Hello everyone! I’m Juri, a Japanese language teacher :)

There are so many convenience stores in Japan.
There are said to be around 56,000 convenience stores across the country!

Of course, I use them quite often, too!! (^-^)
You can find convenience stores in all kinds of places—not only near train stations, but also in residential areas, near schools, and more.

So, why are there so many convenience stores in Japan…?

*The Japanese word “konbini” (コンビニ) is a shortened form of “konbiniensu sutoa” (コンビニエンスストア), which comes from “convenience store.”

■ First of all… What kinds of convenience stores are there in Japan?
・7-Eleven
・FamilyMart
・Lawson
・NewDays
・MINISTOP …and more!

★There are many different convenience store chains in Japan.
Each chain has its own selection of original foods and sweets, such as rice balls (onigiri) and desserts. Many people enjoy the unique products and services offered by each convenience store. For example, they might say, “I love the desserts at this convenience store!” (I enjoy them, too :D)

■ What can you do at a convenience store?
・Buy food and drinks
・Use an ATM
・Make copies and print documents
・Send packages
・Buy tickets
・Pay bills       …etc

★You might think of a convenience store as simply a place to buy food and drinks. However, Japanese convenience stores offer many other services, including ATMs, delivery services, and some government-related services.
In other words, convenience stores are very convenient places that support our everyday lives!

■ Why do so many people use them?
By now, I think you can probably see why so many people use convenience stores in Japan!
・They have many of the things we need.
・Each convenience store offers its own unique products and services.
・Many of them are open 24 hours a day.

There are so many kinds of “convenience” packed into Japanese convenience stores!
That may be one reason why so many people use them in Japan, and why you can find so many convenience stores in places like train stations and residential areas.

Finally…
If you visit Japan, I hope you’ll stop by different convenience stores and have a look around! It can be fun to discover Japanese-style onigiri and sweets that you may not find anywhere else.