Visiting convenience stores is a classic traveller rite of passage when in Japan – and one of Japan’s biggest and best convenience stores is FamilyMart Japan (JP).
As of late 2025, Japan has over 55,000 convenience stores (or konbini コンビニ as they are known locally) and the most popular shops are FamilyMart Japan, 7-Eleven and Lawson.
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Although the Land of the Rising Sun is famous for its incredible food scene and restaurants, sometimes on your travels all you want is some quick fried chicken or egg sandwich to go – FamilyMart is also a good place to buy Japanese beers and spirits.
Whilst there are lots of common snacks and bites to eat like onigiri or bento boxes to go, each convenience store has their own take on classic snacks like chicken karaage – Family Mart is very famous for its Famichiki (FamilyMart chicken).
Often open 24/7 selling everything from yakitori to Yakult, here is our ultimate guide to the FamilyMart Japan food and drink menu to buy and try.
This article was originally published on 7 May 2024.
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How many FamilyMart Japan stores are there
As of October 2025, there are around 15,410 FamilyMart stores in Japan – if you also include the Family Mart sub-brands in Japan (Minami-Kyushu FamilyMart, JR KYUSHU RETAIL and Okinawa FamilyMart), it brings to over 16,300 FamilyMarts.
FamilyMart is the second biggest convenience store in Japan with its 16,000+ stores. 7-Eleven Japan is Japan’s biggest convenience store chain with 22,000 stores whilst Lawson has around 15,000 stores in Japan as of 2025.
Other popular convenience store chains (konbinis) in Japan include Seicomart (in Hokkaido), Daily Yamazaki and MiniStop.
The beginnings / history of FamilyMart Japan
FamilyMart Japan began in 1973 opening its first store in Sayama, initially trading under the name Seiyu stores) – the first FamilyMart JP branded store opened in 1978.
FamilyMart JP started to become very popular, very quickly after launching a successful range of boxed lunches and chilled fast food in 1982 – nouvelle cuisine eh. By 1987, FamilyMart reached a milestone by opening its 1,000th store.
Over the years, FamilyMart JP have rapidly grown by buying up other convenience store chains like AM/PM and Circle K and rebranding them as FamilyMart. Their famous Famichiki fried chicken range launched in 2006 and since gone stratospheric (yes, it really is that good!)
In total, there are around 24,300 FamilyMart stores worldwide as of October 2025, including around 8,000 FamilyMarts outside of Japan in Taiwan, Vietnam and until recently Thailand (they are now branded as ‘Tops’ in Thailand).
Does FamilyMart Japan sell alcohol and beer?
Kanpai! Yes, FamilyMart JP sells beer, wine and spirits like whiskey and sake – one of their biggest alcohol ranges is prepackaged highballs (whiskey and soda) in cans.
FamilyMarts often have dedicated beer and highball cabinets plus an aisle / shelf of wines – spirits are sometimes kept behind the counter. So ask the counter-staff politely before you proceed to enjoy Suntory time!
You might like – Guide to Japan’s biggest craft beer convenience store, 7-Eleven Hammerheads craft beer store in Yokohama >
Are FamilyMart stores in Japan open 24/7?
In the major cities like Osaka and Tokyo, most of the downtown branches of FamilyMart Japan are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
However, in quieter areas or out of the cities, many Family Mart JPs open early morning (6am to 7am) and close around 11pm or midnight – it really varies from city to city.
Food/ drink/ products you can buy in a JapanFamily Mart store
1. Famichiki
Here at ‘Plan My Japan’, we are huge fans of konbini / convenience store fried chicken in Japan – so much so we wrote this article about the cult of convenience store Kara-age Kun Nuggets in Japan here.
Family Mart’s Famichiki is boneless hot fried chicken served in warm cabinets usually by the till – many convenience store connaisseurs swear that Japan’s best fried chicken in convenience stores is Famichiki.
Famichiki is the bomb and an affordable konbini hot-snack – FamilyMart Japan’s menu of Famichiki usually starts from around 220 Yen per portion (around £1.10 or $1.40 USD a portion) – clucking good value!
Recently, a new trend has emerged called Famichiki sando / egg sandwiches – where you buy a Familymart egg sandwich and place the hot famichiki in the middle. It became such a popular Familymart Japan food for a while, they even marketed it as a legit combo and gave a small discount when you bought both together!
On our last trip to Japan, we even spot this Famichiki sando rice ball, which was chicken wrapped in rice and nori seaweed – it is limited edition but they brought it back recently for a few weeks as part of the 2025 Famichiki festival instore (yes, this is a real thing)!
