Japan has more than 55,000 convenience stores (konbini), and in any city you are usually a few minutes' walk from one. They are open around the clock, and you can eat, withdraw cash, and send a parcel all in one place. This guide is for visitors and residents alike: the personality of the three big chains, what to eat without missing, how to ask for heating and chopsticks at the register, how to withdraw cash with a foreign-issued card, the various ways to pay, and the non-food functions like copiers and toilets — with rough prices and step-by-step notes.

The Big Three — 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart

Three chains dominate Japan's streets: 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart. Together they run more than 55,000 stores. The basic lineup is similar everywhere, but each leans into a different strength. You won't go wrong in any of them, but picking the right one for the job raises your hit rate.

7-Eleven is the largest, with over 21,000 stores. Its Seven Premium private-label food is consistently good, so onigiri, bento and desserts all score highly. A big practical plus: every store has a Seven Bank ATM that accepts foreign-issued cards.

Lawson stands out for desserts and a health-conscious range. Its Uchi Café line — especially the premium roll cake and cream puffs — is a longtime favorite, and the upmarket Natural Lawson format stocks plenty of organic and vegan items. FamilyMart is strongest on hot snacks, best known for its Famichiki fried chicken and a solid fried-food case by the register.

  • 7-Eleven: strong all-round food; Seven Bank ATM for foreign cards in every store
  • Lawson: desserts and health focus; Natural Lawson is best for vegan/organic
  • FamilyMart: excellent hot snacks (Famichiki and more)

What to Eat — Onigiri, Bento, Hot Snacks, Sweets and Drinks

Onigiri is the safe first choice: a triangular rice ball wrapped in crisp nori seaweed, with a wide range of fillings such as salmon, pickled plum (umeboshi), tuna-mayo and kelp. Prices have been rising and, as of 2026, most sit around 160–200 yen. They are easy to eat on the go without messy hands.

For a full meal, go for a bento — makunouchi sets, rice bowls, even pasta — generally in the 500–700 yen range (as of 2026), and staff will heat it up for you. The hot snacks in the warm case by the register are a signature too: FamilyMart's Famichiki is about 248 yen (price revised March 2026) and Lawson's Karaage-kun runs about 200 yen (before tax).

For sweets, Lawson's cream puffs and roll cake, 7-Eleven's roll cake, and each chain's seasonal ice cream are the classics, generally around 150–400 yen. For drinks, alongside bottled beverages the counter coffee at each chain (roughly 100–150 yen for a regular) is cheap and genuinely good — a daily habit for many locals.

  • Onigiri: around 160–200 yen (as of 2026)
  • Bento: around 500–700 yen (can be heated)
  • Hot snacks: Famichiki ~248 yen / Karaage-kun ~200 yen
  • Sweets: ~150–400 yen / counter coffee ~100–150 yen

Getting Food Heated and Asking for Chopsticks

For bento, steamed buns and hot snacks, before ringing you up the clerk will ask "Atatamemasu ka?" — "Shall I heat this?" Just answer "Hai" (yes, please) or "Iie" (no, thanks). More staff speak some English these days, but pointing and saying "Warm, please" works fine too.

When you buy a bento or noodles, chopsticks, a spoon or a fork are added at the register. If they aren't, or you want extras, say "Hashi o kudasai" (chopsticks, please). To cut plastic waste, some stores now hand these out only on request or charge a small fee. Staff will often bag hot, cold and room-temperature items separately.

Stores with an eat-in corner let you eat on the spot. Eating in can fall outside Japan's reduced consumption-tax rate (treated as dining out), which may change the price slightly, so telling the clerk "I'll eat in" keeps things smooth.

How to Pay — Cash, Transit IC, QR Codes and Credit

Konbini are among the most cashless-friendly places in Japan, with plenty of payment options. Cash of course, but also transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA and other nationally interoperable cards), QR-code apps, credit cards, and each chain's own e-money. Being able to tap or scan even for tiny amounts is part of what makes Japanese konbini so easy.

Transit IC is the tourist-friendly choice: at any store showing the Suica mark you just tap and go. QR apps such as PayPay, d Payment (d-barai), Rakuten Pay and nanaco work at the major chains — but note that domestic QR apps like PayPay generally require topping up from a Japanese bank account or supported card, which is a hurdle for short-term visitors.

Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express and others) are widely accepted for purchases. A foreign contactless card can usually just be tapped, so for visitors a practical mix is cash plus a transit IC card, or contactless with a foreign card. Do note that bill-payment services (paying barcoded invoices for utilities and the like) are often cash-only.

  • Cash: works everywhere
  • Transit IC: Suica / PASMO / ICOCA etc., tap to pay (best for tourists)
  • QR apps: PayPay / d-barai / Rakuten Pay etc. (usually need a Japanese account or card to top up)
  • Credit: widely accepted for purchases; foreign contactless cards often work

Withdrawing Yen With a Foreign-Issued Card at the ATM

When you need cash, the konbini ATM is your friend. 7-Eleven's Seven Bank ATM is especially reliable for foreign-issued cards, with many machines in stores, stations and airports nationwide, available 365 days a year and generally 24 hours. The on-screen menu supports Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean and other languages.

At Seven Bank ATMs you can withdraw yen with foreign-issued credit or cash cards on VISA, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay (Ginren), American Express, Discover and Diners Club, plus the PLUS and Cirrus international networks. The per-transaction withdrawal limit is 100,000 yen (30,000 yen for magnetic-stripe transactions).

On fees, expect your card issuer's foreign-use fee, and in some cases an ATM usage fee as well (the amount varies by card and transaction). Withdrawing at an ATM with a supported card is often cheaper overall than exchanging foreign currency at a money changer. FamilyMart and Lawson have ATMs too, and foreign-card support keeps expanding, but Seven Bank ATMs remain the most dependable.

  • Networks: VISA / Mastercard / JCB / UnionPay / American Express / Discover / Diners Club (plus PLUS / Cirrus)
  • Per-transaction limit: 100,000 yen (30,000 yen for magnetic-stripe)
  • Availability: generally 24/7, 365 days / multilingual screen
  • Fees: card issuer's fee plus a possible ATM usage fee (as of 2026)

Beyond Food — Copiers, Tickets, Parcels and Toilets

Konbini are not just about food. The multi-copy machine in each store does copying and printing, plus printing from a phone app, USB drive or over Wi-Fi, ID photos, and issuing government documents (in participating municipalities). Just follow the on-screen guide; you usually pay at the register within 30 minutes of finishing.

You can buy tickets too. 7-Eleven uses its in-store terminal/multi-copy machine (Seven Ticket), FamilyMart uses its Famiport-based services, and Lawson uses the Loppi terminal to issue tickets for films, sports, events and leisure facilities. Apply at the terminal, take the printed slip to the register, and pay.

They also handle sending and receiving parcels (the partner courier differs by chain). Add ATMs, utility-bill payment, copying, free Wi-Fi, and the toilets many stores have, and the konbini becomes the place to turn to when you're stuck while traveling. For the toilet, a quick word to the staff is the polite move.

  • Multi-copy machine: copy/print (app / USB / Wi-Fi), ID photos, government documents
  • Ticketing: Seven Ticket / Famiport / Loppi
  • Sending and receiving parcels (partner courier varies by chain)
  • ATM, utility payments, free Wi-Fi, toilets

Finding Vegetarian/Allergy-Safe Food, Plus Late-Night Hours and Regional Quirks

To find vegetarian or allergy-safe options, start by reading the ingredient list and allergen labels on the back of the package. A plain salt onigiri or an umeboshi (pickled-plum) rice ball is an easy plant-based choice. Be aware, though, that under Japan's labeling rules small amounts of fish powder and similar flavorings may go unlisted, so anyone with a serious allergy should confirm with the maker. Certified vegan items are easiest to find at Natural Lawson.

The hot snacks by the register are usually cooked in shared oil, in the same fryer as meat and fish items. If cross-contact is a concern, it's safer to skip them. The steamed-bun case sometimes hides a plant-based option like anman (sweet red-bean bun) among the rest.

Most konbini are open 24 hours, but that's no longer guaranteed. Amid labor shortages, more stores are closing overnight or cutting hours, and stores in business districts and tourist areas may keep different hours on weekends. In rural areas and residential neighborhoods, the lineup and hours can differ from big-city stores. Both the round-the-clock convenience and the region-specific products make Japanese konbini a genuinely fun stop on any trip.

  • Always check ingredient and allergen labels (small amounts of fish powder etc. may be unlisted)
  • Salt onigiri and umeboshi rice balls are clear plant-based options
  • Hot snacks share fryer oil — mind cross-contact
  • 24-hour opening is not guaranteed — overnight closures and shorter hours are rising, and hours vary by region