Hidden Services in Japan’s Konbini: The Ultimate Traveler’s Guide to ATMs, Tickets, Luggage & More

The Japanese Convenience Store

NPR recently reported that U.S. convenience stores may soon look a lot more like Japan’s konbini—24/7 shops that have become part of the country’s infrastructure. In Japan, these stores aren’t just about snacks. Fresh meals arrive several times a day, but you can also pay utility bills and taxes, buy concert or museum tickets, or even ship a suitcase across the country—all under one roof.

That’s what makes them so different. For locals, konbini complement post offices and service counters, giving them more places to handle everyday tasks at all hours. For travelers, they’re lifelines.

At first glance, a konbini looks like any corner shop in the U.S.—the kind of place you’d stop for gas, a lotto ticket, or a bag of hot Cheetos. But here’s the real contrast: would you ever expect good food from a gas station? Would you pay your taxes there, or trust them with your luggage? The answer back home is obvious: no. In Japan, the answer is yes to all of the above.

Konbini aren’t just quick food stops; they’re part of the country’s infrastructure. For locals, they’re essential. For visitors, they’re a window into how Japan really works.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the services Japanese convenience stores offer—and the best ways to use them so your trip runs smoothly.

One Brief Note on Konbini Food for Pork-Sensitive People

This article is mostly about the services convenience stores provide, but food is still part of the story—and there’s one important caveat for travelers who avoid pork (Muslim, Jewish, or otherwise).

Konbini shelves are packed with instant noodles, hot foods, and ready-to-eat meals that look amazing. Even the burritos in the display case are tempting. But here’s the catch: many of these items contain pork or gelatin, even when it’s not obvious. A “chicken curry” may still use pork stock, lard, or seasoning. Some foods are also prepared with shared equipment that touches pork.

If you’re strict about avoiding it, the only safe option is learning how to read Japanese food labels. The good news is we’ve written a full guide that breaks down how to spot pork on labels—you can check it out here.

Japan’s Big 3 Convenience Stores

7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson are the three major convenience store chains in Japan. Smaller players like NewDays and MiniStop exist, but the Big 3 dominate the landscape and cover most traveler needs.

• 7-Eleven: Their ATMs are the most foreigner-friendly, supporting twelve languages and the highest withdrawal limit—up to ¥100,000 per transaction. You can also recharge IC cards like Suica or Pasmo directly at the ATM. Best of all, they’re available 24/7.

• FamilyMart: Uses E-net ATMs that accept most international cards, though language options are usually limited to English and Chinese (withdrawal limits at ¥50,000). Their standout feature is the FamiPort machine, which lets you buy bus passes, event tickets, and theme-park entry.

• Lawson: Also offers ATMs compatible with foreign cards, with similar language limits and lower withdrawal caps (around ¥50,000). Their strength lies in the Loppi machine, popular for concert tickets, theme parks, and entertainment tie-ins.

Beyond banking and tickets, all three chains are stocked with convenience-store classics—hot snacks, ready meals, and seasonal treats—making them a reliable stop any time of day.

Using ATMs in Japan: What to Know

After you’ve booked your trip, the next question is always money: how much cash should you bring, and can you withdraw more once you’re here? The first depends on your own spending style. The second has a simple answer: yes, you can withdraw money in Japan with a foreign bank card.

Here’s the breakdown:

• ATM fee: Japanese ATMs charge a small usage fee. They don’t add an extra penalty just because your card is foreign.

• Bank fee: Your own bank at home usually charges the international transaction fee (often 1–3% of the withdrawal).

• Exchange rate: Determined by your card network (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx). Your bank may add a markup on top.

• Withdrawal limits: Vary by machine—often ¥50,000 per transaction at FamilyMart or Japan Post ATMs, up to ¥100,000 at 7-Eleven.

Pro tip: Always notify your bank before you travel (if required). Some banks, like Bank of America, used to require a “travel notice,” but now rely on mobile app tracking. Check your bank’s policy so your card doesn’t get frozen.

Checking rates: Visa and Mastercard both publish daily exchange rate calculators online (Visa here, Mastercard here). These give you a rough estimate of what you’ll get at the ATM.

Golden rule: If the ATM or point of sale ever offers you a choice—pay in your home currency or in yen—always choose yen. If you pick your home currency, that’s “dynamic currency conversion,” and the exchange rate is almost always worse.

     

Paying Bills at Convenience Stores

One of the most overlooked features of konbini is bill payment. For people living in Japan, these stores act as mini service counters—you can pay for just about anything by handing the cashier a printed invoice.

Here’s what you’ll see most often:

• Utilities: gas, water, electricity.

• Phone & internet bills: both mobile carriers and home broadband.

• Insurance premiums: health, car, and others.

• Taxes & fees: resident tax, NHK (TV) fees, sometimes even traffic fines.

• Online shopping invoices: Amazon, Rakuten, Mercari, and other e-commerce orders.

How it works: if your bill has a barcode, you bring it to the cashier, they scan it, and you pay—usually in cash, though some chains accept electronic payment. You’ll get a stamped receipt as proof.