2. Instant Noodles and Cup Noodles/ Instant Noodles
One of FamilyMart JP’s biggest selling products is instant noodles, with at least one aisle in every store solely dedicated to oodles of noodles – a very cheap Japanese convenience store snack too often costing less than 100 Yen.
Better yet, all FamilyMarts in Japan have a hot water tap or urn meaning you can heat and eat your noodles in store (obviously after you’ve paid for them – slurping instore is good!)
Instant cup noodles and ramen noodles are always very popular with famous brands like Nissin cup noodles or UFO readily available in FamilyMart.
You might like – Guide to the Nissin Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama (including design you own cup noodle flavours) >
3. FamilyMart Japan Egg sandwiches – ‘tamago sando’
An egg-cellent reason to visit FamilyMart (or any other konbini for that matter), egg sandwiches are perhaps the most famous / iconic thing to buy for travellers in convenience stores.
Called ‘tamago sando’ locally, egg sandwiches are the number 1 selling convenience store sandwich in Japan and even Anthony Bourdain (RIP) was a huge fan and mentioned his egg sandwich lust in the Okinawa edition of ‘Parts Unknown’.
Family Mart egg sandwiches / ‘tamago sando’ are pretty good and along with Daily Yamazaki, always seem to be the most generous / bulging eggy portions.
Incidentally – we rate Lawson egg sandwiches as the best convenience store egg sandwiches in Japan. We like them as the Lawson bread is so super soft and egg filling isn’t too bulging or salty.
4. Other FamilyMart Japan sandwich flavors
It isn’t just egg sandwiches either – FamilyMart Japan’s menu of sandwiches is massive, with everything from chicken katsu sandwiches to more conventional lettuce, ham, egg and cheese sandwiches (costing around 300 Yen – bargain).
And one way to help with your 5 fruit a day intake (probably) is the Family Mart Strawberry, Yellow Peach and Tangerine sandwich – very colourful and fruity AF.
5. Dessert buns and breakfast toasties – Famima Bakery
FamilyMart’s Bakery section is known as Famima Bakery and you’ll often find some unexpected treats here.
We were particularly taken with the strawberry and milk bun, costing just 138 Yen – a ‘sweet as’ bakery bun bargain – so ‘sugar rush’ out and get it at your nearest FamilyMart JP store.
6. Onigiri
Located in the refrigerated section and a very ‘rice’ thing to snack on, these are one of the most popular cold snacks at FamilyMart across Asia, not just in Japan.
These onigiri rice triangles come in a variety of flavours including tuna, salmon and chicken or pickled plum and are wrapped with a nori / seaweed coating.
As of 2025, Familymart Japan onigiris cost around 140 Yen (but prices vary depending on flavours).
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7. Hot Counters
One of the best FamilyMart food sections in Japan is the hot counter, usually right next to the cashier desk where you pay (although we think Seicomart Hot Chef is better, if you’re in Hokkaido).
Here as well as the famous Famichiki and chicken karaage nuggets, you’ll find a whole host of FamilyMart meats and treats including chicken meatball skewers, jumbo sausages, hash browns and gratin croquettes (oooh, fancy!)
You might like – Our guide to Japan’s largest UNIQLO, the 12 storey Uniqlo Ginza in Tokyo >
8. Chicken Yakitori skewers
Some (but not all) Family Mart menus in Japan also have a dedicated chicken yakitori hot cabinets – in case you aren’t a fan of Famichiki (don’t be a ‘chicken’ – try it)!
Family Mart’s marinated chicken skewers come in a wide variety of flavours, from soy sauce grilled chicken thigh to salty skewers – most yakitori skewers cost around the 128 Yen mark, as of our last 2025 visit.
9. Buns / Baos
Many Family Mart JP stores have hot buns (and we aren’t talking about the staff). We mean bao bun sections with hot cabinets consisting of several different flavoured buns to take out and eat.
Popular FamilyMart Japan bao flavors include pizza, pork (and red bean paste (anman) – we also like these during cold winter nights in Japan.
10. Strawberry souffle pudding / sakura seasonal products like strawberry mochi
A personal recommendation but we were smitten by FamilyMart’s Famima bakery strawberry souffle pudding topped with whipped cream – a decadent dessert if ever there was one.
We visited during cherry blossom season / sakura time so we hope they aren’t seasonal but they taste amazing and cost just 298 Yen.
And if you are lucky enough to visit FamilyMart Japan during cherry blossoms, you’ll be blown away by all the limited edition strawberry snacks like strawberry mochi. A bit like Pokemon, you gotta catch them all (before they go).
