A konbini (コンビニ) is a Japanese convenience store. There are about 56,000 of them, and most never close. They sell far more than snacks. People pay bills, pick up concert tickets, print documents and send parcels there. For locals and visitors alike, the konbini is part of daily life.
More than a corner shop
The word is short for konbiniensu sutoa, "convenience store." The big three chains are 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson. 7-Eleven began in the United States, but its Japanese side grew so strong that it bought the American company. Food is the main draw. The shelves hold fresh onigiri, sandwiches, bento and salads, delivered several times a day. Staff will heat your bento in the microwave. In winter, a pot of oden simmers by the till. Seasonal sweets change every few weeks, and new snacks appear all the time. The coffee machine makes a fresh cup for a little over a hundred yen.
Polite and always open
Shopping at a konbini follows a set script. Staff greet you with irasshaimase, "welcome." They ask whether you need a bag, chopsticks or a spoon. Since 2020, plastic bags cost a few yen. You usually put your money on a small tray instead of handing it over. Konbini are also part of the city's safety net. After earthquakes and typhoons, they are often the first shops to reopen. The writer Murata Sayaka set her prize-winning novel Convenience Store Woman in one.
Words & idioms to take away
Idioms & proverbs to carry away
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いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase): "welcome." Shop staff say it to every customer. You do not need to reply.
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温めますか (atatamemasu ka): "Shall I heat it up?" You hear it whenever you buy a bento.