Japan runs on its convenience stores. There are 56,054 of them as of the end of 2025, and three chains account for roughly nine out of ten. This page collects the numbers travelers and writers actually need — store counts, market share, what's stocked inside, payment options, and which ATMs take foreign cards — each with a source and an as-of date so you can cite them with confidence.
Quick Answer
Japan had 56,054 convenience stores at the end of 2025 (source: Japan Franchise Association / JFA). The three dominant chains — 7-Eleven (21,552 stores), FamilyMart (16,429), and Lawson (14,693) — together hold roughly 90% of all stores by count. Combined sales across the sector reached ¥12.06 trillion in 2025 (source: JFA). In most cities you're rarely more than a short walk from one, and many neighborhoods have several. Yes, foreign-issued cards work at konbini ATMs: Seven Bank ATMs inside 7-Eleven stores accept overseas Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, JCB and more, run 24/7, and offer on-screen guidance in twelve languages. For day-to-day purchases, cash and transit IC cards (Suica, ICOCA) are accepted almost everywhere; foreign credit cards and QR wallets are widely but not universally supported, so it's worth checking in-store.
Cite this page: Tabilane. "Japan Convenience Store Statistics: Konbini by the Numbers (2026)." tabilane.com. https://tabilane.com/japan-convenience-store-statistics
Convenience stores in Japan: the big picture
The headline figures come from the Japan Franchise Association, which publishes monthly convenience-store statistics for its member chains — the most current and authoritative national snapshot.
| Metric | Figure | As-of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total convenience stores nationwide | 56,054 | End of 2025 | Japan Franchise Association (JFA) |
| Total sector sales | ¥12.06 trillion (+2.2% YoY, 4th consecutive record) | 2025 (full year) | JFA |
| Net store growth in 2025 | 300+ stores added | 2025 | JFA |
| Typical coverage (urban areas) | Nearest store usually within walking distance | — | Derived from store density above |
What this means on the ground: with more than 56,000 stores serving a population concentrated in a handful of metro areas, a konbini is almost always within a few minutes' walk in any city, and dense districts often have three or four competing brands on a single block.
A FamilyMart storefront in Japan. Three chains dominate the streetscape nationwide. (Image: MaedaAkihiko via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.)
Store counts by chain
Each chain's official store count is the canonical figure. Because the three companies report on slightly different dates and include different sub-brands, the counts below carry individual as-of dates rather than a single shared one.
| Chain | Stores in Japan | As-of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Eleven Japan | 21,552 | FY2024 end (≈ Feb 2025) | Seven & i Holdings IR — Domestic Convenience Store Operations |
| FamilyMart | 16,429 | 2026-05-31 | FamilyMart official — "Number of Stores" |
| Lawson | 14,693 | 2026-01 | Lawson IR — Stores in Japan |
A few notes on basis, which matter if you reproduce these numbers:
- 7-Eleven's 21,552 covers domestic stores; the company also reports a slightly different figure (21,743) under a separate counting basis.
- FamilyMart's 16,429 is the all-brand total. Tokyo alone accounts for 2,431 of its stores — the most of any prefecture.
- Lawson's 14,693 is a brand-aggregate figure that includes Natural Lawson and Lawson Store100.
Market share
There is no single official "market share" table that uses one consistent basis across all chains, so treat the percentages below as approximate, store-count estimates — not sales share.
| Chain | Approx. share by store count | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 7-Eleven | ≈ 38% | 21,552 ÷ 56,054 |
| FamilyMart | ≈ 29% | 16,429 ÷ 56,054 |
| Lawson | ≈ 26% | 14,693 ÷ 56,054 |
Basis note (read before quoting): these shares are each chain's official store count divided by the JFA national total of 56,054. The as-of dates and counting bases differ between sources (JFA member-chain basis at end-2025 versus each company's IR snapshot from Feb 2025 to May 2026, with different sub-brand inclusion), so the figures are estimates, not exact, same-basis market shares. Summed, the top three come to roughly 90% of stores by count. We do not publish an exact combined percentage, because dividing figures with mismatched bases would overstate precision. The remaining share belongs to smaller chains such as Ministop, Daily Yamazaki, and Seicomart (the latter dominant in Hokkaido).
What's inside a konbini
A single store typically stocks around 3,000 items, with roughly 100 swapped out each month as seasonal and regional products rotate through. This figure is commonly cited across food and travel sources rather than tied to a single official number, so treat it as an industry rule of thumb rather than a precise count.