11. Curry Sauces
Japanese Curry sauce packets may not be much good on your travels (unless you are self-catering or in an apartment with a kitchen) but these spicy sauces are a popular gift to take back in your suitcase and try at home.
FamilyMart has huge rows of various Japanese curry sauces including their own brand curry sauces like beef curry, green curry and keema curry.
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12. FamilyMart Japan Soups
Soup-er stuff; FamilyMart have their own range of dried soups (including Miso) that you either take home to enjoy or add water to in store. Flavours range from nameko mushroom to Ise Shima Aosa Sea Lettuce.
13. Ice creams
FamilyMart Japan isn’t short of frozen sweet-treats – every store has a cabinet chock full of n-’ice’ things to eat.
Be sure to try the Japan wafer ice-cream sandwiches, easily our favourite Japanese convenience store ice-cream. You might find international ice-brands too like Haagen Daz.
14. Crisps and Tempura Snacks
Generally every FamilyMart store in Japan has at least one huge aisle of brightly packaged potato chips and corn based snacks, often with really interesting local flavours like cheesy gratin, aromatic garlic or squid.
The biggest crisp manufacturer seems to be Calbee, who have so many different brands like Calbee Jagabee (a bit like potato sticks) – these are available in every Japanese convenience store.
One Family Mart snack that caught our eye was squid and seaweed tempura snacks – crispy! And we also really liked Family Mart’s own-brand squid ink potato chips.
P.S. Did you know there is a special Calbee store near Tokyo Character Street in Tokyo Station where you can create your own Calbee chip flavors and buy special merchandise and hard to find flavors?
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15. Electrics and Cables
It is isn’t just food at FamilyMart – here you’ll find various charging cables, electronic equipment and devices.
Many stores also sell international plug adaptors which can be very useful in hotels.
16. Hot coffees / cold coffees
FamilyMart stores in Japan sell hot coffees either in their hot cabinets (like a fridge…but warm!) or from the cafe section behind some counters.
Ice coffee is also available in the chilled sections including brands like Boss, UCC and Doutour – the Japanese coffee market is massive!
Be it iced coffee or hot coffee, FamilyMart in Japan is always good for a caffeine fix.
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17. Flavoured Lattes
So most people know about Japan’s obsession with iced coffee, but did you know Familymart have a huge line of fun flavored lattes too including honey latte and 10cc latte.
18. Familymart Smoothies
At the time of writing, it is the 7-Eleven fresh smoothie machines that have gone viral – there don’t appear to be Familymart fresh smoothie machines for now but you can buy prepackaged ones in the chiller like these Kagome fruit smoothies.
19. FamilyMart Japan Ready meals
Ready for your meal? There are loads of convenient konbini microwave meals / ready meals to choose from in FamilyMart JP (which the staff will gladly heat up for you in the microwaves behind the counter).
Remember though that eating out in Japan can be very cheap, especially at chain restaurants like Saizeriya or Matsunoya.
20. Pasta Dishes
After long trips to Japan and countless nights out in restaurants, sometimes we just want a simple heat and eat microwave meal – one of our favourite konbini / Familymart Japan ready meals is their range of pastas.
For instance, there are spaghetti bolognese dishes or something different like shrimp tomato cream pasta.
They usually have several flavours available and you can heat them in the microwave (or many hotels have a microwave area).
Plan My Japan tip – for not much extra, you can get very cheap Italian dishes in Japan at Saizeriya – the wine is super cheap too!
21. Hokkaido Melon pan
Familymart’s famous melon bread – and guess what, it doesn’t usually taste like melon as that in fact refers to the bread type. It is soft and fluffy on the inside and sweet and crunchy on the outside.
That said, we recently discovered green Melon cream bread in-store where there was melon mochi cream (from Hokkaido) inside.
22. Bento Boxes
We are really big on bento boxes – lots of flavours and different foods packed into one box, bento boxes are easily one of the biggest sellers and widest ranges of fresh foods at Family Mart JP .
Some of the best bento boxes available include chicken karaage bento with rice or lots of soba noodle dishes with pork.
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23. Soft Drinks
As you’d expect from Family Mart’s capacious fridge section there are lots of soft drinks to enjoy – as well as your usual Pepsi, Sprites and Coca-Cola brands, you’ll find lots of flavours you won’t find elsewhere in the world.
One of our favourite Japanese soft drink discoveries was CC Lemon (loads of vitamin c and very refreshing) plus golden grape flavored Fanta (a revelation!). We even saw a CC Lemon latte in FamilyMart Japan – take our Yen now!
