Home Notifications Newsletters Next Share

I'm an American who visited 7-Eleven in Japan, and it totally blew US convenience stores out of the waterhttps://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/iaposm-an-american-who-visited-7-eleven-in-japan-and-it-totally-blew-us-convenience-stores-out-of-the-water/slidelist/94539383.cms2022-09-29T20:04:57+05:30

I'm an American who visited 7-Eleven in Japan, and it totally blew US convenience stores out of the water

Advertisement

Nickelle TilleySep 29, 2022, 20:04 IST

I'm an American who visited 7-Eleven in Japan, and it totally blew US convenience stores out of the water — I moved to Okinawa, Japan, and tried new foods I found at the local 7-Eleven.Nickelle Tilley
I moved from the US to Japan and have been very impressed by the 7-Eleven stores in my new home.
In Japan, convenience stores are truly a one-stop shop for snacks, clothes, toiletries, and more.

Advertisement

The 7-Eleven storefronts in Japan and the US look almost identical, but the convenience stores are vastly different on the inside.

The 7-Eleven storefronts in Japan and the US look almost identical, but the convenience stores are vastly different on the inside. — There are 7-Elevens around the world, including in Okinawa, Japan.Nickelle Tilley
Before I moved from the US to Okinawa, Japan, I'd heard about the country's vibrant culture, futuristic technology, and incredible cuisine. However, I didn't expect that I'd be regularly going to the local 7-Eleven to satisfy my breakfast, lunch, and dinner cravings.
The Texas-based convenience-store chain has thousands of brick-and-mortar shops around the world, and many have their own unique spin on the brand.
Even though the stores in Japan look familiar on the outside, they offer a shopping experience that's drastically different from the one I'm used to having at US convenience stores.
As soon as I stepped inside the 7-Eleven — also referred to as a konbini, the Japanese word for convenience store — in Okinawa, I knew that it was eons ahead of the stores I've been to in the US.
Here's what it's like, from an American's perspective.

The 7-Elevens in Japan offer so much more than just food and beverages.

The 7-Elevens in Japan offer so much more than just food and beverages. — The 7-Eleven I visited in Japan had an ATM and a copy machine inside.Nickelle Tilley
Like most 7-Elevens around the world, the Japanese locations I've visited are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. But here, they have so much more to offer than just drinks and snacks.
They're often equipped with ATMs, printers, copiers, and fax machines. Many also sell office supplies.
As an added bonus, in my experience, the restrooms inside are usually very clean and even include bidets.

Advertisement

Customers can buy various household items and toiletries here.

Customers can buy various household items and toiletries here. — The 7-Eleven sold toiletries and clothes in addition to food.Nickelle Tilley
If you snag your nylons or stain your shirt near a 7-Eleven in Japan, you're in luck. The stores carry everything from tights to hair gel to shirts to shampoos and conditioners.
You can also buy toilet paper and cleaning supplies here.

The store sells alcohol along with drinks, pills, and powders that are supposed to alleviate hangover symptoms.

The store sells alcohol along with drinks, pills, and powders that are supposed to alleviate hangover symptoms. — I found an alcoholic juice box and a bunch of remedies for hangover symptoms.Nickelle Tilley
From what I've seen, the 7-Elevens in Japan have decent alcohol selections. Customers can even get an individual alcoholic drink in a container that looks like a juice box.
I also found drinks, pills, and powders near the vitamin supplements and protein gels that are supposed to act as over-the-counter remedies for hangover symptoms.

Advertisement

The store's main draw is its freshly prepared, high-quality food.

The store's main draw is its freshly prepared, high-quality food. — I often pick up fresh fruit and yogurt when I stop in at the local 7-Eleven.Nickelle Tilley
In the US, I've found that many convenience stores sell fairly basic and just-fine foods, like hot dogs or soggy pizza slices, that I don't go out of my way to eat. You won't just find typical gas-station food here.
In Japan, the 7-Elevens' wide variety of delicious food attracts locals and tourists alike.
The stores have fresh-tasting, high-quality snacks and meals. What's more, they come at a very affordable price.

Shoppers can stop in for specialty coffee drinks and hot breakfasts.

Shoppers can stop in for specialty coffee drinks and hot breakfasts. — The coffee and pancakes are my go-to breakfast combination at 7-Eleven.Nickelle Tilley
If I went to 7-Eleven for a breakfast on the go, I wouldn't be able to turn down a package of maple-and-margarine pancakes, which can be served hot at the store. I'd pair them with fruit-flavored yogurt and juice, instant coffee, tea, or milk.
Many coffee drinkers swear by 7-Elevens' freshly brewed coffees and lattes, saying they're comparable in quality to drinks served at popular coffee shops. The beverages are also very cheap at 7-Eleven, with options starting at roughly $0.75.

Advertisement

An array of prepackaged ramen, rice, and curry line the shelves.

An array of prepackaged ramen, rice, and curry line the shelves. — There are countless types of ramen at the 7-Eleven in Japan.Nickelle Tilley
Almost an entire aisle of my local 7-Eleven is occupied by different types of dry ramen. On the other side, there's ready-to-eat rice and curry.
The only thing you need to do to prepare the dishes is to heat them up in the microwave.

The store has a section dedicated to seasonings and dressings.

The store has a section dedicated to seasonings and dressings. — The ketchup and mayonnaise are kept in plastic bags by the sauces.Nickelle Tilley
The 7-Eleven has a section of little seasoning bottles, dressings, and sauces.
I also thought it was interesting how the store sold squishy bottles of mayonnaise and ketchup in plastic bags. In the US, they come in firmer plastic bottles.

Advertisement

Onigiri is one of my favorite finds at 7-Eleven.

