Japanese Convenience Stores, called “conbini”, are a must to experience when you are in Japan. Found throughout the country, they offer a quick option to grab a tasty meal or snack while on the go.
In a Class of Their Own
Some conbini offer a food preparation and seating area where you can eat your meal or snack. This feature makes conbini extremely useful for tourists to curb hunger while keeping up with a packed touring schedule.
Fresh, Hot, and Seasonal
Try an onigiri, a triangle-shaped seaweed pouch filled with rice and other fillings such as tuna with Kewpie mayonnaise. The unique packaging of onigiri ensures that the rice only touches the seaweed wrapper just before you eat it. Hot foods are available at some convenience stores such as Lawson’s popular fried chicken offerings.
Seasonal offerings include oden, a comfort food available from fall through spring. It is a daikon broth-based soup with ingredients such as fish cakes, tofu, and radish. In early spring, fluffy strawberry sandwiches make their appearance for a limited time.
Visiting a conbini is more than just a look into the daily life of most Japanese. In fact, the freshly prepared food, a variety of choices, reasonable prices, and yes, convenience, will keep you coming back for more throughout your trip.
