I’ve always said someday I’ll write a letter to Lipton demanding it be brought to the states…

And that’s not even getting started on standard grocery stores. Even the largest grocery stores in Japan have nothing close to the items available at a US grocery store. Yeah, sure, it’s nice to get a katsu-don for lunch at the local convenience store, but I would trade every konbini in my entire city for one, single grocery store with an actual deli with sandwich meat and sliced cheese by the pound. Or, just a damn loaf of Wonderbread. Can’t even get that here. Give me a Piggly Wiggly over a Nankoku Super ANY day of the week.

One thing about konbinis is that, when you’re in Japan for a brief time, or if you’re stuck in the inaka, then – YES, they stand out as little oases of joy and pleasure. One of my worst weeks in the inaka was saved by the local konbini, which had blind-box models that I collected. So, one thing that happened when I shifted from temporary inaka teacher to permanent city resident is that the konbini lost its magic IMMEDIATELY. Once you get to know your neighborhood, you realize there’s absolutely nothing the konbini can give you that you can’t get better just down the street. I still go there for the newest, weirdest Kit Kats and potato chips, but a konbini lunch quickly becomes the most depressing option once you settle down in the city.

Honestly, it’s not so much konbinis that are magical – it’s the organization and grouping of Japanese stores. For example, most grocery stores have a separate bread shop attached to them, or a clothes shop. Some have little food-court like sections. One in town has a bookstore. The mall downtown has a grocery store that’s just kinda…there, mixed in with a department store. It’s actually really cool, because one shocking thing about Japan for many people (myself included) is their lack of barriers, and the chaotic way they mix things that just don’t go together. But sometimes, it comes together in this real magical blend, a quirky or unique combination, and it’s awesome. Konbini are one of those places, but there are other, better places to discover.