Hello everyone.
Today, I’ll introduce some things you can buy at Japanese convenience stores.
But instead of the usual items—like snacks, cup noodles, or bento boxes—
I’ll focus on things that many people don’t know about.
You might be surprised at how much you can actually do in a convenience store.
1. Stamps, Postcards, and Letter Packs
You can buy stamps, postcards, and “Letter Packs” at convenience stores.
A Letter Pack is a large envelope provided by Japan Post that allows you to send documents or small items at a relatively low cost.
It can hold items up to 3 cm thick and 4 kg in weight.
These are originally post office services, but convenience stores sell them through partnerships with Japan Post.
Here’s something interesting:
These are considered service items, so stores make almost no profit from them.
Also, if you ask a convenience store clerk,
“How much does it cost to send this?”
they usually cannot answer.
This is because pricing and rules are strictly controlled by Japan Post.
Customers are expected to check the details themselves.
2. Copy Machines (More Than Just Copies)
Copy machines are well known, but they can do much more.
You can:
- Print photos directly from your smartphone
- Send and receive faxes
- Print official documents (such as residence certificates)
For official documents, you usually need to register with your local municipality in advance.
There are also network printing services that allow you to print things like anime images or celebrity photos.
Each convenience store chain uses a different app, so it’s best to check in advance.
3. Paying Bills
You can pay utility bills such as electricity, gas, and water at convenience stores.
Of course, you need the payment slip.
You can also receive tickets (for concerts, events, etc.), usually after making a reservation online.
4. Parcel Delivery (Takkyubin)
Convenience stores also offer parcel delivery services.
You can send packages anywhere in Japan through partnerships with delivery companies.
5. Gift Cards and Prepaid Cards
Stores sell various prepaid cards, including:
- Apple Gift Cards
- Amazon Gift Cards
- Gaming cards
Here’s an interesting point:
These cards are often displayed openly in the store—but they’re actually useless until activated at the register.
Even if someone steals one, it has no value until it is paid for and activated.
Why Do Convenience Stores Offer So Many Services?
You might wonder why convenience stores provide so many services.
The surprising answer is:
they don’t make much money from most of them.
For example, even if you pay a large utility bill—say 50,000 yen or even 500,000 yen—
the store only earns a commission of less than 10 yen (a few cents) per transaction.
In other words, they are handling payments and services on behalf of other companies.
These services exist mainly to bring customers into the store.
Conclusion
Japanese convenience stores are not just places to buy food.
They function as small service hubs for everyday life.
However, many of these services generate very little profit for the store.
When you think about it, convenience stores are doing a lot of work for very little return.
So next time you use these services,
a little appreciation wouldn’t hurt.
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