Konbini 24/7: Japan’s Little Stores With Big Powers
If you live in Japan—or even if you’ve just visited—you know that convenience stores, or konbini (コンビニ), are far more than corner shops. They are lifelines.
Need to pay your taxes? Grab dinner at midnight? Send a parcel? Print a contract? Your nearest 7-Eleven, Lawson, or Family Mart has you covered.
But Japan’s konbini are not standing still. With labor shortages, rising customer expectations, and new technology, they are evolving into something even more ambitious: multifunctional community hubs powered by automation and AI.
This blog covers:
What You Can Do at a Konbini Today
What You’ll Be Able to Do Soon: The Future Konbini
The Language Barrier
Foreign Students as the Workforce Behind Konbini
Why this matters for foreigners
Wrap Up
1. What You Can Do at a Konbini Today
Here’s a practical checklist of services already available at most major chains.
⏰ Open Hours
Nearly all major branches operate 24/7, 365 days a year, including holidays.
A handful of rural locations may close overnight, but this is rare.
💳Payments & Finance
Convenience stores in Japan also function as mini banking centers. Seven Bank, launched in 2001, pioneered the idea of installing ATMs in every 7-Eleven. Lawson Bank followed in 2018, expanding financial services through its own network.
This was a game-changer because Japan’s traditional “mega banks” (Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho, SMBC) often keep their ATMs open only during limited hours—and they rarely accept foreign-issued cards.
By contrast, konbini ATMs are typically available 24/7, 365 days a year and connect to international payment networks—making them indispensable for both locals and foreigners.
At most major konbini, you can:
Pay utility bills: electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile phone.
Pay government fees: national health insurance premiums and resident taxes. (Some banks don’t accept certain tax payments, so konbini are often the easiest option.)
Pay for online shopping: Amazon, Rakuten, Mercari, and more.
Family Mart: Some locations are equipped with automated foreign currency exchange machines, allowing you to convert supported foreign currencies into Japanese yen. Supported currencies includeU.S. Dollar (USD), Euro (EUR), British Pound (GBP), Chinese Yuan (CNY), South Korean Won (KRW), Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), Taiwan Dollar (TWD), Australian Dollar (AUD), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Singapore Dollar (SGD), Thai Baht (THB), Philippine Peso (PHP), Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Family Mart: automated foreign currency exchange machines
🏧 Withdrawing Cash at Konbini ATMs
Where to Find Them
7-Eleven (Seven Bank ATMs)
Lawson (Lawson Bank ATMs)
Family Mart (E-net ATMs)
All of these machines offer multiple-language menus.
Supported International Networks (Seven Bank official list)
Visa / PLUS
Mastercard / Maestro / Cirrus
UnionPay
American Express
JCB
Discover / Diners Club International
👉 Remember: it’s the network logo on your card that matters, not the issuing bank.
Withdrawal Details
Transaction limits: typically, ¥50,000–¥100,000 per withdrawal for foreign cards.
ATM fees: around ¥110–¥220 per withdrawal, plus any fees from your bank.
Extra functions: some ATMs also let you recharge transport cards (Suica, Pasmo) or e-money cards like nanaco and WAON.
🛠 Troubleshooting: Why Your Card Might Fail
Even if your card has the right logo, withdrawals can still fail. Common reasons include:
Bank restrictions: some overseas banks (including U.S. banks like Citibank) block international ATM use by default.
Debit card network mismatch: not all banks route properly through PLUS or Cirrus.
PIN issues: ATMs usually only accept 4-digit PINs. If yours is longer, try the first 4 digits.
Amount too high: if ¥100,000 fails, try ¥50,000 or ¥30,000.
Temporary outage: machines sometimes undergo late-night maintenance.
Unsupported card type: prepaid, regional, or restricted cards may not work.
Takeaway: For expats, tourists, and international students, konbini ATMs are the most reliable way to access yen in Japan. They’re everywhere, always open, and foreign-card friendly—something traditional mega banks can’t promise.
📑 Printing & Documents
Most chains have multifunction copy machines with a dizzying array of functions:
Print documents and photos from USB, smartphone app, or cloud storage.
Photocopy and fax (yes, fax still matters in Japan).
Print postcards, New Year cards, resumes, and more.
Obtain official residence certificates (juminhyo) using a My Number card.
📦 Parcels & Delivery
Send parcels via Yamato Transport or Japan Post. For most people, Yamato and other private logistics companies are faster and more reliable than the post office within Japan.
Pick up deliveries using a barcode or QR code—no need to wait at home for the driver.
Store or ship luggage—a lifesaver for tourists who don’t want to drag suitcases on trains.
