Must-Buy Snacks and Drinks at Lawson Convenience Stores in Japan

Get to know Lawson convenience stores

Founded in the United States as a milk company, Lawson opened its first store in Japan in 1975 and has since expanded to over 14,000 locations nationwide. The convenience stores, known as konbini in Japanese, offer a diverse range of products including food and drinks, daily necessities, cosmetics, books, magazines, and electronics. Lawson also provides various services such as mail service, tax refunds for foreign travelers, and ticket sales.

Besides the usual convenience store items, Lawson offers many unique products and services that make it stand out—let's take a closer look.

Delicious ready-to-eat meals and freshly made dishes at Machikado Kitchen

Whether you're starting your journey early in the morning or looking for a late-night snack, Lawson's ready-to-eat meals section has a variety of tasty and affordable Japanese dishes. You can find items like Japanese curry, beef stew, hamburger steak, grilled salted fish, and teriyaki chicken for pairing with drinks.

Some Lawson stores have an on-site kitchen offering freshly made dishes such as pork cutlet sandwiches, fish or shrimp burgers, double egg and chicken rice bowls, and grilled pork rice bowls that are different from the deli items. If you're lucky, you might even find half-price discounts during lunch or after dinner time.

Machikado Kitchen
Official website: https://www.lawson.co.jp/recommend/original/machikadochubo/ (in Japanese only)

Snacks and daily necessities at Lawson Select

Lawson Select is Lawson's private brand, offering a wide variety of affordable products including ready-to-eat meals, bread, instant noodles, drinks, snacks, canned foods, seasonings, masks, and wet wipes. After a rebranding in 2020, the products received new logos and packaging created by renowned designer Oki Sato, featuring labels in multiple languages for international customers. These products are often more affordable than those from other brands, making them a great choice for budget-conscious shoppers.

Official website: https://www.lawson.co.jp/recommend/original/select/ (in Japanese only)

Limited-edition drinks and dessert collaborations at Machi Café and Uchi Café

At Lawson convenience stores, you can enjoy freshly brewed coffee, including lattes. Machi Café also offers seasonal beverages like mixed fruit tea and oolong tea. For those avoiding caffeine, some stores provide decaf options with 97 percent less caffeine. Besides drinks, Machi Café offers snacks like English scones, mini baumkuchen, and Belgian waffles, perfect for any time of day.

Sweet lovers should not miss Uchi Café's refrigerated desserts. The lineup includes popular items like the Premium Roll Cake. Uchi Café also collaborates with renowned brands such as Godiva to create delicious desserts. Don't forget to check the refrigerated section for these delightful treats.

Machi Café
Official website: https://www.lawson.co.jp/lab/machicafe/ (in Japanese only)

Uchi Café
Official website: https://www.lawson.co.jp/lab/uchicafe/ (in Japanese only)

Multiple payment options: Credit cards, IC cards, and electronic payments

In addition to cash, various payment methods are available at Lawson, including credit cards and IC cards such as Suica and Pasmo. For electronic payments, both Apple Pay and Android Pay are supported, along with barcode payment systems like PayPay.
Convenient Services: Photo Printing, Ticket Sales, and 24-Hour International ATMs.

Convenient ticket booking and printing services

In addition to shopping, Lawson offers various convenient services. Popular among tourists is the ticket booking service through its in-store “Loppi” machine, perfect to get tickets for the Ghibli Museum and various events. There are also machines that let you copy and print documents and photos. Some stores even offer sticker printing, making it easy to preserve travel memories by printing your photos at Lawson.

Most Lawson stores are equipped with 24-hour Lawson Bank ATMs, which support international credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, JCB, and UnionPay. Before traveling, ensure your card is enabled for international withdrawals. The ATMs provide services in English, Chinese, and Korean, so there's no need to worry about running out of cash.

Best 5 Lawson snacks

Lawson offers a wide range of snacks and desserts, with new releases every week. Here are the top five most popular food items at Lawson.

Cheese Pizza Meat Bun

When it comes to meat buns, they typically include pork, green onions, or bamboo shoots mixed with various seasonings. However, Lawson's Cheese Pizza Bun takes it to a new level by combining a blend of four cheeses with a pizza sauce made from three types of tomatoes and spices, whipping a surprising twist on the traditional Chinese meat bun.

Baschee Cheesecake

The Baschee Cheesecake is made with a dough incorporating fresh cream, milk, and egg yolks from Hokkaido Prefecture. It features a caramelized, crispy top that releases a delightful aroma and a soft, smooth interior. After its release in March 2019, a million cakes were sold within just three days, surpassing the five-day sales record of the Premium Cake Roll.

Akuma no Onigiri (Devil's Rice Ball)

The Akuma no Onigiri, or "Devil’s Rice Ball," lives up to its name by being so delicious that you might find yourself eating too much. Made with rice steamed in a rich broth and mixed with crushed tempura batter, tempura sauce, and seaweed, this rice ball has a simple flavor profile but an irresistible taste.

Premium Roll Cake

Lawson's Premium Roll Cake has consistently topped dessert rankings since its debut in 2009. This cake, made with high-quality, Hokkaido-sourced ingredients, features a fluffy, soft sponge and rich, melt-in-your-mouth fresh cream with a strong milky flavor. It's a perfect balance of a rich yet refreshing taste.

Additionally, Lawson designates the 6th of every month as Roll Cake Day, offering a special double-sized roll cake on this day. If you're visiting Japan on this day, don't miss the chance to enjoy this extra-special treat.

"Karaage-kun" Chicken Nuggets

Launched in 1986, Lawson's "Karaage-kun" has become one of the brand’s most iconic products. These bite-sized chicken nuggets are known for their convenient packaging and variety of flavors. Regular flavors include Original, Spicy, and Cheese. There are also limited-edition flavors such as Lemon, Hokkaido Butter Corn with whole corn kernels, as well as collaborations with various franchises like Pokémon.

Lawson Store 100 and Natural Lawson

Besides the standard convenience store, the Lawson franchise also includes other shops such as Lawson Store 100 and Natural Lawson. Keep reading for the details.

Lawson Store 100

Lawson Store 100 offers a wide range of products similar to a supermarket but with the prices typically being around JPY 100 (excluding tax.) It provides everything from fresh foods and side dishes to daily necessities, all at a uniform price point. While there are fewer locations compared to regular Lawson stores, you'll find unique value items that are exclusive to Lawson 100.

Lawson Store 100
Official website: https://store100.lawson.co.jp/ (in Japanese only)

Natural Lawson

Natural Lawson emphasizes that all food items are free from artificial preservatives, with a focus on using domestically-sourced ingredients. Here, you can find healthy, portion-controlled snacks and low-sugar food options like bread and desserts.

Natural Lawson
Official website: https://natural.lawson.co.jp (in Japanese only)

Discover Lawson convenience stores in Japan

As one of Japan's top three convenience store chains, Lawson offers a wide range of appealing products and convenient services, operating 24 hours a day with a comprehensive selection. Whether you're looking for a quick meal while traveling, happen to pass by while strolling, or searching for snacks and souvenirs to take home, be sure to check out Lawson's offerings.

If you want to purchase snack souvenirs without the hassle of queues and tax-free procedures, head to WAmazing Shop for a streamlined, convenient shopping experience. From snacks to beauty products and everyday items, purchase online at tax-free prices and enjoy easy self-service pickup at designated airport lockers. Click the button below to discover more of what WAmazing Shop has to offer.

Explore Japan by using one of the many different transportation passes.

*The information in this article, such as prices and business hours, was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Please refer to the official website(s) for the latest information.