It’s not news that Japan has the best convenience stores in the world, and the Japanese 7-Eleven stores are tourist attractions unto themselves. And restaurants. And cultural experiences—the list goes on.
Indeed, the focus of today’s post is more granular. As you’ll know if you’ve ever visited Japan, 7-Eleven (while fabulous, and far superior to its American counterparts) is fantastic, but it’s not the only game in town. There are dozens of Japanese convenience stores, actually.
For now, however, I’ll focus main on comparing the “Big 3″—so, Lawson vs 7-Eleven vs FamilyMart—and helping you to understand which might be more up your alley.
Japanese Convenience Stores Live Up to the Hype
Before we get into debates like 7-Eleven vs Lawson or Lawson vs FamilyMart, allow me to make a bold declaration: All of Japan’s convenience stores are awesome. In over a decade of traveling and living in Japan—I’ve cumulatively spent almost two years in the country—I don’t think I’ve ever visited a konbini (the Japanese word for convenience store) that disappointed me.
The key to maximizing enjoyment of them, for me, is to incorporate them into your routine. For example, after waking up, I usually go straight to the nearest convenience store and buy an energy drink. Once I’m ready to begin sightseeing, I’ll return (often, but not always, to the same shop) to get a coffee and a sweat. While out and about, I’ll stop at a konbini for an afternoon snack; ditto at night if I’m jet lagged or otherwise can’t sleep.
Ways to Compare Japan’s Convenience Stores
Ubiquity
In my observations, the number of store notwithstanding, 7-Eleven is definitely the most common convenience store in most Japanese cities, with Lawson and FamilyMart in a close competition for second and third. Obviously, this is a bit more difficult to conclude the further off the beaten path you get; in many small cities and towns, you may only have a single konbini.
Food and drink
Whether you’re choosing between 7-Eleven or Lawson, or another convenience store entirely, food is a major consideration. I generally find the prepared foods at 7-Eleven to be my favorites, from meals like katsudon and mapo tofu, to cold salads like my favorite (which features octopus and basil pesto). 7-Eleven also has the tastiest convenience store coffee with the highest-quality and easiest-to-use machines, which increasingly now include smoothie-making machines.
For hot food, meanwhile, the Fami-chiki at FamilyMart is probably my favorite single item for sale at a konbini in Japan. Lawson for its part, specializes in sweets, among which I especially like its frequent collaborations with Godiva.
Services
All Japanese convenience stores are basically equal on this front. Namely, ATMs within them are always a safe bet for getting cash with a foreign card these days. Likewise, you can buy stamps at any konbini; most have restrooms as well. As far as printing and other services (such as buying tickets for attractions like the Ghibli Museum and Wisteria Tunnel), I personally find the Loppi machines in Lawson to be the easiest to use, though the FamiPort and Multicopy in FamilyMart and 7-Eleven, respectively, will definitely get the job done.
Novelty items
No matter whether you shop at Lawson, 7-Eleven or FamilyMart, each of these “big three” stores will have novelty items. In Lawson stores, for example, you’ll often see a pop-up shop that sells a surprisingly wide range of Muji products. In Lawson, meanwhile, there’s the aforementioned Godiva collaboration for sweets; sub-brands like Natural Lawson and Lawson 100 (respectively) house organic/natural grocery stores and hyaku-en (¥100) shops, respectively.
Hours
While the majority of Japanese convenience stores of all brands have historically been open 24 hours, this isn’t always the case any longer. In particular, the further outside the busiest areas of major cities you go, the likelier it is that konbini will close for a few hours each night—most simply don’t have the staff (let alone the business demand) to justify staying open. This is a consistent (and unfortunate) truth across all brands.
Other Japanese Convenience Stores
Japan is home to lots of regional convenience stores, beyond the “Big 3” that are present throughout the country. Here are a few of them:
- NewDays: Owned by JR East, this chain of convenience stores is found primarily within train stations in eastern Japan.
- Daily Yamazaki: You’ll recognize this store, which operates locations nationally, by its bold, retro red-and-yellow logo.
- Seicomart: If you’ve ever traveled in Hokkaido, you’ve definitely seen one of these shops, which were founded on Japan’s northernmost island.
- Ministop: Along with Daily Yamazaki, this is another second-tier convenience store I’ll sometimes visit if one of the “Big 3” are not nearby.
TIP: No matter where you end up falling on the Lawson vs Family Mart debate, hiring me to plan your Japan itinerary is a great way to make sure it’s unforgettable.
Other FAQ About Japanese Convenience Stores
Why is FamilyMart so popular in Japan?
I might be biased, but my personal #1 reason for visit FamilyMart over other Japanese convenience stores is Fami-chiki, which might just be the best fried chicken in Japan. Many people also like FamilyMart’s coffee drinks, though I personally prefer the machines at 7-Eleven.
What is Lawson known for in Japan?
Lawson is known for a few things, first among them sweets. It partners with Godiva to produce truly gourmet chocolate snacks, many of which feel luxurious in a way that belies their low price. More recently, many Lawson locations now feature miniature Muji shops within their stores.
How many 7-Elevens does Japan have?
The official number of 7-Elevens in Japan is over 20,000, though this is meaningless out of context. What I will say is that you’re never very far from a 7-Eleven (or 7&i Holdings, which is often what’s on the sign in front of a store) in any major city in Japan. In Tokyo and Osaka, you’ll sometimes find multiple locations on the same block!
The Bottom Line
Lawson vs 7-Eleven vs FamilyMart—which of Japan’s “Big 3” convenience stores is the best? 7-Eleven definitely has the highest name recognition, not to mention the most stores and the most consistency around the country. On the other hand, Lawson wins points for its amazing sweets and the mini Muji outlets within it; FamilyMart is worth a visit for the existence of fami-chiki alone. This is to say nothing of the dozen other konbini brands in Japan. Need help putting together the ultimate Japan trip, no matter which convenience store speaks most to you? Commission a custom Japan itinerary today!
