There are over 50,000 convenience stores in Japan – sometimes it seems you’re no more than about 500 steps from one of them – and, while they sell all sorts of fun items to investigate, it’s the food – and particularly the sandwiches, that thrill most tourists. But why?

Why is the Japanese Convenience Store Sandwich so iconic… and eating at a convenience store something you need to try at least once on your trip?

After eating (a lot of) them on our past trips we decided it was time to find out.

Wait – You Want Me To Eat Where?

I hear you.

Depending where you are from in the world, the idea of visiting a convenience store might not sound like a key holiday attraction, let alone a viable dining choice – but the 7-11 – and other convenience stores in Japan like Family Mart and Lawson – are nothing like the convenience stores you might be used to back home.

They’re spotlessly clean, well stocked and the food aisle is full of everything from snacky onigiri (hunks of rice with filling in – there’s a picture below) to full take-away meals prepared fresh every day.

Some convenience stores – also known as konbini – even have seating areas where you can consume your meal.

Which is why popping in for snacks and a nose round the chocolate aisle of a konbini, is one of the main things on our list of small things you must do on your Japan trip.

But of all the cool things you’ll find in the food aisles of a kombini, the piece de resistance, are the sandwiches.

Behold The Sandoiichi

Helpfully if you’re trying to order one, the Japanese word for sandwich is サンドイッチ – pronounced sandoiichi

They are a thing of magnificance with a cult-like following on various Japanese facebook groups. And, once you taste one you’ll (probably) also join the cult.

Chef and food writer, the late Anthony Bourdain, was amazed by the Lawson Egg Sandwich

My obsession is such that, when I’m travelling solo to Japan, I normally don’t do anything the first night, instead I spend the first night in my hotel to get over the flight and pick up a convenience store egg sandwich, a Zima ‘beer’ (something I become obsessed with travelling in the US, but that you can now only buy in Japan) and whatever crisps look exciting on the day.

And I really look forward to it. It’s become my little ritual.

I’m not alone. Japanese facebook groups rave about them and during the Tokyo Olympics, at one point, one reporter’s discussion of his convenience store food purchases of the day were getting more love than his reports on the events!

So, Why Are the Sandwiches So Amazing?

In a world of artisan sourdough and sandwiches piled high with exotic toppings, I admit, when you first see the Japanese sandwiches lined up on the shelf, you might wonder what all the fuss is about.

They’re not very thick, the toppings squish against the plastic packaging and they’re (usually) made from the type of sliced white bread that it’s definitely not fashionable to be seen putting in your shopping ba