For travelers: this isn’t something you’ll likely use unless you’re here long-term, but it’s worth knowing about. It shows how deeply convenience stores are woven into everyday Japanese life—sometimes people would rather go to the konbini than the post office to get things done.

The Convenience Store and the Ta-Q-Bin (Courier Services)

Once you’ve got your cash sorted, the next headache is usually luggage. Your carry-on is enough to keep you going for a few days—no need to haul the heavy stuff. This is where convenience stores really shine: you can send your luggage almost anywhere using the Yamato Transport service.

Here’s how it works:

• Find a participating convenience store. Yamato has a store finder (Japanese only, but it’s an interactive map and most browsers can translate it). 
• The one downside: Lawson does not accept parcels or luggage for Yamato. Yamato’s main partners are 7-Eleven and FamilyMart, plus a few smaller chains you’ll see listed in the store finder.

• Ask the staff at the counter for a Yamato waybill. If you’re unsure, they’ll help you fill it out. Here is a link to the different kinds of waybills they have for different services they offer, check it out here

• Write down the destination—your hotel, an airport counter, or even another convenience store.

• The staff will weigh and measure your bag to confirm it meets the size rules. Maximum weight is 25 kg (about 55 lbs).

• Pay at the counter, then keep your receipt with the tracking number.

• Collect your luggage at the destination when it arrives.

Timing tip:

• Plan on sending your bag at least 2 days before you need it.

• In major cities and on the main islands, delivery often takes just 1 day, but 2 gives you breathing room.

• For remote areas like Hokkaido, Okinawa, or smaller islands, expect 2–3 days.

• For exact delivery windows, check Yamato’s Delivery Times FAQ.

Side note: Convenience stores also handle domestic shipping for private-sale apps like Mercari (via services such as Raku Raku Mercari Bin). That’s a bigger topic, so I’ll save the details for a separate post.

The Multifunction Copy Machines

Remember when printing something meant hunting down a Kinko’s? Japan’s convenience stores put that kind of hassle to shame—you can scan, print, copy, or even buy tickets right at the corner store.

Each of the Big 3—7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson—has multifunction machines for printing, faxing, and scanning. Most have some foreign-language support, though once you get past the first few menus the translations can be patchy. A translation app or a helpful clerk usually solves the problem.

• 7-Eleven’s Multi-Copy Machines: Handle documents, photos, scanning/faxing, and sell tickets for buses, amusement parks, movies, concerts, sports events, and major attractions like LEGOLAND Japan or Tokyo Skytree.

• FamilyMart’s FamiPort: Covers a similar range, plus bill payments and reservations. You can also find Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea tickets here.

• Lawson’s Loppi: Heavy on entertainment—concerts, fan events, theme parks, and other tie-ins.

For tourists, the most practical feature is usually bus tickets. You can purchase them directly at the machine, or pay for an online reservation you’ve already made. We’ll publish step-by-step guides in the future, so check back if you want walkthroughs.

How it works in practice: after making a selection on the machine, you’ll usually get a small printed slip. You then take that slip to the cashier and pay there. Once payment is confirmed, the ticket or receipt is issued.

Rule of thumb: Between the three chains, not all machines offer the same services. There’s a good chance you can buy the ticket you want, but availability varies by store. English menus are limited—most options beyond the copying and printing will only display in Japanese.

In Japanese

In English

Convenience Store Food

In April 2024, my sister visited Japan before starting her medical residency. We toured Tokyo and Kyoto, ate everything from yakiniku to ramen to sushi—and on her last day, when I asked what her favorite meal was, she grinned and said: “The crepe at Lawson’s.”

Each of the Big Three has its specialties. 7-Eleven and FamilyMart battle it out with fried chicken, while Lawson is famous for Karaage-kun—bite-sized fried chicken with a cult following.

But fried chicken is just the gateway. The real staple is the onigiri (rice ball) and the endless variety of ready-made meals, hot and cold. Thanks to anime, many already know the classic triangular rice ball with pickled plum inside. That salty-sour flavor is pure umami.

Konbini, though, reinvented the rice ball. Tuna mayo, salmon, spicy cod roe—suddenly it became a canvas for flavor. One fun way to explore them is what is called onigiri roulette: grab a random one off the shelf and see what you get. Don’t worry, you’re unlikely to pull something too extreme, like natto, unless you really want to. Either way you'll find me by the coffee machine if you have any questions.

Side note: In Japan one thing you will notice is the lack of publicly available trash cans. The konbini are one of the more welcoming stores when it comes to accepting trash. Just remember to sort it correctly separating plastic bottles, glass, aluminum, and burnable garbage. We have another post that goes into detail about what your options are here!

Conclusion

It might feel odd to gush about a convenience store on your trip to Japan, but once you’ve used one, it clicks. Konbini aren’t just places to grab a snack—they’re the shortcut to traveling lighter, paying on time, and getting things done without hunting down a post office or a ticket counter.

For locals, they’re part of everyday life. For visitors, they’re a reminder that even the smallest corner store can be a hub of real convenience. If NPR’s right and the U.S. borrows this model, travelers there might finally get a taste of what Japan has perfected: a convenience store that actually delivers on the name.