Back view of a person entering a convenience store through its entrance

Life Tips

Things You Can Do at a Convenience Store

At convenience stores in Japan, besides buying food and drinks, you can use services that make daily life more convenient. It's useful to know these 5 things first.

Buying food and daily necessities

You can buy bento boxes, onigiri, bread, and drinks, as well as tissues, batteries, umbrellas, and more. Some stores will heat up your bento or other food for you.

Using the ATM

Some convenience stores have an ATM inside. The cards you can use, the fees, and the hours of use differ depending on the ATM or bank, so please check the instructions on the screen.

Making copies or printing

At the multicopy machine, you may be able to make copies or print photos and documents. Some machines can also print from a USB memory stick or a smartphone.

Paying bills

You may be able to pay bills such as payment slips with a barcode at the register. Not all bills can be paid this way, so please check the instructions on the payment slip.

Sending and receiving parcels

Depending on the store, you may be able to send a courier parcel or receive a designated parcel. The courier companies available and the types of parcels accepted differ by store.

If you're not sure, it's fine to show the staff the machine or paper you want to use and ask.

Japanese you can use today

"Can I pay for this here?" "Where is the copy machine?" "I'd like to send a parcel."