How Japanese Convenience Stores Really Work Everything First-Time Visitors Should Know If you’ve never visited Japan before, you may think a convenience store is simply a place to buy drinks and snacks. In Japan, convenience stores—known locally as “konbini” (コンビニ)—are much more than that. They are an essential part of everyday life. Whether you need … Read more
How to Use Self-Checkout Machines in Japan A Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Visitors Self-checkout machines are becoming increasingly common in Japan. You may find them at: At first, a Japanese self-checkout machine can look intimidating. The screen may be in Japanese, the machine may ask several questions, and you may not know where to place … Read more
Where Are the Trash Bins in Japan? Why They’re So Hard to Find (And What You Should Do Instead) If you’re visiting Japan for the first time, there’s a good chance you’ll experience this situation. You finish a drink, look around, and suddenly realize… There isn’t a trash bin anywhere. Many visitors are surprised that … Read more