The realities of 'owning' a Japanese convenience store
Just came back from Japan and man are there too many convenience stores. Within any given area there is probably 6 to 7 stores within eyeshot and an easy walk. It's weird thinking that they are too convenient, but honestly they start to become pointless. More than once we simply walked by a few knowing that there would be another one just a minute or two more down the street.It's great that we could find something to eat at 2am when jet lag messed with our eating schedule and nothing else was open except the four 24-hour chain restaurants, 6 full-service Izakayas and a late night curry shop within a 5 minute walk. What would we have ever done without a choice of 6! different convenience stores within the same area?!Oh and on the way there's vending machines literally jammed into every available urban crack that can fit one where I can service most of my beverage and a few food needs.I couldn't figure out how these places earn enough money to keep the lights on given the competition, now I guess I know.