What to buy at each Japanese convenience store chain

I recently returned from a glorious trip to Japan and let me tell you, the post-vacation blues are hitting me hard. One of the things I missed most – aside from walking around with no real responsibilities – was the incredibly accessible and cheap food at convenience stores.

You see, convenience stores in Japan are a holy grail. With over 56,000 stores across the country, they are on every block. Most are open 24 hours a day and offer everything from snacks, coffee, alcohol, full meals, phone chargers or anything else you can think of that you might need in the middle of the night . In addition to basic necessities, convenience stores are full of fun, colorful packages and tempting treats – and we love treats!!!

Culturally, convenience stores – or konbinis – are not treated the same as here in Australia.

Japanese convenience stores aren’t a last-ditch effort to grab a snack or coffee when you’re heading to work on a public holiday. Instead, they are the first and only stop on the agenda for getting snacks because the food is cheap and In fact GOOD.

Tell that to your local Australian convenience store who has an egg sandwich that smells like ass for $7.

Look at the perfectly soft-boiled eggs!!!! (Image: Noriko Hayashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

With a busy lifestyle, convenience stores are often the go-to place for workers to grab breakfast on the go. I may not have been working, but as an early riser, that’s exactly what I did. Instead of catching the proverbial worm, this early riser received two onigiri for breakfast. Not only do I think this habit put a few extra dollars in my pocket, but it was also a wonderful way to start the day. I was thriving.

Fueled by Onigiri, I am convinced that I am a better person.

I kid you not, I ate at least one (1) onigiri every day during my trip. (Image: Laura Masia)

My convenience store antics didn’t just revolve around breakfast. After a night out on the town, convenience stores became the only option, faithfully lighting the street and supplying me with all my needs, from alcoholic drinks to instant ramen.

As a result, I feel like I’ve actually sampled a significant amount of the products that convenience stores have to offer. So, join me – and after a shout-out on Instagram, everyone I’ve met in Japan – as we reminisce about the best food to buy at every major convenience store in Japan: 7-Eleven, Family Mart, and Lawson.

Before we get into it, it’s worth noting that you can usually find an iteration of these elements in each of the three chains. They’re just the ones who do it best.

The Best Things to Buy at 7-Eleven in Japan

7-Eleven, my queen. (Image: Noriko Hayashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

7-Eleven arrived in Japan in 1974 and has since expanded to nearly 22,000 stores across the country. As the name suggests, the initial opening hours were 7am to 11pm, which was quite revolutionary at the time. But a year later, things really took off when some stores began operating 24 hours a day, changing the landscape of convenience stores in Japan.

Sandwiches

Remember when you were back at school and your mom cut the crusts off sandwiches? Personally, this wasn’t the reality in my half-Italian household BUT I felt like I was really experiencing crustless white bread while munching on sambos in Japan. At 7-Eleven, you can get all kinds of sandwich flavors in the softest white bread known to man.

My favorite was the teriyaki egg and chicken, but there were also options like pork schnitzel, potato salad, ham, and even strawberries, custard, and whipped cream (!!! !!!!!).

And for the undecided among us, 7-Eleven combo packs with three different flavors. That’s innovation!

I was so hungover that day and this sandwich really saved me. (Image: Laura Masia)

Bakery products

Most convenience stores carry a range of baked goods, but for some reason 7-Eleven seems to have the freshest products with the largest range. If you want a croissant, a pastry or a melon mold, this is the one to choose.

A special mention goes to the fluffy pancakes. My DMs were filled with messages about how great these bad boys were. As a savory breakfast girl, I’m devastated that I didn’t try them.

Ice

Ice cream is on the list only because of the incredible lineup that 7-Eleven has stacked perfectly in the freezer section. Special thanks go to the Gari Gari Kun Soda Ice Block, Frozen Creme Brulee and Super Cup Vanilla Ice Cream.

Salads and vegetables

Tourists visiting Japan often complain about the difficulty of finding fruits and vegetables. However, I disagree. Yes, fruits are expensive but vegetables are everywhere, you just have to actively order them.

For those days when veggies weren’t in sight, I headed to our good friend 7-Eleven where you can find an array of salads, fruits, and veggies to snack on and feel ~healthier~. My favorite was the cut vegetables with miso mayonnaise. Delicious.

