If you have been to Japan, you cannot deny that Japanese convenience stores are literally amazing! As we have already established, there are a variety of amazing things you can do  like photocopying or withdrawing cash, but the list of incredible things you can buy at Japanese convenience store might impress you even more!

You can be sure to find cheap quick meals like onigiri, bento boxes and ramen, or even fresh hot food like fried karaage or fish cakes! And don’t worry, these meals are simply delicious and cheap. In this blog, we will enlighten you with some of the amazing things you can buy at Japanese convenance store! 

 

 

 

1. Variety of Delicious Obento (Japanese Lunch Box) Delivered on The Day

 

 

Usually, there is fresh food being delivered in the morning at most convenience stores, this is to ensure that the food stays fresh and appetizing all day long. These deliveries include a variety of delicious Obento boxes, if you ever visit Japan, you might find yourself ditching some restaurant food to try out these delicious looking bento boxes!

The price ranges basing on the ingredients and the quantity; however, these boxes are usually really affordable starting from 300 to 600 Japanese Yen.

 

Recommendations; Lawson Tartar Chicken Nanban Bento, it’s the perfect combination of creamy tartar sauce and fried chicken breast. FamilyMart Fried rice with char sui pork, you can enjoy this authentic char sui pork recipe that melts in your mouth. Lastly, the 7Eleven Menta Nori Bento, it is quite a popular meal as it has a combination of different ingredients such as fried chikuwa, croquette, eggs, fried noodles, that just work so well together!

 

 

 

 

2. Onigiri

 

 

Onigiri is Japanese rice ball that usually has toppings filled inside and is usually wrapped with seaweed. These onigiri can also be found in almost any convenience store in Japan, they’re the perfect on-the-go snack or a quick nutritional breakfast for those in a time rush.

There are various delicious flavours such as Sockeye salmon cod roe, ground chicken, tuna mayonnaise and many more. You can enjoy these delicious onigiris while strolling down the peaceful streets of Japan. 

 

Photo: itmedia 

 

 

 

3. Traditional Japanese Hot Food 

 

 

Hot food from Japanese convenience store is definitely a must try! Yakitori is Japanese style skewed chicken with their unique sauce, it has become a hot topic that the level of yakitori at convenience stores has increased considerably, as it became more popular amongst tourists.

There are also things such as oden, a winter tradition that is usually on sale at most convenience stores, it has a great texture and taste to it, perfect for those winter nights. These hot foods are usually located next to the cash register, all you got to do is tell the cash register which one you want, and they’ll grab it out for you.

 

 

Photo: Tatsuya.kobori

 

 

 

4. Variety of Traditional Japanese Ice Cream and Western Ice Cream 

 

 

Some big convenience stores in Japan will have a massive fridge aisle in the middle of the store that has various cold snacks and savoury food. But the ice cream aisle is a must! You will find seasonal products, convenience store limited products, and so on. If you are looking for something more refreshing try Gari-gari-kun, there are various flavours that are on sale depending on the season, basic soda flavours can be purchased at any time of the year. 

There are also ice-cream that are only limited to some convenience stores like the Uchicafe Frappe, a Lawson limited crush type ice-cream, warm it once in the microwave and melt it lightly for a nice texture.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Matcha Green Tea, Milk Tea, Coffee

 

Photo: rbbtoday

 

Obviously, drinks are basic in any convenience stores. But you will find a great selection of premium drinks in Japanese convenience stores such FamilyMart Kens Café Tokyo Chocolate Drink a drink that has milk chocolate combined with brown sugar as a secret ingredient.

If you’re craving something fruitier try Lawson Okayama Prefecture White Peach Fruit Mix Smoothie, it is a fruit mix smoothie that is made with white peaches from Okayama prefecture. The list goes on, so if you are currently in Japan or planning to visit, don’t forget to try their amazing selection of drinks from your local convenient store.

 

 

 

 

6. Premium Traditional Japanese Sweets

 

 

If you need something to satisfy your sweet tooth, head to your local Japanese convenience store and you will find it all there! You will find traditional Japanese desserts with a twist like Lawson's Dorayaki Chocolate Chips & Whipped Cream, which is a thin, chewy dough contains crispy chocolate chips and chocolate cream, making it a recommended dessert for chocolate lovers, or

FamilyMart Montblanc Dora which contains marron whipped cream like Montblanc and Montblanc cream in the dorayaki dough. Lastly a must-try “Big Tapioca Daifuku” from 7Eleven will have you go “wow”, it is sweet made by kneading sticky tapioca into the dough and containing milk tea cream. 

