A Thousand Miles from Kansas

“I’m so hungry I could eat a sandwich from a gas station.” I always think of Chevy Chase’s  classic line from the movie “Vacation” when I enter a Japanese konbini. Mainly because most Japanese gas stations do not sell food or drinks so you have to stop at a konbini. Konbini is the Japanese term for convenience store and it is more than okay to eat a packaged sandwich from a konbini. In fact, all the food you can buy at a konbini – hot, cold, fresh, processed, packaged – is always quality and well worth the money. Konbinis are open 24/7 and offer a wide variety of food, drinks, and everyday items. You can find a konbini on almost every block or street corner. They are the go-to-store for a snack or drink on the run. Whenever I have a long train ride ahead of me, the first place I stop on the way to my train is a konbini. Often, you can find a konbini located in the train station. Now that is convenience.

The two big konbinis in Misawa are Lawson and Family Mart. There are a couple of other brand names, but those two are the most popular. My must have items consist of an egg salad sandwich, a tuna mayo onigiri, and a Coke. They also have great hot foods for sale such as fried chicken, steaming pork buns, and a wide variety of prepared meals that you can heat up in the microwave right on site. If you would rather consume your food with something other than a soda or water, there is also a wide selection of beer, wine, and liquor.

Today, I bought some bread and a tuna mayo onigiri at Lawson and then I stopped by Family Mart for a delicious egg salad sandwich. Both konbinis sell those items, but I like Family Mart’s egg salad best. Luckily they are both not far from home! Itadakimasu!

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