What to Buy at a Japanese 7-Eleven Convenience Store

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When thinking back on favorite experiences in a country, sometimes it’s not the big attractions that stand out in your memory so much as the unusual quirks. Which bring me to the wonderland of the Japanese 7-Eleven, one of the more memorable stops in Japan.

And it’s not just me who is obsessed with Japanese 7-Elevens– ask any traveler and they will often wax poetic about their favorite things from a Japanese 7-Eleven. While 7-Elevens are the gold standard in Japanese convenience stores, you really can’t go wrong with any convenience store– the chain Lawsons also has its fans.

So what makes a Japanese 7-Eleven so fun?

Hot Food Selection at a Japanese 7-Eleven

Whereas a US 7-eleven has questionable hot dogs and stale coffee, at a Japanese 7-11 the fresh food actually looks fresh– and tempting.

Refrigerated Prepped Takeout Food

Mostly we grab pre-packaged food like these or onigiri stuffed rice balls which are a deal at around 60 cents. I was thrilled to see an onigiri shop open in my NYC neighborhood– until I saw they were charging $3.50 a pop.

Other takeout food to consider: fresh and tasty sushi, soba noodles and other treats.

Soy and other Japanese Sauces

Whereas my 7-Eleven might have one dusty Kikkoman soy sauce, the Japanese 7-Eleven had several shelves worth of soy sauces to choose from.

Japanese Candy

Japan is famous for its fun, crazy and delicious candy. I’ll explore all the favorite Japanese candy in a future post, but just be aware that the Japanese 7-Eleven candy aisle puts the US one to shame. If you;re overwhelmed by the selection, you can’t go wrong with Japanese flavored KitKats.

Japanese Potato Chips

I devoured a bag of Japanese potato chips in one evening if that tells you anything.

Japanese Drinks

Japanese drinks are fun to taste test– often you’ll have no idea what something actually is until you try it. But fortunately most of what I tried was pretty tasty. Like in the US, energy drinks are very popular.

Cup o Noodles and Ramen Soup

You may have fond (or not so fond) memories of Cup o Noodles and packaged ramen soup from your college dorm days. I promise you haven’t seen anything like the entire aisle filled with soup and noodle selections.

Japanese Sandwiches in a Hotdog Bun

Apparently in Japan, anything can go into a hotdog bun and make a tasty sandwich– whipped cream, noodles, actual hot dogs (at room temperature). While I did not try any of the sammies, they were fun to browse.

Fun accessories

Toy Sets

Surgical Face Masks

You’ve seen the photos of Japanese wearing face masks, especially while on subways and in the crowded city streets. Unsurprisingly, the Japanese 7-Eleven stocks a full selection of face masks.

Have you been to a Japanese 7-Eleven? Tell us about your favorite finds!

Disclosure: my visit to the Kanto region of Japan was hosted by JTB, however I can assure you that my 7-Eleven shopping picks are entirely my own.

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