The core categories you'll find in almost any store:
- Ready-to-eat meals — onigiri (rice balls), bento boxes, sandwiches, hot fried foods at the counter, oden in cooler months.
- Drinks — chilled coffee, bottled and canned tea, sports and energy drinks, and a warmer of hot beverages near the entrance in winter. (See our konbini drinks guide for category-by-category detail.)
- Bakery, desserts, and snacks — chain-branded sweets, ice cream, and an outsized shelf of chips and chocolate.
- Daily essentials — toiletries, phone chargers, stationery, umbrellas, even shirts and underwear at larger stores.
If you want to know which chain actually wins on food, that's a different question — our konbini food comparison ranks 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson category by category.
Inside a typical konbini: a single store stocks roughly 3,000 items, with about 100 rotating each month. (Image: Japanexperterna via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.)
24/7 services at a glance
Beyond food, konbini double as everyday infrastructure. This table is an inventory of what exists and which chains offer it — not a how-to. For step-by-step instructions on using these ATMs, parcel pickup, Wi-Fi, and ticketing, see our konbini services guide.
| Service | 7-Eleven | FamilyMart | Lawson | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATM (foreign-card capable) | Yes (Seven Bank) | Yes (E-net / partner) | Yes (Lawson Bank) | Foreign-card support strongest at Seven Bank; see ATM section below |
| Bill / utility payment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Pay invoices with a barcode at the register |
| Domestic parcel shipping | Yes | Yes | Yes | Carrier partners differ by chain |
| Free Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Registration may be required |
| Event / travel ticketing kiosk | Yes (multi-copy machine) | Yes (Famiport) | Yes (Loppi) | In-store kiosk; mostly Japanese-language menus |
| Printing / photocopying | Yes | Yes | Yes | Multi-function copier, pay per page |
| Restroom access | Often | Often | Often | Varies by store — ask staff; not guaranteed |
The takeaway: all three major chains cover the same broad service set, so for everyday errands the brand matters less than proximity. The clearest chain-level difference for travelers is at the ATM, covered below.
Payment methods by chain
Konbini accept a wide range of payment types, but acceptance is not perfectly uniform across stores and chains. Where we can't confirm a chain-wide rule, the cell is marked to check in-store rather than guessed.
| Payment type | 7-Eleven | FamilyMart | Lawson | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash (yen) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Universally accepted |
| Transit IC card (Suica, ICOCA, etc.) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Tap to pay; rechargeable in-store |
| Foreign credit card (Visa, Mastercard) | Widely | Widely | Widely | Contactless usually works; verify at register |
| Mobile QR wallet (PayPay, etc.) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Mostly Japan-registered wallets — varies; check in-store |
A practical note for visitors: cash and a transit IC card will get you through nearly every konbini in the country. Foreign contactless credit cards are accepted at the great majority of stores, but a small number of locations or terminals still decline them, so carrying some cash as backup is sensible.
ATMs for foreign cards
This is the question most travelers actually search for, so the facts, kept narrow:
- Seven Bank ATMs, found in 7-Eleven stores nationwide, accept a broad range of overseas-issued cards — Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, UnionPay, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club among them (some cards bearing these marks may still be declined). Source: Seven Bank (official).
- They operate 24 hours a day and provide on-screen guidance in twelve languages. Source: Seven Bank (official).
- Seven Bank operates more than 28,000 ATMs across all 47 prefectures of Japan (source: Seven Bank, official, 2025). The exact count shifts as the network changes, so treat any single figure as approximate and date-sensitive.
- Japan Post Bank ATMs, located at post offices and some konbini-adjacent sites, also accept many foreign cards, though hours can be more limited than Seven Bank's 24/7 availability.
For the actual button-by-button walkthrough — selecting English, choosing "withdrawal," and reading the on-screen fees — see our konbini services guide.
Seven Bank ATMs, the kind found in 7-Eleven stores nationwide. They accept overseas cards, run 24/7, and offer twelve display languages. (Image: Rebirth10 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.)
Why Japan's konbini culture fascinates the world
The numbers explain the footprint, but they don't quite capture why outlets like National Geographic have devoted features to the konbini — or why "Japanese convenience store" routinely trends among travelers. The fascination is that a store built for speed turned into something closer to civic infrastructure: a place to eat a genuinely good meal at 3 a.m., withdraw cash on a foreign card, pay a utility bill, ship a suitcase ahead to your next hotel, and print a boarding pass, all under fluorescent light, all in a few square meters.