 

 

 

Photo: rocketnews24

 

 

 

7. Japanese Snacks

 

 

If you want something a little lighter, like a quick savoury snack, Japanese convenience stores also have things like Takoyaki which is a round shaped batter with octopus piece on the inside, it is usually served with two different sauces on the top.

They also have Yakisoba, which is Japanese styled stir-fried soba noodles and Okonomiyaki which is a famous Japanese savoury pancake that usually contains cabbage. Yes! these fancy looking snacks can be found at Japanese convenience stores; you can simply microwave it from the store or at home and it will be just as delicious!

 

 

 

8. Frozen Japanese Food and Snacks

 

 

You might be a little hesitant to try frozen food from convenience stores but trust us that Japanese frozen food are sometimes just as good as the freshly made ones, not only that, but it is also super convenient and affordable! You can find delicious grilled dumplings from 7-Eleven, they’re standard dumplings that won’t disappoint, or even frozen onion soup that can easily be warmed in the microwave.

They also have things like golden salmon Harami Saikyoyaki that can be found at your local 7Eleven in Japan. All you got to do is heat it up in the microwave and your dinner is served.

 

 

 

 

 

9. More than 200 choices of cigarettes

 

Photo: j-town

 

Convenience stores are the typical place smokers seek to buy their cigarettes, in Japanese convenience stores, there are over 200 different selection of tobacco that you can choose from. It ranges from typical low-end brand to something more premium and higher in price.

 

 

 

10. Fresh Fruits and Frozen Fruits

 

 

If you are concerned about your health and rather opted out for something healthier than the typical snacks, Japanese convenience stores also has selection of fresh fruits and  frozen fruits such as oranges, grapes and melons. They’re low calories snacks that can be consumed on its own, in a smoothie or as desserts.

 

 

 

 

11. Instant Noodles

 

 

Of course, we cannot talk about convenience stores if we don’t mention instant noodles. In Japanese convenience stores there are big range of instant noodles, and when we say big, we really mean it! You might get overwhelmed by looking at all the options especially if you don’t read Japanese, we recommend you try Seven Premium Products from 11Eleven, it is considered as very high quality instant noodles.

There are various types of cup noodles such as spicy, Iekei, and Hakata ramen. One of our favourites is the Ippudo Akamaru Shinmi Hakata Tonkotsu, it is characterized by black sesame oil, and the rich and mild taste is reproduced with very high quality, spicy miso is included as a seasoning to match the mild and creamy soup.

 

 

 

 

12 . Vitamin Drinks

 

 

Sometimes it might be a hassle to take supplements every morning, in such case, vitamin drinks are also sold in convenience store for you to grab and go. Vitamin C is a nutrient that many people take to boost their inner glow, it is said to be good for your skin and health. There are wide selections of vitamin C drinks with different concentrations in the convenience store for you to purchase.

 

 

 

13. Bread/Hot Dogs

 

 

If you walk into convivence stores in Japan, you can be sure to find some delicious bakery and sweets that are freshly baked and delivered every morning. These delicious treats can fill up your stomach before school or work, the melon bread from 7-Eleven is quite irreplaceable, the hard shell and soft texture on the inside just works so well together. 

he chocolate croissant from FamilyMart is great as an on-the-go snack to satisfy your sweet spot. And if you want something savoury, the beacon mayonnaise fluffy bread from Lawson will make you go “wow”.

 

Photo: tokubai

 

 

 

14. Manga, Fashion Magazines and Adult Magazines

 

 

Weekly magazines and manga can often be browsed at convenience stores, they are usually up to date with the weekly editions so you can keep your fantasy mind updated at all time. There is also fashion magazine to keep you in trend as well as adult magazines to be purchase at any convenience stores.

 

 

 

 

 

Sources

Kurashi-no

Iemone 1 2

Bizspa

Esse-online

Travel-star

Dig-japan

Appbank

Wikipedia 1 2

Mitok

Kisu

Webproduct-lab

Lamire

Lifemagazine.yahoo

Macaro-no

Coveni-like

 

 

Photos

Ryutsuu.biz