What Is a Konbini? Japan Convenience Stores 2026

A konbini is a Japanese convenience store: 7-Eleven, Lawson or FamilyMart. Most are open 24 hours, sell good hot and cold food, have ATMs that take foreign cards, and double as a post office, ticket counter and copy shop. For most visitors, it is the first shop they go into in Japan, and one they visit every day after that.

What makes it different

A convenience store elsewhere usually means drinks, snacks and not much else. A Japanese konbini is a small grocery store, a takeaway kitchen, a cash machine, a parcel counter and a place to pay bills, all in a shop the size of a large living room, open day and night. It works alongside Japan's vending machines as the everyday backbone of eating on the go.

The food

Onigiri. Rice balls wrapped in seaweed, filled with salmon, tuna mayonnaise, kombu, pickled plum, spicy cod roe and much more. The wrapper keeps the seaweed crisp until you open it: pull tab 1, then corners 2 and 3. Most cost roughly ¥150–¥250.

Sandwiches. Made with soft Japanese milk bread (shokupan). The egg salad sandwich has a following of its own, and so does the katsu sandwich.

The hot counter. Fried chicken, steamed buns (nikuman), croquettes and skewers, kept warm by the register. Each chain has its signature: Lawson's Karaage-kun fried chicken, FamilyMart's Famichiki, 7-Eleven's steamed buns. Natural Lawson, a smaller Lawson brand, leans toward healthier food.

Oden. In the colder months, many stores keep a pot of simmered daikon, egg, fish cakes, tofu and konjac by the register. Point at what you want, or serve yourself where the store allows it.

Sweets. Melon bread, cream buns and a fridge of puddings, cream puffs and seasonal desserts, many developed with well-known pastry makers.

Drinks. Beer, sake, wine and canned chuhai (shochu highballs) at normal shop prices, alongside every kind of tea and coffee. Freshly brewed coffee from the self-service machine costs a little over ¥100.

The services

ATMs. 7-Eleven's Seven Bank ATMs accept most foreign cards, and Lawson's ATMs accept many. They are the easiest way to get cash in Japan; see our cash or card guide.

Printing and copying. Every store has a multifunction machine. You can print documents and photos from your phone through the chain's printing app, or from a USB drive.

Bill payment. Japanese residents pay utility, phone and online-shopping bills at the register.

Tickets. The in-store terminals (Loppi at Lawson, Famiport at FamilyMart, the multifunction machine at 7-Eleven) sell concert, event and theme park tickets. Train and Shinkansen tickets are not sold here; buy those from JR.

Parcels. You can send parcels within Japan from the counter, through Yamato or Japan Post depending on the chain. See our luggage forwarding guide.

Paying

Every major chain takes credit cards, IC cards such as Suica and Pasmo, and QR code payments as well as cash. An IC card is usually the quickest.

How to use a konbini well

• Say yes to the offer to heat a bento ("atatamemasu ka?"), and wait at the counter.
• Take your rubbish with you, or use the bins outside the store, which are meant for things bought there; see our trash cans guide.
• Plastic bags cost a few yen. Say "fukuro wa irimasen" if you don't need one.
• Don't eat inside unless the store has an eat-in corner; many do.

FAQ

What is a konbini? A Japanese convenience store, such as 7-Eleven, Lawson or FamilyMart, selling food, drinks and everyday goods, with services such as ATMs, printing and parcel sending. Most are open 24 hours.

Which convenience store is best? It is mostly personal taste. 7-Eleven is known for its onigiri and ATMs, Lawson for its sweets and fried chicken, and FamilyMart for Famichiki. See our 7-Eleven vs Lawson comparison.

Are konbini open 24 hours? Almost all in the cities are. Some suburban and rural stores have shorter hours.

Can I pay with a credit card or IC card? Yes. Every major chain accepts credit cards, IC cards and QR payments.

Can I buy Shinkansen tickets at a konbini? No. Buy train tickets from JR at stations, machines or online. The konbini terminals sell event and theme park tickets.

Is konbini food healthy? Some of it is. Onigiri, salads, boiled eggs and grilled fish make a reasonable meal, and nutrition information is printed on the packaging.

Related guides

• Compare the chains: 7-Eleven vs Lawson
• Trip planning: eSIM vs pocket Wi-Fi, rainy season, Tokyo last train
• More food: depachika, budget travel