That density and reliability is what the statistics above quietly describe. 56,054 stores isn't just a count; it's the reason a traveler can step off a late train in an unfamiliar city and find everything they need within a block.
Sources & methodology
Every figure on this page is sourced below with its as-of date and counting basis. Store counts and sales are perishable; we re-check them against these primary sources at least annually and update the "as-of" dates.
- National store total & sector sales (56,054 stores; ¥12.06 trillion — ¥12,058 billion / 12兆583億円, 2025): Japan Franchise Association (JFA) monthly convenience-store statistics, full-year 2025 (Jan–Dec). JFA member-chain basis; sales are the JFA-reported full-year total, +2.2% YoY.
- 7-Eleven (21,552, FY2024 end ≈ Feb 2025): Seven & i Holdings IR — Domestic Convenience Store Operations. Domestic stores; a separate basis reports 21,743.
- FamilyMart (16,429, as of 2026-05-31): FamilyMart official "Number of Stores". All-brand total; Tokyo leads with 2,431 stores.
- Lawson (14,693, as of 2026-01): Lawson IR — Fact Sheet (stores in Japan). Brand-aggregate including Natural Lawson and Lawson Store100.
- Market share (≈38% / ≈29% / ≈26%): estimated as each chain's official store count ÷ JFA total (56,054). As-of dates and counting bases differ between sources — figures are approximate, store-count estimates, not exact same-basis market shares.
- Items per store (~3,000; ~100 rotated monthly): commonly cited across multiple secondary sources; not attributed to a single primary figure.
- Seven Bank ATMs (28,000+ ATMs across all 47 prefectures; overseas-card acceptance, 24/7, 12 languages): Seven Bank — overseas-issued cards at ATMs (official), 2025. Network size shifts over time; re-check against Seven Bank's official figures annually.
- Cultural interest: National Geographic feature on Japan's konbini culture.
Methodology note: where multiple sources disagree (e.g., 7-Eleven's 21,552 vs 21,743, or fluctuating Seven Bank ATM counts), we report the figure with the clearest basis and flag the alternative. We do not combine figures with mismatched counting bases into a single precise number — hence "roughly 90%" rather than a decimal sum for the top three.
Image credits (all via Wikimedia Commons): cover — "7-Eleven Glow" by Aleister Kelman (CC BY 2.0); FamilyMart storefront by MaedaAkihiko (CC BY-SA 4.0); convenience-store interior by Japanexperterna (CC BY-SA 3.0); Seven Bank ATMs by Rebirth10 (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many convenience stores are in Japan?
There were 56,054 convenience stores in Japan at the end of 2025, according to the Japan Franchise Association. Combined sector sales reached ¥12.06 trillion that year, a fourth consecutive record.
Which convenience store chain is the biggest in Japan?
7-Eleven is the largest by store count, with 21,552 stores (FY2024 end, Seven & i Holdings IR). FamilyMart follows with 16,429 (as of 2026-05-31) and Lawson with 14,693 (as of 2026-01).
What is the market share of 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson?
By store count, the rough shares are 7-Eleven ≈ 38%, FamilyMart ≈ 29%, and Lawson ≈ 26% — together about 90% of all stores. These are store-count estimates (each chain's official count ÷ the JFA total of 56,054); because the source dates and counting bases differ, treat them as approximate rather than exact same-basis shares.
Do Japanese convenience stores accept foreign credit cards?
Yes, in most cases. Foreign Visa and Mastercard contactless cards are accepted at the great majority of konbini registers, though a minority of stores or terminals may decline them. Konbini ATMs — especially Seven Bank inside 7-Eleven — reliably accept overseas-issued cards for cash withdrawals, 24/7.
How far is the nearest convenience store in Japan?
In Japanese cities, a konbini is usually within a few minutes' walk, and dense districts often have several competing chains on one block. With more than 56,000 stores nationwide, coverage in urban and suburban areas is exceptionally high; rural coverage is thinner.
Final Thoughts
For a traveler, the practical lesson behind these numbers is simple: in any Japanese city, a clean, well-stocked, 24-hour store is almost always a short walk away — and you can get through it on cash, a transit IC card, or a foreign card at the ATM if you run short. Once you know where they are and how dense they are, the next questions are what to eat (start with the konbini food comparison) and how to use the services beyond the register (the konbini services guide). The statistics describe the network; those two guides tell you how to use it.
Figures on this page are sourced and dated in the Sources & methodology section above. Store counts and sales are updated against primary sources at least annually.