Convenience Stores in Japan

Convenience stores (small stores or shops) are very common in Japan (called as KONBINI in Japanese).
Most of the convenience stores are open 24 hours.
As their store sizes are limited, they are very careful in choosing what kind of products and brands to sell.
Generally, foods are delivered to each store two to five times a day from factories. Since products are delivered as needed, stores do not need large stock areas.
Although larger, newer convenience stores have quite a broad range of items, the selection is still limited compared to supermarkets, and in many stores only 1 or 2 choices are available.
Prices in a convenience store are typically higher than at a supermarket.

Most items available in larger supermarkets can be found in Japanese convenience stores. In addition, the following additional services are also commonly available:

* Courier, or postal service.
* Photocopying, or fax service.
* ATMs.
* Utilities and other bills and tax payment service.
* Tickets service for concerts, theme parks, airlines etc 

Here are a few pictures of various types of convenience stores:

 

And finally an bank ATM in a convenience stores. I have been using these machines recently and not going to bank ATMs, because they are everyhere, you can find one almost every 200-300 meters,
but usually slightly more expensive than bank ATMs.

Some views from inside the shops:

NOTE:  The following link is an english SNS in Japan (Youshare Japan). I am writing articles there on Japan/Japanese Culture/Business in Japan/Education in Japan etc, you can find many other blogs.

http://english.youshare.jp/blogs.php?action=show_member_blog&ownerID=1&blogID=3