hanpen. The broth is quite light in flavor, comforting on a cold and blustery day, and easily accessible at Japanese konbini.
6. Gyudon
Gyudon is the classic Japanese beef bowl, which consists of beef and onions that are simmered in a sweet sauce and served atop rice. It can be found in supermarkets and chain stores (like Yoshinoya and Matsuya) as well as konbini.
7. Soba
Soba, Japanese buckwheat noodles, can be served either hot in a soup or cold alongside a dipping sauce. At konbini, the cold soba bento is quite common, and includes thinly-sliced negi (Japanese green onion), mentsuyu dipping sauce, and sometimes shredded nori (seaweed), alongside soba noodles.
9. Dorayaki
If you know anything about the manga and anime series Doraemon, then you know that dorayaki is the titular character's favorite sweet. Red bean paste is a staple of many Japanese desserts (like #4, anpan), and dorayaki is no exception, consisting of two pancakes sandwiched together with anko (sweet red bean) in the middle. You can find dorayaki in the baked goods aisle of your favorite konbini.
10. Melonpan (Melon Bread)
The name's a bit misleading, as the only thing that's melon-like about this bread is the cross-hatch pattern on top. But melonpan is still an iconic Japanese bread, with a fluffy center and crackly cookie-like top, which you can find in konbini and bakeries nationwide.
