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For people visiting Japan, stopping by a convenience store is almost as much a part of the experience as riding the Shinkansen.
Known in Japanese as konbini, they’re far more than just places to grab a drink or snack. While not every location operates around the clock, many are open 24 hours a day and stock everything from freshly prepared meals and desserts to toiletries, clothing, umbrellas and seasonal gifts. They also provide services such as mail pickup, international ATMs, ticket sales, printing, and luggage delivery, making them an indispensable part of everyday life for both residents and travelers.
Quick Answer - Which Japanese Convenience Store is Best?
On the surface, Japan’s major convenience store chains look remarkably similar. They stock many of the same items, and you'll often find several competing brands in the same general area. Look a little closer, however, and you'll quickly discover that each has developed its own personality, signature products and loyal following. Here's what makes Japan’s biggest convenience store chains unique, and which one might become your favorite.
Special update: You can now buy single rail tickets for Japan’s Golden Route on JRPass.com - single fares, one-way, fully digital, including the Shinkansen 'bullet' train.
Japan Convenience Stores: Key Details
Japanese Name: コンビニ (konbini), short for コンビニエンスストア (konbiniensu sutoa)
Number of Stores: More than 55,000 nationwide
Major Chains: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson
Typical Opening Hours: Many stores open 24 hours
Most Common Services: ATMs, ticket sales, mail pickup, luggage delivery, photocopying/scanning, printing, bill payment
Popular Foods: Onigiri (rice balls), bento (boxed lunches), sandwiches, noodles, fried chicken, desserts
Payment Methods: Cash, major credit cards, IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, etc.), QR code payment apps
Best For: Quick, budget-friendly food, travel essentials, everyday convenience
7-Eleven
Best for: Consistency and Quality
With more than 20,000 locations nationwide, Japan is the world’s largest 7-Eleven market, and is one of the country’s “big three” convenience store brands alongside FamilyMart and Lawson. Although 7-Eleven originated in the United States, the first Japanese store opened in 1974, and the brand later came under Japanese ownership through Seven & i Holdings in 2005. Today, its scale and famously consistent standards mean you can expect much the same experience whether you’re visiting a store in the heart of Tokyo or a quiet rural town.
Its biggest strength is the quality and consistency of its food. Fresh onigiri, sandwiches, bento, noodles, and salads are delivered and restocked multiple times a day, while the popular Seven Premium range includes everything from frozen meals and snacks to surprisingly good desserts. For something a little more indulgent, the Seven Premium Gold line offers ready-to-eat meals, bakery items, and sweets made with higher-quality ingredients. Many visitors are particularly impressed by simple items like the chain’s tamago sando (egg sandwich), which has developed an almost cult following online.
7-Eleven is also one of the easiest places for international visitors to withdraw cash. Most stores feature Seven Bank ATMs that accept foreign debit and credit cards, making them a convenient stop shortly after arriving in Japan.
FamilyMart
Best for: Famichiki (Fried Chicken)
If 7-Eleven is known for consistency, FamilyMart—or FamiMa, as it’s commonly known in Japanese—has built its reputation on comfort food. Easily recognizable by its white, green, and blue branding, the chain opened its first store in Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, in 1973.
Its signature product is famichiki, a juicy, boneless piece of fried chicken that has become one of Japan’s most recognizable convenience store foods. In fact, it’s so popular that it has inspired countless fan creations, the most famous being famichiki sandwiched inside a tamago sando—a combination that became a social media sensation in Japan.
Beyond fried chicken, FamilyMart offers an excellent selection of ready-to-eat meals, sandwiches, bakery items, and desserts through its FamilyMart Collection private label. Frequent visitors may also recognize the chain’s distinctive entrance jingle, one of Japan’s most instantly recognizable sounds, while its signature green-and-blue striped socks have become an unexpected fashion trend and a popular souvenir.
