- What is "コンビニ (Konbini)"? Japanese abbreviated form of "Convenience Store".
- Which are some of the major "コンビニ (Konbini)" chains in Japan?
7-ELEVEN https://www.sej.co.jp/in/en.html
LAWSON https://www.lawson.jp/en/
Family Mart https://www.family.co.jp/english.html
Mini Stop https://www.ministop.co.jp/english/
NewDays https://retail.jr-cross.co.jp/en/newdays/
Daily Yamazaki https://www.daily-yamazaki.jp/index.html *No English HP
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Before you visit any convenience store or so called "コンビニ (Konbini)" in Japan, you might just think that it's just somewhere you might stop by for buying a
cup of coffee or some snacks, but there's so much more to enjoy in a typical "コンビニ (Konbini)" in Japan. Food and beverage, ball point pens, charging cables, cosmetics, shampoo, stockings, underwear, toothbrush, medicines (in some stores), and service of copy machines, ATM ... so you could pretty much gather many of your needs at a "コンビニ (Konbini)" without hopping to various stores.
To begin with, you might be surprised by the wide range of food selections. All "コンビニ (Konbini)" have Sandwiches, Onigiri (= rice balls), and Bentos (=lunch boxes), but that's not it. Soba (Buckwheat) noodles, creamy gratin, spaghetti, chinese style bowls, fried chicken, french fries, and various sweets produced by each "コンビニ (Konbini)" stores. The quality of the food is pretty good for something you can casually purchase quickly, at a reasonable pricing, and the hot foods, such as fried chicken, displayed near the cashier is popular too.
Another interesting thing, is that sometimes, these "コンビニ (Konbini)" produce their own brand products, so customers go to a certain "コンビニ (Konbini)" to purchase goods which can only be bought in a particular "コンビニ (Konbini)" chain. This is just my personal opinion, but I think you should check out the below products of each "コンビニ (Konbini)" chain:
Family Mart
- "Sopo" Cosmetics: Eye shadows, mascaras, etc., in trendy colors and mini sizes.
- Socks: Comfy good quality socks available in both basic and eye catching colors.
- "Fami Chiki" Fried chicken: Popular for its juicy meat and crispiness.
Lawson
- "Karaage kun" Japanese style fried chicken: Popular not only for its taste but also the mini size.
Mini Stop
- Soft Serve Ice Cream: Mini Stop is famous for the sweets, but I think it's the soft serve ice cream that made them famous.
- "Halo-Halo” dessert: The name "halo-halo" comes from the Philippines, which means "mixed up" in Tagalog. It's a mixture of soft serve ice cream, fruits, jelly, nata de coco, and shaved ice. It's only sold during the spring and summertime, so be sure to stop by when you're looking for a cold refreshing dessert in your trip during the warm/hot seasons.
