The Definition of Convenience
The Konbini, or Japanese Convenience Store, is found under a handful of names.. Seven Eleven, Lawsons, Family Mart, Mini Stop, etc.
Take your pick, they are all the definition of convenience.
While they all have their individual brand strengths, none show much weakness. You can walk into any of the above and more, and walk away with something to satisfy the needs you had when walking in.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the noun “Convenience” as having the quality of facilitating personal ease or comfort, or of saving trouble or effort of a person or group. The Konbini is a perfect real life application of that very definition.
Facilitating
Not merely just a shop in which to purchase goods, but also providing services such as:
ATM
Fax (which is still quite well used in Japan)
Bill payments
Delivery services
WiFi
Often but not always seating and toilet facilities
Hot and cold food and drinks are also a staple of ALL Konbini stores, but also a small but practical selection of household goods too.
Konbini Food
Most, if not all stores have fresh, ready to eat food delivered a number of times a day, ensuring freshness and quality. Some stores even have food prepared on-site. Not only delicious sandwiches and tasty onigiri (rice balls), but also an incredible selection of “ready meals”.
The ready meals are not like the frozen chicken dinner in a box you find in Iceland (UK), they are delicious, take-away/restaurant standard noodles, rice bowls or bentos (Japanese packed lunch).
A popular item that is almost universally loved by all Japanese and visitors alike, is the famous “egg sando”, an egg-mayo, or sliced egg sandwich (always with the crusts cut off) that is usually very generously filled and reasonably priced.
There is often a large selection of bread products too, but I don’t mean just some packets of sliced white.. Pizza bread, sweet corn and mayo rolls (surprisingly delicious), curry bread (expectedly delicious), savoury and sweet breads of all kinds. If you can think of something to put on bread, chances are that the Konbini is one step ahead and already has it!.. I recommend melon pan!
Drinks
Whether it is an alcoholic or soft drink you are looking for, the Konbini will most certainly have a few options that you will be keen to try and enjoy! The alcohol selection is rather impressive, but what’s more impressive to me is the cold AND hot bottled drinks.. Many of the teas and coffees available in the chiller, are also available hot. Displayed on a hot shelf, these drinks are the exact same drink, in the exact same bottle, only hot and ready warm/wake you up at any time. A daily ritual of mine now is to pop into Lawsons and grab a hot Boss Coffee Latte!
The Staff
Now, this isn’t a constant, as there are always outliers. However, I have come to really appreciate just how polite, friendly and helpful most Konbini staff are. Welcoming you as you walk into the store, and always ready to assist at any moment. A lot of the stores have the option for self-service, but even then the staff are ready to spring into action to authorise a controlled purchase of alcohol, fetch a particular tobacco product, or just notice that I am not Japanese and keep a helping hand on stand-by should I not understand the buttons on the register. I do understand how to use these machines, but it’s nice to know that if/when I do have a problem, they are ready to help at less than a moments notice.
Yes, I have been to Konbini late at night when perhaps the staff are a little tired, busy with stocking up, or just generally uninterested in going above and beyond, but again, outliers. Even so, I have no negative words for these staff, their job is not so easy.
If I were to recognise a single chain as having “the best” staff, it would be Lawsons, without a doubt. I have had nothing but the most positive experiences while shopping in at a number of Lawsons stores.. Going back to food for just a moment, Lawsons food is top-notch! Really good quality!
Prices
For the most part, Konbini prices are nothing to complain about. While many items can be found cheaper elsewhere, the premium for convenience is incredibly reasonable. The morning on which I write this post, I purchased the above mentioned Boss Coffee Latte (hot bottle), a triple sandwich (tuna, ham salad, egg), and a tuna-mayo onigiri (rice ball) for ¥595 which in my native currency is £3.12. In my book, that’s an incredibly affordable price. Both the sandwich and onigiri tasted delicious and seemed to be super fresh! The reality is that Konbini food is so popular here, that they can guarantee freshness at an affordable price.
And so…
With more than 50,000 Konbini stores throughout Japan, you are never too far (in urban areas at least) from one or more. In fact, in some areas, you can walk out of the door of one, and see the next one down the road, or across the street. If the one you are in has sold out of the particular product you wanted, the next one probably has it! Convenience demonstrated not only in the stores themselves, but by the location and frequency of them also. If you are in Japan, then you already know.. If you are travelling to Japan, then you will know, just how incredible they are.