24. FamilyMart Fashion / Familymart Socks
Did you know Familymart in Japan has over 150 different Familymart fashion items featuring their iconic green and blue stripes on a white background? Perhaps the most famous of these is the FamilyMart socks.
There is now even a new Familymart fashion only shop which opened in September 2025 in Shibaura, Tokyo – it features over 100 different Familymart fashion lines including towels, t-shirts and socks. Here is hoping for a Famichiki flannel!
25. FamilyMart Japan Chocolate
Japanese chocolate isn’t just about Kit Kats (although there are a lot of Japanese Kit Kat flavours). From Crunky to Dars, Meiji Milk Chocolate to Meltykiss, Family Mart has all your chocolate choices covered.
You might like – Guide to 40+ Japanese Kit Kat flavours (including sake Kit Kat) >
26. Yakult 1000 / Probiotic
We’re all for Japanese ‘culture’ so time to try some probiotic lactic acid bacteria drink – our ‘gut feeling’ is that probiotic drinks are very popular in Japan (sorry not sorry).
‘Healthy’ probiotic drinking yoghurt is big business in Japan and most FamilyMarts have two or three dedicated fridge shelves of live culture products.
Whilst we were in Japan, the must-have product in FamilyMart was the Yakult 1000 probiotic drink with a small bottle supposedly containing over 100 billion healthy bacteria in each bottle.
It went viral on social media (so often sold out) and is said to promote better sleep and relieve stress.
27. Beef Stew in a bun
Holy cow! A new hot counter Familymart product, this is beef stew in a bun for just 240 Yen – the beef is marinated in red wine and this is one boozy beef treat.
28. Pumpkin pudding
We’ve talked about seasonal sakura products like strawberry dessert specials but Familymart Japan foods also have autumn seasonal specials too involving a plethora of pumpkin.
How about this pumpkin pudding for just 298 Yen? Yummy!
29. FamilyMart beer, alcohol and wine
Mainstream beers like Asahi, Kirin and Sapporo dominate the beer sections at FamilyMart in Japan but some also include craft beer and small batch brewery cans.
Look out for limited edition beers during seasons and festivals like the pink coloured Asahi beer cans during the cherry blossom season.
Most beers in FamilyMart come in various sizes including 350ml cans and 500ml cans plus bottles.
30. Whiskey, sake, highballs and spirits
Whiskey in Japan is one of the most widely drunk spirits in Japan and you’ll find a wide array of both Japanese and international whiskeys at FamilyMart JP.
If you’d prefer, Japanese high-balls (whiskey and mixers) can be found in chilled RTD cans – premixed Japanese highballs are incredibly cheap, often costing less than a £1 / $1 a go. But for goodness ‘sake’, please remember to drink responsibly.
31. FamilyMart Japan Matcha Products
Matcha made in heaven – Macha products are BIG in Japan, and we’ve tried everything from matcha canales in FamilyMart to Matcha Chocolate Covered Karinto (mmm, deep fried and filling!)
32. Fish Dishes
The chiller section is home to lots of fishy dishes – our Familymart favorite fish dish (try saying that after several sakes) is this salt grilled mackerel.
33. Croquette Buns
Carb alert. Yes, that is right – Famima Bakery in Family Mart sell deep fried croquettes served in bread buns!
34. Hot Spring Poached Eggs
We’ve talked about egg sando (sandwiches) but another popular and cheap Familymart Japan snack is a ready to eat poach egg, found in the chiller section.
Just crack open the egg straight into your instant ramen or hot noodle dish for extra flavour.
35. Tofu Products
If you are vegetarian or just like the health benefits of tofu, you’ll find a variety of such products in-store including fresh tofu salads that invariably include other veggie products like sesame, seaweed and pickled goods.
36. Power Pack Charging
It isn’t just the ‘juice’ in the chiller cabinet that Familymart Japan sells – if your phone is running out of battery power, Familymart has handy power bank rental stations.
They sometimes even run an offer for first time customers to rent a power pack for free.
The power pack rental is simple to use, just download the app and register your details – then use it and then return to your nearest Familymart. Simple and smart!
Our final thing to buy in FamilyMart Japan
37. Umbrellas and Muji Socks
Don’t get wet – it isn’t just food and drink available. Umbrellas are always handy for those unexpected wet days in Japan.
Or if you haven’t packed enough socks or just got them wet whilst out, you can stock up on socks too. And not just any socks. Muji has lines of clothing in larger FamilyMart Japan stores.
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