Welcome to Japan’s Real Rules, Vol.6 – this time, we’re stepping inside the convenience store.
With over 50,000 locations across the country, Japan’s konbini are a logistics wonder — where you can find almost anything, anywhere, anytime.
But beneath the perfectly organized shelves lies a world of curious rules and unspoken logic.
Let’s uncover five of them — one quiz at a time!
1. 5 Questions from the Convenience Store Counter
Q1. Once in a Lifetime Snack
How many new products are released across all Japanese convenience stores every month?
(Difficulty: ★★★☆☆)
- Around 10
- Around 100
- Around 1,000
Answer (Tap or click)
3. Around 1,000
Explanation:
If you guessed the most shocking number — well done.
You’ve seen through the quiz writer’s little trick of “I just want you to be surprised.”
Yes, Japan’s konbini really launch around 1,000 new items every month, and about 70% of products get replaced within a year.
So if you loved that “Rich Vanilla Custard Cream Puff” on your last trip to Japan, don’t be surprised if it’s gone this time.
In Japan’s convenience stores, every snack is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
Q2. Wait… Do I Look That Young?
If you’ve ever bought alcohol at a Japanese convenience store, you might have been asked to “press the age-confirmation button.”
But what exactly does that button do?
(Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆)
- It uses a camera with AI to check your real age.
- The cashier asks for it only if you might be underage.
- It doesn’t actually do anything — it’s just a dummy button.
Answer (Tap or click)
3. It doesn’t actually do anything — it’s just a dummy button.
Explanation:
Whenever you buy alcohol or cigarettes in Japan, that screen appears — for everyone, every time.
Pressing it doesn’t trigger any system or verification; it simply records that you declared yourself over 20.
If something goes wrong later, the store can just say,
“Well… they pressed the button, didn’t they?”
It’s bureaucracy with a smile — the Japanese way.
Q3. Don’t Ask Why
At Japanese convenience stores, which of the following costs money?
(Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆)
- Plastic bags
- Disposable chopsticks
- Hot water for cup noodles
Answer (Tap or click)
1. Plastic bags
Explanation:
Until 2020, plastic bags were free in Japan.
That year, a new law made them chargeable nationwide — not just in convenience stores but everywhere.
The goal was environmental protection, of course.
Still, many people quietly wonder:
“Why only plastic bags?”
Welcome to Japan — where not everything needs to make sense to be followed perfectly.
Q4. An Exceptionally Kind Clerk?
When you buy a boxed meal at a Japanese convenience store, what are you always asked?
(Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆)
- “Would you like me to heat it up?”
- “Is that enough for you?”
- “Would you like fries with that?”
Answer (Tap or click)
1. “Would you like me to heat it up?”
Explanation:
Say “Yes, please,” and the clerk will pop your meal into the microwave behind the counter, then neatly pack it for you.
It’s not because that clerk is exceptionally attentive — it’s simply part of the konbini manual.
There’s even an urban legend:
On a freezing winter day, a young man walked into a convenience store and froze — not from the cold, but because the cashier was too cute.
When she asked, “Would you like me to heat it up?”, he blushed and held out his hands instead of his bento.
Probably not true.
But undeniably… a heartwarming story.
Q5. Can You Really Do Everything Here?
Which of the following can’t you do at a Japanese convenience store?
(Difficulty: ★★★☆☆)
- Buy cold medicine
- Buy concert tickets
- Pay your local taxes
Answer (Tap or click)
1. Buy cold medicine
Explanation:
Most convenience stores in Japan don’t sell cold medicine — though technically, they can.
Since a legal reform in 2009, stores with a licensed “registered seller” (tōroku hanbai-sha) are allowed to sell certain over-the-counter drugs.
But in reality, almost no konbini do, because having a qualified staff member on duty is costly and difficult for 24-hour shops.
So if you catch a cold in Japan, skip the konbini and head to a drugstore instead.
2. Reflection
For many visitors, Japan’s convenience stores are nothing short of amazing — spotless, efficient, and full of temptations.
But behind that perfection lie a few curious truths you probably didn’t expect.
Next time your friends rave about some konbini dessert they loved in Japan,
try saying,
“Enjoy it while it lasts — it’s probably gone by now.”
You’ll definitely stand out.
(Though… maybe not in a good way.)
Authentic Japanese Souvenirs, Delivered
- Hotel delivery (no international shipping fees)
- Order before or during your trip and receive everything at your hotel
- Plan ahead and start sightseeing hands-free from day one
- Save time
- No more arriving in Japan only to find the souvenirs you wanted are sold out
- Skip the souvenir hunt and spend more time enjoying your trip
- All items are made in Japan
- Forget the worry of “Is this really made in Japan?”
- Every item is carefully selected and genuinely Japanese-made
