How to Use a Japanese Convenience Store: Checkout Phrases, Payment, Heating, Coffee and ATMs
Published: 2026-10-08
Japanese convenience stores (konbini) have food, coffee, ATMs, copiers and even parcel services — a traveler's best friend. But being asked "Atatamemasu ka?" or figuring out the coffee machine can be confusing at first. Here's everything from checkout phrases and payment to using the ATM.
The short answer
| You want to… | How | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Buy food and drinks | Pick from the shelves and go to the register | Onigiri, bento, sandwiches, hot snacks |
| Heat your food | Say "hai" (yes) when asked "Atatamemasu ka?" | Some stores have a self-service microwave |
| Get coffee | Pay at the register, then pour it yourself at the machine | For iced coffee, take a cup of ice from the freezer |
| Withdraw cash | Use a Seven Bank ATM or similar | Takes foreign cards, with English screens |
| Pay | Cash, card, IC card or QR code | Self-checkouts are increasingly common |
💡
The questions at the register are almost always the same. Learn the "Questions at the register" table below and you'll be fine without Japanese.
Japan's big three convenience stores
7-ElevenThe largest chain. Its in-store Seven Bank ATMs accept foreign cards. → Store guide
FamilyMartFamous for "Famichiki," its freshly fried chicken. → Store guide
LawsonLook for the blue sign. Karaage-kun and desserts are favorites. → Store guide- Most stores are open 24 hours (with some exceptions).
- Not sure what to buy? See what to buy at convenience stores and drugstores.
At the register
- Put your items on the counter.
- The staff will ask a few questions (see below).
- Tell them how you'll pay, and pay.
| They ask | Meaning | How to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Atatamemasu ka? | Shall I heat this up? | Hai (yes) / Iie (no) |
| Fukuro wa go-riyō desu ka? | Do you need a bag? (bags cost extra) | Onegaishimasu (yes) / Irimasen (no) |
| O-hashi (supūn) o otsuke shimasu ka? | Do you need chopsticks (a spoon)? | Onegaishimasu / Irimasen |
| Pointo kādo wa omochi desu ka? | Do you have a point card? | Nai desu (no) — shaking your head works too |
| Tennai de o-meshiagari desu ka? | Will you eat here? | Hai / Iie (takeout) |
| O-shiharai wa? | How will you pay? | Kādo de / Suica de / Genkin de (card / Suica / cash) |
ℹ️
Since July 2020, plastic bags in Japanese shops cost extra, so a reusable bag is handy. More stores now hand out spoons and forks only when you ask.
How to pay
- Besides cash, you can use credit cards (contactless), IC cards like Suica and PASMO, and QR code payments.
- At self-checkouts, scan the barcodes yourself, choose a payment method on screen and pay. Many machines switch to English.
- When buying alcohol, tap the on-screen button confirming you're 20 or older.
Heating, hot water and eat-in corners
- Staff heat bento and pasta at the register. Some stores also have a microwave you can use yourself.
- Many stores have a hot water dispenser for cup noodles.
- Stores with an eat-in corner let you eat what you buy on the spot. The consumption tax rate differs for eating in and taking out, so tell the staff if you'll eat inside.
How to buy konbini coffee
7-Eleven coffee machinesPay at the register first, then make your own coffee at the machine.- Hot: ask for "hotto kōhī" at the register, pay and take the cup.
- Iced: take a cup of ice from the freezer and pay at the register.
- Put the cup in the coffee machine near the register and choose the same type and size you paid for.
- It varies a little by chain and store: at some Lawson stores the staff make it for you, and at FamilyMart you buy coffee at a staffed register.
Hot snacks and oden
Famichiki (FamilyMart)Boneless fried chicken from the warmer case by the register.
Karaage-kun (Lawson)Bite-size fried chicken in rotating flavors.
OdenIn the colder months, some stores sell oden by the register. Name what you want and the staff fill a cup for you.- For hot snacks by the register, just point and say "kore kudasai" (this one, please).
Withdrawing cash at the ATM
Seven Bank ATMsFound inside 7-Eleven stores. Withdraw yen with foreign-issued Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, American Express, JCB, Discover and Diners Club cards. Choose from 12 languages. → Seven Bank- ATMs at other convenience stores, such as Lawson Bank ATMs, also accept many foreign cards.
- Withdrawal limits and fees depend on your card and the machine.
Other handy services
- Restrooms: many stores have a customer restroom. Ask the staff before using it, and it's polite to buy something.
- Copy and print: multifunction copiers can copy, print photos from your phone and scan.
- Send parcels: some stores accept courier deliveries. For suitcases, see luggage storage and delivery.
- Tickets: some stores let you collect concert and event tickets at an in-store machine or the register.
Etiquette
- Eating while walking is frowned upon. Eat in the eat-in corner or somewhere outside where you're not in the way.
- Throw trash in the store's bins sorted by type, and don't bring in trash from elsewhere.
- More and more stores don't allow reading magazines without buying.
🙅
You must be 20 or older to buy alcohol and tobacco. You may be asked to confirm your age.
Frequently asked questions
Are Japanese convenience stores open 24 hours?
Most are. Some stores inside stations or office buildings have set hours.
Do the staff speak English?
Simple English usually works, and pointing and nodding are enough to shop. Self-checkouts and ATMs have English screens.
Can I withdraw cash with a foreign card?
Yes. Seven Bank ATMs in 7-Eleven stores accept Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, American Express, JCB, Discover, Diners Club and more.
Are plastic bags free?
No. They've cost extra since July 2020. Say "irimasen" if you don't need one.
Can I eat inside the store?
Yes, if it has an eat-in corner. Tell the staff at the register that you'll eat inside.
Official websites
ℹ️
Services and payment options vary by store and can change. Check the official sites for the latest.
Read next
Tax-Free Shopping in Japan: The New Refund System from November 2026 and Where to ShopVisitors to Japan can shop without paying consumption tax at tax-free stores. But from November 1, 2026, the system changed: you now pay tax at the store and get it refunded when you leave Japan. Here's how the new process works, what to watch out for, and where tax-free shopping is easiest.2026-10-08
Japan Etiquette Cheat Sheet: Do's and Don'ts for TravelersNobody in Japan expects visitors to be perfect. Still, knowing a few key points makes your trip much smoother. Here are the do's and don'ts, scene by scene.2026-10-07
What to Do With Big Luggage in Tokyo: Coin Lockers, Luggage Storage and Hands-Free TravelSightseeing while dragging a big suitcase is no fun. Here's how to travel light in Tokyo, from station coin lockers and storage services to sending bags ahead to the airport or where you're staying.2026-10-06