Most services are available 24/7, which makes sending or picking up packages much quicker than relying on traditional post office hours.
Important limitation: you usually need to pack items yourself and bring them to the store. Staff provide labels and help, but they don’t supply full packaging services.
Overseas shipping is not available from convenience stores. For international parcels you’ll still need to go to:
FedEx (very limited collection points)
UPS (also limited points)
Post offices or logistics company branches.
🎟 Tickets & Reservations
Purchase or collect tickets for concerts, sports events, or theme parks. The process usually involves printing a receipt from the multifunction copy machine, then bringing it to the register within 30 minutes to receive your ticket.
Book highway buses or domestic flights directly at the machine.
Pay for hotel reservations made online.
💡 Tip: Look for the “English” button or language selection menu on the copy machine screen—many are multilingual.
Still, the process can be tricky, since you often need to enter confirmation numbers or ticket codes. And if someone is waiting behind you, it’s easy to feel rushed. Don’t worry—it gets easier once you’ve done it a few times!
🛒 Daily Shopping
Konbini shelves are a world of their own:
Groceries and ready meals: rice balls (onigiri), instant noodles, ready-to-eat bento, and fresh sandwiches for a quick lunch.
Drinks and treats: bottled teas, craft coffees, Japanese sake, ice cream, and sweets.
Everyday essentials: toiletries, face masks, and cosmetics.
Lifestyle items: stationery, manga, magazine and newspapers.
Seasonal goods: umbrellas, pocket heaters in winter, or boxes of chocolates around Valentine’s Day.
Clothing basics: some chains even stock socks, underwear, and T-shirts—yes, in case of emergencies!
But the real star is konbini gourmet (コンビニグルメ). Despite being inexpensive and easy to grab, many of these foods are so well made that they’ve become go-to items.
For example:
Lawson’s “Premium Roll Cake”, a fluffy sponge with rich cream, is a best-seller that often trends on social media.
Family Mart’s Famichiki—crispy fried chicken sold right at the counter—is practically a cultural icon.
7-Eleven is famous for cheesecakes, puddings, and seasonal bento, which change often and sometimes sell out quickly.
Websites and magazines release “konbini gourmet rankings” where people vote on their favorite items.
A quick search for Convenience Store Delicious Foods Ranking 2025 (コンビニ美味しいものランキング2025) will bring up pages of results, and you’ll quickly see how passionate fans are about debating the best bento or sweets (just note: availability often varies by region).
📊 For reference:
Takeaway: Japanese convenience stores aren’t just about snacks—they’re a playground for food lovers, where you can discover limited-edition sweets, seasonal flavors, and surprisingly high-quality meals, all just steps away.
Rice balls easily win first place on the foreigner favorite list.
☕ Food & Services Inside
Self-serve hot coffee machines (many swear by 7-Eleven’s coffee over Starbucks. I do!).
Microwaves to heat up meals.
Free hot water for instant noodles.
In-store seating areas—more common in urban or new-format stores.
🌐 Connectivity & Extras
Free Wi-Fi at major chains.
Copy machines that scan directly to email or USB.
Phone-charging stations in some locations.
A few even provide smoking areas or small lounges.
💊 Prescription Pickup
Family Mart now offers “Famimacy”, a service that allows customers to collect prescribed medications at their local store. Partner pharmacies and licensed pharmacists prepare the medicine, and customers can pick it up at a Family Mart location 24 hours a day—an enormous help for those who can’t visit a pharmacy during business hours.
🌐Disaster Support Functions
Many convenience stores in Japan have agreements with local governments to serve as “Disaster Return-Home Support Stations” (災害時帰宅支援ステーション). In the event of a major disaster, these stores provide support for people trying to walk home by offering access to drinking water, restrooms, and road information.
Stores that participate in this program often display a sticker near the entrance. In times of disaster, looking out for these marked stores can be an important lifeline. (See the sticker below.)
🚻 Bathrooms
Many stores provide clean, free restrooms (though often with an unspoken rule: buy something if you use them).Availability varies—shops near stations or in urban centers sometimes lack them.
My story:
Back when I was commuting every day, I’d swing by almost every morning for breakfast, and sometimes even grab lunch. It was just too easy.
But here’s the catch: easy doesn’t mean cheap. Travelers often say Japanese konbini feel cheaper compared to their home countries, and that might be true if you’re just visiting.
If you actually live here, though, those daily sandwiches, rice balls, and bottled drinks add up fast. Many financial advisors even warn don’t lean on convenience stores too much, or your wallet will definitely feel the pain.
Takeaway: Today’s konbini are mini-life hubs. They combine shopping, banking, mailing, dining, and basic admin tasks in one brightly lit corner shop. Convenience stores in Japan are amazingly well designed—and CLEAN!
