What is your favorite Combini? Why?

[DoctorP]

Many people find that Japan's comini's are actually quite nice. I have been wondering what peoples thoughts were on the different chains?

Do you find yourself frequenting one main chain? Or do you visit them all?

There are four main combini chains (that I know of):

Lawson Station: Usually quite small, and very limited on variety of goods. Onigiri here have a very high chemical content to allow for long shelf life (so I rarely eat from here). Many of the stores are quite old and rather dirty in my opinion. I will go here if it is all I can find, but I tend to stay away.

Family Mart: Quite a bit more selection of goods, usually cleaner stores, and many seem to be family owned (meaning the family lives on the premisis, usually upstairs). Stores are usually larger, and can be found quite easily most anywhere.

7-eleven: These are fewer in number, and actually quite the same as the ones you will find elsewhere in the world (design wise). Stores are about the same size as Family Mart with about the same selection of goods. There are only 2 or 3 of these where I live, and not close to areas I frequent, so I rarely use this store unless I am in mainland Japan.

Hot Spar: These vary in size, some very large, some quite tiny. The larger ones have a kitchen built in, and make many of their onigiri on site, along with a large selection of breads/pizzas. Stores are usually quite clean. Walking into some of these is like walking into a small San-a, or MaxValue store. To my knowledge these are not big in Mainland Japan, but they do exist. This is by far my favorite of the combini's and I will go out of my way to get to one of these vice stopping at the others.

[Han Chan]

I prefer Family Mart. I find that they have quality items which I like, but it is expensive!

However I find combini's too expensive. Many real supermarkets like Summit and OK are open till very late, and I prefer the better quality and selection available. However, I know that if you are close to the center of a major city you need to use combini's.

[nurizeko]

The ones I've seen are Seven Eleven, Family Mart and Lawsons.

I didnt really have a particular favorate TBH, they were all pretty interesting experiences.

Like a British Newsagent or corner shop, cept looks a bit more modern and a bit winder variety of take out foods.

[ArmandV]

Lawson's or AM PM seem to be about the same. I prefer AM PM to Lawson's.

[Nana007]

AM PM when I was in Japan I saw alot of those. And then 7-11. Haha funny story after a concert I went to in Japan the 7-11 looked like it had been completely raided almost nothing was on the shelves.

[budd]

i like lawson combini best but 7eleven have the peach mizu
they all have different magazines, but i usually buy only the ones with the free dvds ２４０分 ftw
daily yamazaki defintely has the least amount though
wanna go here next.
http://www.natural-lawson.co.jp/
never been yet
bet its really expensive
surely louie vuitton freaks in stiletto heels shoppping there paying five dollars for 20 ounces of water
then again it could be like here and just another unkempt hair and birks carnival?

[RockLee]

Lawson : The custard cake ;-) I loved it when I was in Japan =)

[Iron Chef]

Great thread. I remember getting fat off Seicomart's own brand of cheap cola they would stock their shelves with (something like ￥50/can) although the rest of their offerings were pretty slim. Not even sure if that chain is around anymore and I only saw them in Hokkaido. Lots of Sunkus stores too.

In Nagoya we had lots of Family Marts and 7-11s on almost every street corner. Here in Kyushu AM PM and Mini-Stop are probably my favorites. Mini has some great food items off their hot and cold menus (probably the best selection imho of all the combinis). Their soft serve rocks too. 8-)

I do wish that combinis offered up more in the way of variety. Seems like regardless of the chain, pretty much everyone is stocked with the same goods. On a sidenote, there's a 7-11 near my house that has a still shrinkwrapped copy of Diablo II that's been sitting on the same shelf for over a year... and marked at ￥7800, lol.

[blade_bltz]

Lawson for nostalgia's sake - there was one next to the high school I was an exchange student at.

But 7-11's drinks have by far the coolest promotional toys...

[Ewok85]

I dont buy much from convience stores, but 7-11 is my favorite as they accept my bank card 24/7, unlike other convience store ATMs which only operate 8am-11pm weekdays.

[yukio_michael]

I probably bought more at 99en shop then Lawson, but Lawson was right around the corner from the house--- It was a matter of proximity really--- There was 711 at the station but, I never shopped there too much, unless to pay a bill while we were near.

I liked Lawson, it had an okay selection--- I've never been to famimart (which now have stores in the US)... but I've heard it's expensive as well.

Also, we had Sankus... or whatever it is supposed to be, pronounced like "thanks".

[nurizeko]

There was a 7 eleven and Lawson's outside Kabe station, but the Lawsons was on the wrong-side of the little square thing out-front of the station and kinda more hidden so the 7 eleven usually got my patronage.

