Port Store: When a Japanese Combini Isn’t a Combini

Ever seen a combini in Tokyo that looks sorta…fake? Here’s what’s up with that.

Picture by the author

By Jay Andrew Allen

It’s not a sight, as a tourist, that you’re likely to spot. However, spend some time driving through or bicycling around the warehouse districts of the Tokyo Bay area. Eventually, you may see something intriguing: a combini that looks like a Lawson or Family Mart without the name. What’s up with Tokyo Bay’s “port stores”?

A “fake” Family Mart?

The inside of the Port Store in Jonanjima looks like any other Family Mart. (Picture by the author)

Combini are an indispensable part of Japan’s economy and daily life. 7–11 leads the pack with 23,000 stores, while Family Mart and Lawson run around 16,000 and 13,000, respectively.

However, a handful of those Family Mart and Lawson stores look a bit…different than the rest.

I first became aware of these when I went on a bike ride to Wakasu. (As I’ve written before, Wakasu is a great spot for cycling.) While passing through Jonanjima in Ota City, I saw a strange site.