Japan is more affordable than you think, even for families
¥1000 konbini meal challenge コンビニばんごはん
7-11, Lawson, and Family Mart are some of Japan’s most beloved, handy, and affordable convenience stores, or konbini (コンビニ). While staying in Oita on Kyushu, one Friday night we tried out a way to have a cheap dinner in Japan for the entire family.
Dinner for 4, for under $30, in Japan?
Could our family of 4 get dinner from Family Mart for under ¥1000 per person?
That’s about US$7, or ¥1000 per person, per person, or $28 for all four of us.
Watch the video to see what we got and how we did with our ¥1000 konbini challenge for a cheap dinner in Japan!
We are the Learners and Makers. Our worldschooling family has traveled the world since 2022, empowering families and people with mobility disabilities to travel more, their way.
¥1000 konbini challenge video
Konbini tips
Japan’s ubiquitous konbini make it easy to find food and drinks just about anywhere, anytime. You can even enjoy tasty foods there on a family budget.
We don’t eat at konbini all the time, but sometimes it’s fun, easy, and affordable to call a “konbini night.” A trek to the nearby konbini is also an easy way to take a stroll as a family.
Here are a few tips to help you get more out of your konbini:
- Japanese konbini offer balanced ready-to-eat meals
- The cashier will offer to heat up a dish for you
- Many konbini also have a small dining area if you want to eat while at the store
- Hot water dispensers are available to prep instant noodles or hot beverages
- Sweating a lot from a hot and humid and/or active day? Snag an electrolyte drink such as an Aquarius or Pocari Sweat