Or, if you just don’t like the chewing part, you can opt for the 7-Eleven Viral Fruit Smoothie. It’s literally a cup of frozen fruit that you throw in a smoothie maker and voilà, you’re healthy, baby.

The Best Things to Buy at Family Mart in Japan

(Image: Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Next up is Family Mart. This chain opened in Sayama, Saitama Prefecture in 1973 and has been growing extremely quickly since then. I’m talking about 500 information stores every three years!

Just like 7-Eleven, Family Mart is not a purely Japanese company. It also has stores in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, China and Vietnam.

Now let’s get to the good stuff.

Hot and fried chicken

While I was in Japan, roaming those mean streets, it was a particularly bad time to be a part of Family Mart’s famous Famichiki. Famichiki is a delicious piece of hot boneless chicken found at the Family Mart counter. You can get the regular fried chicken or mix it with the extra crispy version or the extra crispy version.

Recently, Family Mart started selling Famichiki onigiri – basically a rice sandwich held together by seaweed with a big slice of chicken in the middle – and it was amazing.

And for $2.12 AUD (¥220), it’s a hell of a deal.

Steamed buns

When I called on Instagram to ask my friends what they liked best at convenience stores in Japan, many people said steamed buns from Family Mart.

In each store, right on the counter, you will see a glass display case full of buns with different flavors. The most popular flavor is a (classic!) pork bun known as nikuman. It’s filled with juicy and slightly sweet ground pork and sells for just AUD$1.25 (¥130). But if pork isn’t your thing, you have to try the pizza flavor filled with rich tomato sauce and oozing cheese.

As a human Italian hybrid, I think this is a dream come true.

The Best Things to Buy from Lawson in Japan

(Photographer: Akio Kon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The last lucky one is Lawson! This wonderful establishment has recently been in the news due to a peculiar store perched facing Mount Fuji. It had become a go-to spot for tourists who wanted to take aesthetic photos of the beloved convenience store with the famous mountain in the background. The problem was that tourists were standing in the middle of the road to get the perfect photo, disrupting traffic. The solution? Block the view.

Either way, the good news is that there are still plenty of reasons to visit Fuji Kawaguchiko Lawson and all the others: the snacks.

Refined desserts

Lawsons may be the least appreciated, but it is known as a purveyor of high quality desserts and treats. A special treat is the famous Premium Roll Cake. For just AUD1.80 (¥194), you can get a round, soft sponge cake filled with “Lawson specialty” crème fraîche. They come in many flavors, including chocolate, bran, and matcha.

BIG YUM. (Image: Lawson)

Coffee

I would say there is pretty good coffee available at all three chains. However, some locals ride or die for Lawson’s coffee. Lawson’s freshly brewed coffee is called “MACHI coffee” and is part of Sarutahiko Coffee, a sustainably brewed coffee brand. For a simple black or white coffee, it costs just over one Australian dollar (¥110), but they have other, fancier options.

Akuma Onigiri

Akuma Onigiri or “Devil’s Onigiri” is one of the most popular snacks exclusive to Lawson. It’s a rice ball flavored with dashi, tempura flakes and aonori (dried green seaweed). It is said to get its name because it is devilishly addictive and not necessarily the healthiest choice available.

According to tourism site tsunago Japan, Akuma Onigiri was incredibly popular upon its release, selling 2.65 million copies in the first 13 days on sale after first hitting shelves in 2018. Good!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Image: Laura Masia)

Alcohol

One of the nicest things about convenience stores in Japan is that you can not only buy alcohol at convenience stores and grocery stores, but also buy anti-hangover products.

So if you’re planning on having a nice drink while sipping on whiskey highballs and tart lemons, be sure to check out the mini-fridge with the little glass bottles and packets of infused jelly of vitamins to help your head the next day.

Good, you have it now. I wish you wonderful travels and hope you get to try all the snacks possible.

Laura Masia is PEDESTRIAN.TV’s entertainment reporter, but when she’s not working, she loves cheeky backpacking trips with lots of little treats. You can follow his adventures on Instagram HERE.

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