Lawson in Japan: What Else Can You Do at a Konbini?

For people in the US, a convenience store is a quick stop for chips, some soda, and maybe a candy bar; in Japan, a konbini, like Lawson, for example, can become a part of everyday life. Today, we’ll dive into all the cool things konbinis offers customers!

Buy Food

First and foremost, yes, konbinis sell food. Whether you visit Family Mart, Lawson’s, or 7-11, you’ll discover various hot and cold foods. Pizza buns and fried chicken tenders are popular picks. Onigiri offers a quick, satisfying bite. The selection of pastries and sweets is also impressive—try the maple cream pastries from Family Mart for a real treat.

These convenience stores truly shine with their stellar snack and food options.If you’re feeling thirsty, cold and hot drinks, including soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, are available. Pulling a late-night snack run after a long day of sightseeing is second to none.

Pay Bills/Concert Tickets

Here’s where konbini really starts to shine. Customers can pay their household utility bills at their local store, which is incredibly useful. Safe, secure, and just around the corner, their dedicated payment systems can do bill payments in seconds flat.

On top of that, customers can also purchase concert tickets if they see a show that catches their eye! It might seem outrageous to some people to perform such an important and sensitive task at a convenience store, but it just shows how integrated into their neighborhoods konbinis are.

Receive Packages

Customers can not only pay their bills at their local Family Mart, but they can also receive packages! It’s important to remember that many people live in smaller apartments and apartment buildings in Japan than in the US; space can be a premium for some people, so it’s super helpful to have packages dropped off at a local konbini. Like a P.O. box, Konbini is a proper place for people to have packages delivered if they are at work, away from home, or unable to pick up something.

Copy/Fax Documents

If it’s starting to seem like konbini like Lawson in Japan are multifunctional facilities moreso than just quick-e-marts, that’s exactly right. Another beneficial service offered to customers is the ability to copy and/or fax documents. As not everyone possesses the proper machinery to perform these tasks at home, it’s essential to have the means to do so publicly. And while not everyone may have access to a public library to perform these errands, a local konbini is usually just a quick walk away.

Store/Transport Luggage

Traveling across Japan for a long time means handling lots of luggage. Figuring out what to do with big suitcases can be stressful. Navigating trains and stations with heavy bags is nerve-wracking. Thankfully, Yamato Transport and local konbini like Lawson in Japan can help. They offer luggage delivery and storage services. Knowing your belongings are safe is a huge relief. This makes exploring Tokyo much easier.

Are you looking for great snacks that you can get from a convenience store in Japan? Check out TokyoTreat! TokyoTreat delivers limited-edition Japanese noodles, drinks, snacks, and sweets right to your door so you can enjoy the latest Japanese treats directly from Japan!

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Free WiFi

This service might seem rather pedestrian, but the free Wi-Fi many stores offer can be incredibly useful for many people. It can be as simple as making a phone call or sending a text or as crucial as sending an email or finding information online. Regardless of what a customer may need it for, free Wi-Fi is always a welcome service that can make or break someone’s day.

Why are konbini so crucial to the community?

Convenience stores in the US are attributed a particular aura and atmosphere. They’re places where people stop in for an unhealthy snack, a pack of cigarettes, or a lottery ticket. They’re gas stations that offer energy drinks and dubious countertop caffeine pills.

If you visit it during certain hours of the day, they can have colorful characters hanging out by the entrance. In Japan, however, convenience stores are infinitely more helpful and inviting than simply being a place to get snacks. In many ways, konbini are places of public service. 

Sure, you can grab a mayonnaise, corn roll, and Mitsuya Cider when you pop in, but you can also pay your rent. There aren’t many analogies for the kind of place that a Family Mart is in the US, as many of those services are expected to be performed in a person’s home.

In the US, you wouldn’t expect to drop off luggage at a Wawa. Paying a bill or sending a fax is unheard of. In Japan, convenience stores offer much more than just snacks. They handle a wide range of services. This cultural difference can surprise foreign tourists. The Japanese service model is impressive. More places abroad should consider adopting it.

Have you been to a Family Mart or Lawson in Japan before? If so, did you use any of their additional services? Were they as useful as they sound? Please let us know in the comments below! We would love to hear about how you experienced the joys of a konbini!