Japanese convenience stores are the real life equivalent of video game save points.
A peek into Japan's convenience stores
21–30 of 88 posts
Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores
#22Are they joking or is it really so common to spend nights at the office that convenience stores actually sell underwear?!
They do! I accidentally went on a side trip while in Japan and forgot to pack enough shirts and underwear. No problem, with 7-11 nearby!
I'm sure it gets the job done but how was the quality?
Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores
#23Very interesting article on the history. I also first saw these high quality convenience stores in Japan, then after having stayed in Taiwan for a while for a short while thought that the whole worlds 7-11s are like the ones in Taiwan only to be sorely disappointed everywhere I go. I don't know how the ones Korea are, but for me personally Taiwan seems to be the gold standard of convenience stores. Yes, the average f…
Incidentally, Seven Eleven is originally an American convenience store chain. They got bought out by Itou Youkado, a Japanese supermarket chain, when Seven Eleven went bankrupt.
Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores
#24When I visited Japan I drove around Shikoku (smallest of the main islands) and was surprised to find a FamilyMart in a small rural town. 24x7 open, just as well stocked as the ones in Tokyo. Really interesting to learn about its history!
Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores
#25Very interesting article on the history. I also first saw these high quality convenience stores in Japan, then after having stayed in Taiwan for a while for a short while thought that the whole worlds 7-11s are like the ones in Taiwan only to be sorely disappointed everywhere I go. I don't know how the ones Korea are, but for me personally Taiwan seems to be the gold standard of convenience stores. Yes, the average f…
Incidentally, Seven Eleven is originally an American convenience store chain. They got bought out by Itou Youkado, a Japanese supermarket chain, when Seven Eleven went bankrupt.
The history is very interesting here. As noted in the article, Ito Yokado's chairman set up a new company under Toshifumi Suzuki to create the Japanese 7-Eleven.
Southland Corporation, which owned 7-Eleven in America initially refused to even speak with them. Eventually it all worked out and 7-Eleven became a hit in Japan, while the fortunes of the company in America did not fare so well.
In 1991, when Southland faced bankruptcy, Ito Yokado invested $430mn to take over the company and renamed it to 7-Eleven Inc. How the tables turn..
There is a lot of detail on Wikipedia if you find this sort of thing interesting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7-Eleven#History
Edit: 430bn → 430mn
Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores
#26I really enjoyed that! If the author learned so much more perhaps a part 3 is in order?!
Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores
#27When I visited Japan I drove around Shikoku (smallest of the main islands) and was surprised to find a FamilyMart in a small rural town. 24x7 open, just as well stocked as the ones in Tokyo. Really interesting to learn about its history!
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Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores
#28I really enjoyed that! If the author learned so much more perhaps a part 3 is in order?!
[deleted]
Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores
#29Are they joking or is it really so common to spend nights at the office that convenience stores actually sell underwear?!
Family Marts have a shelf of individually packed socks/underwear/T-shirts/leggings etc in many styles and colours. Cheap and good quality too.
Ran out of socks a few times when I was there. Top up was a 10s walk from the hotel. :)
Re: A peek into Japan's convenience stores
#30Seems it's the same with the 7-Eleven's and (I assume) FamilyMart's in Thailand as well.
I know in 7-Eleven in Thailand it's possible to get car insurance, buy airplane tickets, probably concert tickets, etc...
And also open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
I'm quite happy our village in Thailand recently got their own 7-Eleven. And it looks like excellent business for the people that started the franchise in our village. Always customers inside at day time and even at night quite often people buying stuff.
I like that I now have a shop nearby where I can buy milk, or a fresh cappuchino. Other mini marts in our village would not offer those products.