Lawson
Best for: Desserts and Healthier Options
Originally founded as a milk store in the United States, Lawson has become especially well known for its desserts and freshly prepared food. Its iconic blue milk can logo is a nod to its origins, even though today’s Lawson has become distinctly Japanese. The popular Uchi Café range includes everything from cream-filled rolls and puddings to seasonal cakes and parfaits, rivaling desserts from many dedicated bakeries. Another standout feature is Machikado Kitchen, where staff prepare fresh sandwiches, boxed lunches, and other hot foods in-store throughout the day.
Lawson is also famous for Karaage-kun, bite-sized fried chicken available in a variety of flavors throughout the year. Depending on where you’re traveling, you may even come across regional collaborations featuring locally inspired snacks, drinks, and sweets that aren’t available elsewhere, making Lawson a particularly fun stop while exploring different parts of Japan.
What’s more, Lawson has also expanded beyond its standard stores into two specialty formats. Natural Lawson focuses on healthier meals, organic products, premium groceries, and wellness items, and is often the best choice for vegetarians, vegans, and those with dietary restrictions. Meanwhile, Lawson Store 100 combines the convenience of a konbini with the value of a hyaku-en shoppu (100-yen shop), making it an excellent stop for inexpensive groceries and everyday essentials.
Ministop
Best for: Soft Serve Ice Cream
Originally launched in Japan in 1980 by the AEON Group, Ministop combines the convenience of a konbini with the feel of a small cafe. Built around what the company calls a “combo store” concept, many locations prepare sandwiches and several other menu items fresh in an in-store kitchen, while some also provide small seating areas where customers can enjoy their food on the spot.
Its biggest draw is undoubtedly the soft serve ice cream, which many locals consider among the best you’ll find at any Japanese convenience store. Served year-round alongside elaborate parfaits, it has earned Ministop a loyal following in Japan. The chain is also famous for Halo-Halo, a colorful frozen dessert inspired by the Filipino classic, as well as its signature X Fried Potatoes and other made-to-order hot snacks.
Although it has far fewer locations than Japan’s biggest convenience store chains—roughly 1,800 stores—it’s well worth stopping by if you happen to spot one during your travels.
NewDays
Best for: Train Station Locations
If you’re traveling around Japan by rail, chances are you’ll soon get to know NewDays. Introduced by JR East in 2001, the chain was created specifically for busy railway stations and is now a common sight across eastern Japan. Today, NewDays stores are found inside or just outside many stations, making them the perfect place to grab breakfast, coffee, drinks, or an ekiben (train station bento) before boarding the Shinkansen or a local train.
Many locations also stock regional snacks, local specialties, and souvenirs, giving travelers the chance to pick up products unique to the area without ever leaving the station. Larger branches often carry train-themed souvenirs, exclusive JR East merchandise, and limited-edition seasonal products, while smaller stations are frequently served by NewDays KIOSK, compact stores that continue Japan’s long tradition of railway kiosks.
For anyone spending much of their trip exploring Japan by rail, NewDays quickly becomes an invaluable travel companion.
Other Convenience Stores Worth Knowing
While the country’s largest convenience store chains dominate the market, several smaller brands have developed loyal followings of their own.
Daily Yamazaki
Best for: Freshly Baked Bread
Backed by Yamazaki Baking, one of Japan’s largest bakery companies, Daily Yamazaki blurs the line between convenience store and neighborhood bakery. Many locations feature Daily Hot, an in-store bakery serving fresh bread, pastries, sandwiches, and even pizzas throughout the day. The selection varies by store, but when you find one with a proper bakery counter, it can feel more like picking up lunch from a local store than grabbing something from a standard konbini.
Seicomart
Best for: Hot Chef and Hokkaido Identity
Founded in Sapporo in 1971, Seicomart is Japan’s oldest surviving convenience store chain and has grown into a true Hokkaido institution, remaining the island’s dominant convenience store brand—with more than 1,000 locations. Its Hot Chef kitchens are famous for freshly prepared favorites like katsudon (pork cutlet rice bowls) and fried chicken, while shelves are stocked with Hokkaido milk, dairy products, snacks, and other regional specialties that can be difficult to find elsewhere in Japan. If you're visiting Hokkaido, stopping at Seicomart is almost a rite of passage.
