Oh happy days!!! A Natural Lawson just opened up near my house! Lawson is one of the few originally Japanese convenience store chains and Natural Lawson is an offspring of Lawson, to appeal to the LOHAS is all of us. While most Natural Lawsons seem to be only different in name and design, this one is exceptional in the items which it carries. They sell herb tea, organic cosmetics and cleaning products, stationary from recycled paper, fresh organic coffee from a pot and there’s also a small bakery with some natural looking cinammon rolls. The bread products on the shelf look a bit healthier than what you usually would find in a normal convenience store. Maybe it’s that natural, eco-friendly looking packaging that they use, the items themselves still seem kind of suspect.
And of course we all have to have our cookies and snacks. Natural Lawson is careful to select only items that have nutritional messages on the packaging so we don’t feel as guilty. I’m convinced that “organic” or “natural” is a marketing trend and not a dietary one. The chocolate covered sunflower seeds (right) are delicious, by the way.
Convenience stores are a mega industry in Japan. It’s estimated that in Tokyo the average person visits a combini at least 3 times a day and spends an average of ¥900 daily. OK, I just made that up because I couldn’t find any real numbers but I think you’d agree that’s a pretty good guess.
A healthy combini is almost oximoronic. But cool. Do they have organic beer? How are the bentos?
Did you know that 80% of all statistics are made up on the spot?
I don’t agree with the guess. Maybe it applies to average young single people, but older people almost never go to the convenient store, and since Japan has an aging society…
Apart from that, I really like your blog and your pictures. Can you tell us more about events in Tokyo before they’re up ?
How timely, I am shortly back from my Family Mart. It is in my building on the ground floor and has had millions out of me over nine years. But I walked in today and many shelves are half empty. My favourite milk and crisps are not there. Not even real coke! And there is a black and red sign with 6 15 emblazoned on it. I can’t read it but it feels like closing down on the 15th june. Is this normal? What is going on? I feel as if my left leg is being amputated. Help!
3 times a day, ¥900 average… low for when I’m in town, but, then again, I don’t have a fridge when I’m there…
Whenever I stayed in Tokyo, there was a Lawson’s near by that carried great shokugan (little toys with some stale gum). Then one day it became a Natural Lawson’s and the shokugan were gone. The geek in me was less than pleased.
I learn during my Japaense studies lessons that convenience stores in Japan are like best place to test out whether a new product will be a big hit in japan. Apparently the convenience stores have a very elaborate method of collecting data on their customers and their consumption habits.
My husband and I became addicted to shopping at Natural Lawson on our recent trip to Japan. There was one down the road from our hotel in Shibuya and we went in at least once every day.It had pretty decent takeaway salads selection and a nice, though small, wine selection. Didn’t see too much else about it that was “natural” though!
Perhaps there are not many in Osaka & Kyoto because I didn’t see any when I was there earlier this year. I wonder if they’re open at Ikebukuro in Tokyo?