All about Japan - Konbini: The culture of convenience

 

In Japan, you cannot walk 100 meters without crossing a conbini.

Okay, I'm exaggerating, but it almost is!

And the conbini have a lot of fans, whether among the Japanese, but also foreigners (tourists or not).

Moreover, for all conbini lovers, we have created a Conbini Box that should please you. It is purchasable just here.

Back on topic.

• What is a conbini?

It's a neighborhood mini-market, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• I have seen the word "konbini" before, is it different?

This is a big debate that many foreigners have, on how to write the word コ ン ビ ニ in Romanized language.

Well the answer is that both work.

Conbini comes from the English term "convenience store", hence the C.

Konbini is the more literal translation of the katakana word コ ン ビ ニ since the コ is written ko in Romanji.

For consistency in my article, I decided to only use the word conbini, with a C therefore.

• How many conbini are there in Japan?

According to the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, there are more than 50,000 across the country, including 7,000 in Tokyo alone.