Your 24/7 Convenience Stores near the Kaikan

February 22, 2023

Your 24/7 Convenience Stores near the Kaikan

7-Eleven, Family Mart, Seicomart, Ministop, and Lawson

日本のコンビニ (nihon no konbini => Japanese convenience stores) will drastically change your viewpoints about the "convenience" of most corner stores back in your home country (in my case the United States). They are clean, efficient, and functional compared to an American convenience store selling overly-priced, air-filled bags of potato chips or rows of stimulating chocolate snacks to put you in a sugar coma.

Convenience stores in Japan provide multiple services in order to make your busy life easier.

Pay your utility bills (electric, gas, and water).
If your credit card doesn't work, you can send your online payments to a nearby store to pay in cash.

Applies for clothing purchase, airplane tickets, and other such purchases.
Look for the loppi machine

Send and receive domestic mail and packages.
Recharge your IC cards as well.

Can use your IC card or mobile payment app to make purchases too.

Use a copy machine to print/copy various sized paperwork using a flash-drive.

They sell a variety of foods to eat like: お握り (onigiri, which is my favorite), カープのラーメン (ramen noodle cups, which every store has a kettle you can use to warm your noodles), and a variety of other foods like Japanese bento, sandwiches, and pasta dishes as well.

Lawson

The closest convenience store to the Ibadai Kaikan.
Sells 無印良品 (mujirushi) unbranded products.
Next door is a nice laundromat in-case the kaikan's laundry room is fully occupied.

Family Mart

"Convenience Wear", the best convenience store clothing brand only at Family Mart stores.
Known for their signature "Line Socks" which come in many designs.

Honestly the most comfortable socks I've worn and priced at ~¥500 a pair.

Ministop

Ministop has the most flexible ATM machines which (for me) doesn't charge a transaction fee.

Ultimately depends on which country you're from and bank you use.

Before traveling to Japan, check with your bank to make sure you don't pay any hidden fees.
Only convenience chain which serves soft-serve ice cream over the counter.

Seicomart

Seico Mart comes from Hokkaido and is only available in Ibaraki and Hokkaido prefectures.

Because of the ferry route from Oarai, Ibaraki to Sapporo, Hokkaido.

Has the best 大お握り(large onigiri) ~¥250 and can select from six different fillings.

My favorite is the バコンお握り (bacon onigiri).

7-Eleven

Sells the highest quality and largest selections of foods, snacks, and drinks.
Some locations have a special coca-cola vending machine which dispenses slushy cokes.
Has the best-tasting coffee (compared to the other three convenience stores).