The word "cheap" usually doesn't come to mind when you think of Japan. A lot of expats wanting to teach abroad are often scared of making the journey over here in worries that they won't cut it financially. When I took my first trip here from Korea, I brought half of my paycheck for a five day trip because I thought I wouldn't be able survive without living beyond my usual needs (btw that was way more than enough).
I found Japan a lot more affordable than I expected, and a lot of that had to do with one thing- Japanese convenience stores.
Ok, there is a ton of good food to eat here, and most of it is reasonable, but if you're a budget traveler, you need to stretch your cash, or you live here on a teacher's salary, convenience stores will be your go-to for a better-than-expected meal (or toiletry needs, coffee needs, ATM needs, wifi needs..just to list a few.)
And if you're thinking that the convenience stores here are like those in America, guess again. You can find some extremely high-quality meals here, and they'll even heat them up for you to boot!
I often get mocked by my friends for having a serious loyalty to a specific convenience store chain, but really you can't go wrong if you're in a pinch-money-wise or timewise, or really just want to experience part of the real Japan life.
So here is my devoted post to Japanese konbinis (convenience stores), whether you're just traveling through, living in Japan, or just want to read about the silly things you can find there.
The three big chains are Lawsons, 7-11, and FamilyMart- my fave being Lawsons. If you're a latte lover, you can get a hot or iced latte here for under a dollar fifty, and it does the job. You'll find Starbucks and Tully's (the other most popular coffee chain here), but if you're not willing to spend five bucks on a latte everyday, Lawson's has got your back. DON'T get a latte at FamilyMart though..I don't even know what was in that thing but I dumped out half of it and I am not a coffee snob.
Another thing I love about these stores is that I can find them anywhere in Japan. Every city I've been to, I could rely on the fact that if I'm low on funds or not feeling brave enough to walk into a restaurant by myself, I can walk into these familiar places and get the same quality all over Japan- even Okinawa!
I always have trouble finding breakfast when I travel, but I can pop into a konbini and get a healthy breakfast- or try the pancakes from 7/11 if you don't care about health. They are sold in the bread department and are two small hotcakes with some kind of butter and syrup magic in between. Heat them up for extra deliciousness. I usually opt for a hard-boiled egg and an aloe yogurt, or you could go for an onigiri (rice ball) to fill up for the day.
Onto the meals. I swear I eat the same salad from Lawsons at least three times a week- but be careful if you don't want an unexpected surprise, as most salads have spaghetti noodles underneath! For some reason, Japan loves to put spaghetti and hot dogs in places where they don't belong. There are tons of meals to pick from, and if the cashier asks you a question when she rings it up, say yes to get it heated up (my Japanese is terrible so I always just say yes to any question ha). 7-11 has the best gyoza hands-down, and among their wall of ramen, you'll find a Michelin-star winning instant ramen- a MUST try. Hot water is also provided, and most stores will have a counter to sit at.
Oh- and did you know that you can buy alcohol at convenience stores here? That's news to me (the state where I'm from has really weird laws about where alcohol can be sold, so this is a cool fact to me at least). Here you can find cans of beer, the popular fizzy "Strong" drinks which are excellent for pre-gaming, and you can pick up individual bottles of shochu- my favorite substitute for vodka in Japan. For a lovely Japanese mixed drink, mix shochu with green tea!
During my first visit to Japan, I think I went to a konbini every night to get an ice cream, and picked up a ton of candy souvenirs to bring back to friends and family. And don't miss the sandwiches- I've never eaten so much egg salad on white bread as I do here now. The eggs here are next level, and you will be hooked.
Besides food, you can find pretty much any travel necessity here that you may have forgotten to pack. From chargers to toothbrushes and knee-hi's. I even do some of my grocery shopping at 7-11. They have a decent selection of frozen veggies that make for quick, easy meals!
If you're using an international credit card, you're options for getting cash out in Japan are limited. You'll want to find a 7-11 ATM, where international cards are accepted. Even my Japanese bank card will only work at 7-11 and no other convenience store.
So whether you've got money flowing or are a bit more frugal, going to a Japanese convenience store is a must for anyone to experience part of Japan. You might be surprised how quickly you develop a favorite. Stick to Lawsons and 7-11 for the best foods (in my opinion) and try as many of the weird products you can find!
Happy konbini exploring!
-Jessie
Comments