Poplar
Best for: Freshly Cooked Rice
Originally from Hiroshima, Poplar was once one of Japan’s major convenience store chains. Although it has far fewer locations than it once did, it can still found be primarily in western Japan and is best known for Pop-ben, its signature bento meals, which are served with freshly cooked rice prepared in-store rather than relying entirely on pre-packaged lunches. The result is a more home-style meal that continues to earn the chain a following. Many former Poplar stores have also been converted into Lawson-Poplar locations, preserving the chain’s famous freshly cooked rice while offering Lawson’s wider selection of products.
More Than Just a Convenience Store
One of the biggest surprises for many international visitors is just how many services Japan’s convenience stores provide.
Need cash? Most stores have ATMs that accept international debit and credit cards. Want to send your suitcase ahead to your next hotel? Many locations can arrange luggage delivery. You can also buy concert and theme park tickets, pay utility bills, print documents and photographs, purchase postage stamps, recharge IC transportation cards, and pickup online shopping deliveries.
For many Japanese residents, the local konbini functions almost like a neighborhood service center. For travelers, it often becomes one of the most useful places you’ll visit.
Practical Tips for Visiting
- Consider a rail pass if you’re traveling widely: If your itinerary includes multiple cities, a JR Pass or regional rail pass may help reduce transportation costs, depending on your route.
- Stay connected: A Pocket Wi-Fi device or eSIM makes it easy to navigate unfamiliar neighborhoods, use translation apps, and locate nearby convenience stores throughout your trip.
- Arriving from overseas: If you’re flying into Japan for the first time, convenience stores can be useful from the moment you land. That said, if you’re unfamiliar with Japan’s transportation system you might also consider a Meet & Greet service to make airport transfers and onward connections easier.
FAQs
Q: Are Japanese convenience stores open 24 hours?
A: Many are, although some locations—particularly inside stations, office buildings, or smaller communities—may have reduced opening hours.
Q: Do Japanese convenience stores accept foreign credit cards?
A: Yes. Most major convenience stores accept international credit cards, debit cards, and a wide range of contactless payment methods, although carrying some cash is still recommended for smaller businesses.
Q: Can tourists withdraw cash from Japanese convenience stores?
A: Yes. Many 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, and other convenience stores have ATMs that accept foreign-issued debit and credit cards, making them one of the easiest places for international visitors to access cash.
Q: Can I pay with an IC card?
A: Yes. Most convenience stores accept IC cards like Suica, PASMO, and ICOCA, along with a variety of mobile payment options.
Q: Are convenience stores more expensive than supermarkets?
A: Generally, yes. However, the difference is often modest, and the convenience, long opening hours, and extensive prepared food selection make them excellent value for travelers.
Q: Can I eat inside a Japanese convenience store?
A: Some larger stores provide small seating areas or counters, but many do not. It’s common to eat outside the store or take food back to your hotel, train, or another suitable location.
Q: Do convenience stores sell seasonal products?
A: Absolutely. Limited-time snacks, drinks, desserts, and themed products appear throughout the year, especially during cherry blossom season, autumn, Halloween, and Christmas.
Q: Can I buy Shinkansen tickets at a convenience store?
A: Some convenience stores have multi-function ticket machines that sell event tickets, highway bus tickets, and other services. However, Shinkansen tickets are generally easiest to purchase at JR ticket offices, ticket machines, or online.
Q: Will I find the same convenience stores everywhere in Japan?
A: Not always. While 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson are found pretty much everywhere, regional chains such as Seicomart and Poplar have much smaller geographic footprints.
Q: Do convenience stores sell souvenirs?
A: Some do. Stores such as NewDays, particularly at larger railway stations, often stock regional snacks, train-themed merchandise, and souvenirs, while convenience stores across Japan frequently carry locally inspired seasonal products.
