Japan's convenience stores, known as konbini (コンビニ), are far more than a place to grab a drink and a snack. 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart each pack an astonishing range of everyday services into a tiny shop that's usually open 24 hours: you can pay your utility bills, withdraw cash with a foreign card, print a document, ship a suitcase, or pick up a parcel. When you're new to Tokyo and still setting up a bank account or internet at home, the konbini on your corner quietly becomes one of the most useful places in your life.
What you can actually do at a konbini
- Pay bills — utilities (electricity, gas, water), phone, tax, and online-shopping invoices. Bring the paper slip with the barcode and pay in cash at the register.
- Use the ATM — withdraw yen day or night. Seven Bank ATMs (in 7-Eleven), Lawson Bank ATMs (in Lawson), and FamilyMart's ATMs all accept many foreign-issued cards.
- Buy tickets — concerts, theme parks, sports, museums (like the Ghibli Museum), and highway buses, via the in-store kiosk (Lawson's 'Loppi', FamilyMart's multi-copy machine).
- Print, copy & scan — print PDFs and photos from your phone, photocopy, and scan documents on the multi-function copier.
- Send & receive parcels — hand off or collect courier packages; 7-Eleven and FamilyMart handle Yamato Transport takkyubin (宅急便), while Lawson handles Japan Post (Yu-Pack) and has a Japan Post mailbox inside. You can even ship your luggage ahead to a hotel or airport.
- Eat — hot food, bento, coffee, and often a small eat-in counter. Most stores have a microwave and hot water at the register.
- Other basics — restrooms in many (not all) stores, copiers, and stamps. Note that the major chains have largely discontinued their free in-store Wi-Fi, so don't count on it.
The single most useful trick: to pay a bill, you don't need to read Japanese. Just hand the paper slip (with its barcode) to the cashier and pay in cash. The same goes for picking up an online order — show the QR code or barcode from your confirmation email or app.
Withdrawing cash with a foreign card
- 1Find a Seven Bank ATM (inside almost every 7-Eleven), a Lawson Bank ATM (in Lawson), or a FamilyMart ATM — all are designed to accept overseas cards.
- 2Insert your card. The ATM lets you switch the screen to English, Chinese, Korean and several other languages.
- 3Choose 'Withdrawal', enter your PIN, and select the amount in Japanese yen.
- 4If the machine offers to charge you in your home currency (DCC), decline and choose yen — your own bank's rate is usually better.
- 5Take your card, cash, and receipt. Check your bank's foreign-ATM and currency fees separately, as these vary by card.
- Mistake: trying to pay a bill by card. Many bill payments at the register are cash only — bring cash for utility and tax slips.
- Mistake: assuming every store has a toilet. Many do, but it's not guaranteed; smaller or busy-street stores may not.
- Mistake: throwing your bill slip away. Keep the stamped receipt portion as proof of payment until the service confirms it.
- Mistake: shipping a parcel without measuring it. Takkyubin pricing depends on size and destination, so the staff will measure and weigh it at the counter.
- Mistake: expecting English everywhere. Staff may speak little English, but the ATMs, kiosks, and copiers almost always have an English-language button.
- Can I pay my electricity or gas bill at any konbini?
- Generally yes, if your bill has a barcode (most utility slips do). Hand it to the cashier and pay in cash. If you've switched to paperless billing, you may need to print the slip first or pay another way — check with your provider.
- Will my foreign credit or debit card work in the ATM?
- Usually, at Seven Bank (7-Eleven), Lawson Bank (Lawson) and FamilyMart ATMs, which accept major international brands like Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay and others. Withdrawal limits and your bank's fees vary, so confirm with your card issuer.
- How do I print a document if I don't have a printer at home?
- Use the multi-copy machine. You can send a PDF or photo from your phone via the chain's app (for example, 7-Eleven's multicopy app), get a reservation number or QR code, then print it at the machine and pay there.