2. What You’ll Be Able to Do Soon: The Future Konbini
Japan’s convenience stores are evolving in response to labor shortages, an aging population, and the demand for around-the-clock service. The stores of tomorrow will feel familiar—but they’ll function very differently.
Staff less, AI-Powered Shopping
Pilots like Touch To Go (TTG) and Catch & Go use cameras and sensors to track what you pick up. Payment is automatic when you exit—think Amazon Go or TOUCH TO GO shop at Takanawa Gateway Station platform.
Remote-Controlled Robots & Avatars
At Expo 2025 Osaka, 7-Eleven will showcase “newme” robot avatars equipped with cameras and touchscreens, remotely controlled by staff who can operate multiple stores at once (Kyodo News).
Lawson is trialing avatar assistants with friendly cartoon faces. These can communicate in multiple languages, making them useful for expats and tourists (Asahi Shimbun).
NEW: OTC drug purchasing and regulatory changes
In May 2025, Japan passed revisions to the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act, making it possible—under certain conditions—to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) medications at convenience stores even if no pharmacist or registered seller is on site.
o Customers must first complete an online consultation with a pharmacist, who provides usage guidance.
o Afterward, the medicine can be picked up at the convenience store.
o The new system is scheduled to be fully in place by Spring 2027.
This change is expected to significantly improve access, especially in areas with few pharmacies and for people who suddenly feel unwell at night or outside pharmacy hours.
Data-Driven Personalization
Stores already use analytics to predict demand. In the future, stock may be hyper-localized:
o Near gyms → protein bars and supplements.
o Near train stations → travel goods and quick meals.
3. The Language Barrier
For all their convenience, konbini can still be intimidating for foreigners.
Multifunction copy machines are notoriously complicated, with menus only partly translated into English.
Buying concert tickets or bus passes often requires confirmation codes and multiple steps that can be confusing even for Japanese.
Strategies to Cope
Use multi-language menu
Ask the staff: Many are used to helping foreigners.
Translation apps: Google Translate’s camera function works surprisingly well on screens and receipts.
Pictogram guides: Some stores provide point-and-speak sheets for tourists.
4. Foreign Students as the Workforce Behind Konbini
Another lesser-known fact: foreign workers are essential to the konbini ecosystem.
As of 2024, the three major chains employed over 80,000 foreign part-time workers, about 10% of all staff. The majority are international students. (Imagine Next).
Why Students Choose Konbini Jobs
Language practice: Daily interaction with customers helps improve Japanese quickly.
Flexible hours: 24-hour operation means students can fit shifts around classes.
Higher pay at night: Late-night shifts come with wage premiums.
Legal Framework
Students are generally limited to 28 hours per week of work. Employers must manage schedules carefully to avoid violations.
Some foreigners with permanent residency or spousal visas can work without restriction.
Others may qualify under Special Activity No. 46, which allows skilled graduates with high Japanese proficiency (JLPT N1) to take on broader roles—including customer service.
In short, foreign students are helping to keep the industry running.
5.Why This Matters for Foreigners
For expats, tourists, and international students, the rise of the konbini of the future isn’t just cool—it’s a lifesaver:
Cash without the headache: ATMs that actually take your foreign card mean no more wandering around hunting for money.
Paperwork without tears: Multilingual kiosks and avatar assistants turn what used to be a language nightmare into a quick pit stop.
City hall without the trip: Bills, taxes, and other red-tape chores can be handled right at your corner store.
Support at 2 a.m.: Need ramen noodle or cash at 2 a.m.? The konbini’s got you covered
Friendlier vibes: With more foreign staff and AI translation, you don’t have to panic if your Japanese isn’t perfect.
· Hospital konbini: Chains like Lawson even run 24-hour convenience stores inside hospitals, supporting patients, families, and staff around the clock.
Bottom line: Whether you’re here for a week, a semester, or a lifetime, konbini make Japan feel a lot more manageable—and a lot more welcoming.
6.Wrap-Up
Japan’s convenience stores aren’t just keeping up with change—they’re setting the pace.
Today: your trusty stop for bento, bills, shipping, tickets, and all the little errands.
Tomorrow: think AI-powered shopping, robot avatars, telemedicine, and maybe even a mini city hall at the corner of your street.
The humble konbini is leveling up from a snack stop to a community lifeline. Fast forward 10 years, and who knows?
Maybe we’ll be grabbing a coffee, paying our taxes, and chatting with a robot pharmacist—all in one visit.
One thing’s for sure: the future of convenience in Japan is going to be anything but boring.