Onigiri is one of my favorite finds at 7-Eleven. — Onigiri is a popular rice snack in Japan, and it's one of my favorite things to purchase at 7-Eleven.Nickelle Tilley
Onigiri is one of the first things you should try from 7-Eleven.
The popular snack is a rice ball wrapped in seaweed and filled with minced chicken, beef, mayonnaise, or tuna, the latter of which is my favorite.
This perfectly sized snack costs just a little more than $1.

The stores carry both sweet and savory sandwiches.

The stores carry both sweet and savory sandwiches. — The egg sandwich is probably the most popular choice at 7-Eleven.Nickelle Tilley
For just over $2, you can get a 7-Eleven sando, which is a crustless sandwich on delicate white bread. The store sells a wide range of options.
The egg salad sandwich is probably the most popular, and it's also the one I recommend trying. Aside from standard options, like ham or turkey topped with lettuce and cheese, other sandwich offerings include pork cutlets and chicken teriyaki with egg.
If you want something sweet, the 7-Elevens here also offer fruit-and-cream sandwiches with fillings that rotate based on the season.
The strawberry-and-cream one is particularly mouthwatering, and I recommend pairing it with sweet and salty lemon chips and royal milk tea, a popular drink usually made with Assam or Darjeeling tea leaves.

Advertisement

Bento boxes are ideal for a quick, tasty lunch.

Bento boxes are ideal for a quick, tasty lunch. — The bento boxes are one of my favorite quick lunch options.Nickelle Tilley
Bento is a portable lunch, and the 7-Elevens in Japan have a huge assortment of them to choose from. If you're looking for an affordable meal on the go, a boxed bento meal is the perfect option.
The 7-Elevens here have curry, ramen, soba noodles, and rice bento boxes topped with eggs, tofu, chicken, and beef cutlets.
Cashiers even ask customers if they want to heat up their bento boxes when they check out so that their meal is hot and ready to eat when they leave.

The fried food by the register is a must-try.

The fried food by the register is a must-try. — The fried food sold at 7-Eleven in Japan is delicious and inexpensive.Nickelle Tilley
You can't leave 7-Eleven here without trying one of the light meals on display by the register.
The fried chicken is a wildly popular food item, and rightfully so. I also love the corn dog, which comes with a small plastic container of ketchup and mustard.
Both the fried chicken and the corndog are just around $1, a price that's hard to beat.

Advertisement

One of my favorite things about the 7-Elevens in Japan is the sweets.

One of my favorite things about the 7-Elevens in Japan is the sweets. — The chocolate cake is one of my favorite desserts from 7-Eleven.Nickelle Tilley
Shoppers with a sweet tooth can pick between pudding, pastries, cakes, candy, and ice cream galore. The stores also have an impressive frozen-dessert section.
Coolish, "drinkable" ice cream in a pouch, is a popular choice and one of my favorites. When you live on a very hot, tropical island like Okinawa, Coolish is an easy, mess-free treat to get on the go.
If ice cream isn't your dessert of choice, you'll still have plenty of options.
I recommend trying one of Japan's special KitKat flavors, like salt lemon. Or, you can opt for a slice of cookie-crusted cheesecake or a rich piece of chocolate cake, which is surprisingly gooey and moist for a packaged pastry.

You can also get a fairly healthy meal filled with greens for less than $5.

You can also get a fairly healthy meal filled with greens for less than $5. — There are a ton of salads at 7-Eleven in Japan.Nickelle Tilley
When I need a break from 7-Eleven's desserts and fried foods, I can find plenty of fresh-tasting, healthy options a couple of aisles over.
For less than $4, I can buy a crisp salad loaded with toppings. The greens would go well with one of the store's bags of mixed fruit and a cold lemon soda.

Advertisement

The bakery section has bread, baked goods, and room-temperature sandwiches.

The bakery section has bread, baked goods, and room-temperature sandwiches. — The 7-Eleven carried a bun with a sausage in the middle.Nickelle Tilley
In the store's bakery section, you'll find sweet and savory breads and other baked goods.
I also noticed that the 7-Elevens here sell a room-temperature sausage sandwiched between a bun with corn and mayonnaise on it.

You can get individual pieces of seasoned meat or fish.

You can get individual pieces of seasoned meat or fish. — I love finding new foods and products at the 7-Eleven in Japan.Nickelle Tilley
I like that the 7-Elevens here offer pieces of meat and fish that are packaged individually and already seasoned.
You can really customize your meal by adding the protein to rice, lettuce, or noodles.

Advertisement

I come across intriguing, new foods every time I go to 7-Eleven, and I'm still working up the courage to try them.

I come across intriguing, new foods every time I go to 7-Eleven, and I'm still working up the courage to try them. — The 7-Eleven in Japan sold bags of quail eggs and smoked squid.Nickelle Tilley
I can always count on my store runs here to be an adventure that exposes me to new foods and flavors.
Although many of the snacks and foods I find here are popular in Japan and other areas, they're still new to me as an American. But hopefully in no time I'll be venturing out of my comfort zone to try my local 7-Eleven's packaged quail eggs or smoked squid.

Overall, I love shopping at 7-Eleven locations in Japan.

Overall, I love shopping at 7-Eleven locations in Japan. — Coolish, "drinkable" ice cream in a pouch, is one of my favorite things to get at 7-Eleven.Nickelle Tilley
Whether I'm picking up my favorite treats, trying to make a copy, or grabbing a quick lunch, the convenience stores in Japan are a great place to do it.
The 7-Elevens here definitely seem much cooler and more convenient than the ones back home in the US.

Advertisement

Next Story The campground chain that made Airstreams into ho...

Advertisement

View All Latest

Advertisement

Copyright © 2024. Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.For reprint rights. Times Syndication Service.