“Konbini” is a Japanese-styled name for convenience stores (コンビニ, literally konbini).
Brief information about convenience store in Japan:
The largest convenience store chains in Japan: 7-Eleven (12,016 stores in Japan). In fact, 7-Eleven has 34,147 stores in the world and 6,243 in the US. Significant portion of the 7-Eleven stores are in Japan. The second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh largest convenience store chains in Japan: Lawson (8,589), FamilyMart(7,199), Circle K Sankus (6,137), Mini Stop (1,879), Daily Yamazaki (1,622), am/pm (1,169). (Source: Wikipedia).
What convenience stores provide in Japan:
* food/drinks/misc daily goods/stationery product/drugs
* Seasonal food/goods, cigarettes
* FedEx like home delivery service (shipping and receiving)
* reservation/ticketing for events/public transportation using a multimedia kiosk terminal
* lottery, magazines, news paper
* copy machines, fax machines
* phone cards, postage stamps
* device for adding funds to RFID payment cards
* ATM
* Trash bin
* pay phone
* bathroom
Available only in some areas:
* health checkup (ship samples to hospitals)
* Bill payment (electricity, gas, water)
It’s a safe space that’s open for 24 hours – e.g., when you feel that you are followed by a creepy person, you may walk into a nearby convenience store for safety. (Source: Wikipedia)
The Site Map: Nara Station Area
