Japanese convenience stores are very different from their North American counterparts. On top of things like toilet paper, cup noodles and soda, they also have an enormous variety of snacks, fully cooked meals, meal prep kits to take home, and every drink you can imagine. Last time I was at 7-Eleven I even noticed plastic wrapped dress shirts and neckties in case you need one in a hurry. Underwear too! There is usually a place to sit down to eat as well as a clean public washroom. Free Wifi and foreign card ATMs are also available. Amazing. I photographed all the stores at night because I like the way their incandescent glow washes over the street and backlights the people going in and out.
Beep Boop Beep Convenience Store Songs7 Eleven, probably the most well known chain. They are on practically every block.Cup noodles of all kindsLawson is another big chain. I don’t know why but these stores always make me think of police stations. I guess the logo looks like a police badge and the word “Law” is in the name. The blue colour too.Chocolate, Pocky and other sweets. For grocery store grade chocolate, the Meiji brand bars and chocolate covered nuts are very good.Family Mart…Dried fish, squid and meats. All kinds of jerky seem popular here. Mini Stop…Iced creams..i like the mini size half buckets of Hagen Dazs available here. There is a sweet potato and taro swirl that is my favourite.Aeon…this sign is very 80s..cool vibeClassic fruit and cream sandwiches on squishy white bread.Sticks of crab, chicken, tofu etc…all fully cooked, just open the bagShirts, ties and underwear. They are really prepared for any kind of accident.
There is so much more to these places….they have EVERYTHING (except deodorant). The novelty and variety of the snacks alone is astonishing. They have no equal elsewhere.
