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
A Complete Guide to Cash, Cards, IC Cards and Mobile Payments Japan is often described as a cash-based country. That description is no longer entirely accurate. Credit cards, contactless payments, transportation IC cards and QR-code payments are now widely used, especially in major cities. Japan’s cashless payment ratio reached 58.0% in 2025, with credit cards … 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
Payment Methods, Prices, Self-Checkout & Tips for First-Time Visitors Japan is famous for its convenience, quality, and attention to detail—and few places capture that better than DAISO. If it’s your first time visiting Japan, you’ll probably hear people say: “You have to go to DAISO.” But once you step inside, you may wonder… The good … Read more