Some of the heated in store take-away meals were delicious, and yeah, they definately seemed convenient.

Never bothered with the Magazines.

Heh, guess maybes its sad that many memories I have of Japan are the inside of a combini or supermarket.

In the UK I'm used to big weekly shopping trips, Britain is super-market central, even our smallet ones are bigger then a combini, and still called a super-market.

I dont think there were many days that I didnt see the inside of a combini in Japan.

[yukio_michael]

In the UK I'm used to big weekly shopping trips, Britain is super-market central, even our smallet ones are bigger then a combini, and still called a super-market.The interesting thing is that even inside a big supermarket like Jusco, people still use the little baskets--- There are shopping carts, but for the most part, I never saw anyone use them--- except to cary the little baskets.

[DoctorP]

seems as though Japanese go shopping daily for what is needed for that days meals. When I lived in the US we made one large weekly shopping trip also, but in Japan where refridgerators and pantry space is limited they tend to do daily shopping. That has taken a lot of getting used to!

[Han Chan]

seems as though Japanese go shopping daily for what is needed for that days meals. When I lived in the US we made one large weekly shopping trip also, but in Japan where refridgerators and pantry space is limited they tend to do daily shopping. That has taken a lot of getting used to!

:gohan:

One of the reasons for going shopping frequently is the fact that japanese are very quality concious and prefer fresh food. Who want to eat a one week old fish? Also sushi needs to be eaten the same day.

:gulp:

[DoctorP]

yes true, but sushi isn't eaten everyday! Also, many people buy sushi at places other than a grocery store. Fish, unless you are buying it from the fish market, isn't exactly fresh anyway by the time it makes it to your grocer.

[Maciamo]

It's difficult to say which one I prefer between Sun Kus, Family Mart, Lawson or AmPm. I like a bit less 7 Eleven, and much less Poplar and Daily Yamazaki, though.

AmPm has the advantage of having hot meals and good (but expesnive) desserts. Sun Kus has the best selection of yoghurts, "purin" and other regular desserts.

7-eleven: These are fewer in number, and actually quite the same as the ones you will find elsewhere in the world (design wise).

I can see that you do not know Europe much to say that. Convenience stores in Europe are mostly limited to "family-shops" (not chains) owned by Pakistani, Iranian or Arabic immigrants. Chains like Spar are considered as "small supermarkets" not convenience stores (because they are open at the same time as other shops and have supermarket counters).

[DoctorP]

I have never been a fan of 7 Eleven myself.

[Iron Chef]

"seems as though Japanese go shopping daily for what is needed for that days meals."

Yup, that about sums me up as well. If you live near a Saty, Jusco, or any other major store, gotta love the 割引/半額 jikan (7 or 8pm) when everything gets cut in half price-wise. I'm frugal so I tend to buy that night's dinner plus my lunch for the following day if i'm too lazy to make it myself. Hard to find health-conscious options though amidst all the fried foods and rice dishes.

[ArmandV]

I can see that you do not know Europe much to say that. Convenience stores in Europe are mostly limited to "family-shops" (not chains) owned by Pakistani, Iranian or Arabic immigrants.


The 7-11s in Japan look very much like the ones in the U.S. Here, too, they seem be run by Pakistanis and Indians.

[budd]

maybe they do it everyday because its something to do

[nurizeko]

I suppouse the daily shop gets you out the house.

Perhaps ontop of other reasons it provided something for what Japanese housewives were traditionally known for - staying at home.

That and I think aloot of Japanese just like getting out, and going somewhere, eating out also seems popular.

Us grumpy westerners are just ever so slightly more anti-social in the sense we buy for days ahead, and going out for a meal or something is ussually a weekly deal rather then daily.

Basically I think we tend to plan for a week ahead.


Once you get used to it, its actually nice in a way, to come home with food specific for a meal, for that night, rather then shuffling to the fridge and poking about in the evening.
Still, I'll never be convinced selling small bags of bread for those prices is worth it, I cant help that though to be fair, European famous foods include breads amongst other stuff.

Man we love our bread. :p

[jaytee]

Any that has the cooked greasy chicken next to the counter, i tell you they are a God send when you are walking home drunk! Love them

[pipokun]

When you travel to Hokkaido, try to buy just a rice ball at a combini.
They will surely ask you if the onigiri should be heated or not. That is the greatest heritage Hokkaido people should be proud of.

[yamada]

As far as foods, I much prefer 7-11s. They have alot of know-how about developing/delivering products.