Convenience stores

❃ Convenience stores

レジ袋はご利用ですか。（店員） [ Rejibukuro wa goriyou desu ka. (Ten'in) ]: Would you like a plastic bag? (Staff)
はい、お願いします。 [ Hai, onegaishimasu. ]: Yes, please.
いいえ、マイバッグを持っています。 [ Iie, maibaggu o motte imasu. ]: No, I have my own bag.
お弁当は温めますか。（店員） [ Obentou wa atatamemasu ka. (Ten'in) ]: Shall I warm up the bento? (Staff)
はい、温めてください。 [ Hai, atatamete kudasai. ]: Yes, please warm it up.
お箸はお付けしますか。（店員） [ Ohashi wa otsuke shimasu ka. (Ten'in) ]: Shall I include chopsticks? (Staff)
スプーンをください。 [ Supuun o kudasai. ]: A spoon, please.
フォークをください。 [ Fooku o kudasai. ]: A fork, please.
温かいものと冷たいものは分けますか。（店員） [ Atatakai mono to tsumetai mono wa wakemasu ka. (Ten'in) ]: Shall I separate hot and cold items? (Staff)
一緒でいいです。 [ Issho de ii desu. ]: Together is fine.
画面をタッチしてください。 [ Gamen o tatchi shite kudasai. ]: Please touch the screen (for age verification).
ペイペイで払います。 [ Peipei de haraimasu. ]: I'll pay with PayPay.
ホットスナックのフレンチドッグを一つください。 [ Hottosunakku no furenchidoggu o hitotsu kudasai. ]: One corn dog from the hot snack case, please.
肉まんを二つください。 [ Nikuman o futatsu kudasai. ]: Two meat buns, please.
トイレを借りてもいいですか。 [ Toire o karite mo ii desu ka. ]: May I use the restroom?
ここにATMはありますか。 [ Koko ni eetiiemu wa arimasu ka. ]: Is there an ATM here?
ここにゴミを捨ててもいいですか。 [ Koko ni gomi o sutete mo ii desu ka. ]: Can I throw away trash here?
切手は売っていますか。 [ Kitte wa utte imasu ka. ]: Do you sell stamps?
アイスコーヒーのカップをください。 [ Aisu koohii no kappu o kudasai. ]: An iced coffee cup, please (to use at the machine).
おしぼりを一枚もらえますか。 [ Oshibori o ichimai moraemasu ka. ]: Can I have one wet wipe?

Cultural notes

The "Combini" (コンビニ), short for convenience store, is the absolute backbone of Japanese daily life. Brands like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson are open 24/7 and offer everything from high-quality meals to concert tickets and banking services. For a tourist, checking out at a combini is often a rapid-fire listening test because the clerks are trained to ask a highly specific, standardized sequence of questions in very polite Japanese. To survive this interaction smoothly, you need to anticipate these questions. First, if you buy a lunchbox, the clerk will immediately ask, "Obentou wa atatamemasu ka?" (お弁当は温めますか - Shall I warm up your bento?). If you want it microwaved, simply reply "Hai, onegaishimasu" (はい、お願いします - Yes, please). Next, depending on what you bought, they will ask if you need utensils: "Ohashi wa otsuke shimasu ka?" (お箸はお付けしますか - Shall I include chopsticks?) or "Supuun wa..." (スプーンは - A spoon?). Then comes the question about the loyalty card: "Pointo kaado wa omochi desu ka?" (ポイントカードはお持ちですか - Do you have a point card?). As a traveler, you can just politely decline by saying "Nai desu" (ないです - I don't have one). Finally, due to eco-friendly laws, they will ask if you need a plastic bag, which costs a few yen: "Rejibukuro wa goriyou desu ka?" (レジ袋はご利用ですか - Would you like a plastic bag?). If you have your own bag, say "Maibaggu o motte imasu" (マイバッグを持っています - I have my own bag). Navigating this interaction successfully makes you feel like a true local. Combini clerks work incredibly fast to keep the lines moving, so having these quick, polite responses ready will ensure you don't hold up the queue of busy Tokyo commuters.

✣

← Bill and takeaway Contents Supermarket and street stalls →

Other sections

Greetings Politeness and apologies Aizuchi and reactions Understanding and repeating Introducing yourself Basic questions Numbers and classifiers Time and dates Requests and permissions Speech levels Asking directions Location Station and tickets IC cards Train and Shinkansen Subway Bus Taxi Airport Driving and cycling Restaurant Ordering food Izakaya Fast food Diets and allergies Bill and takeaway Supermarket and street stalls Clothes shopping Shopping and tax-free Checkout and refunds Hotel and Ryokan Room and facilities Onsen and public baths Check-out and lockers AirBnb and rules Wi-Fi and SIM Bank and money Post and administration Lost and found General health Describing symptoms Pains and body Pharmacy Hospital and clinic Emergencies Natural disasters Police and accidents Travel problems Family Work and colleagues Feelings and emotions Hobbies and pop culture Tourism and impressions Weather and seasons Invitations and outings Opinions and refusals Visiting someone's home Farewells and contact