Convenience · Practical guide
Lawson Store 100 Japan Guide for Tourists: The ¥108 Green Lawson, "Dake Bento" & Groceries
Prices, ordering steps, payment details, and common mistakes — in one place.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Category | Shopping & Convenience / Fresh Grocery & 100-Yen Convenience Store (Lawson Store 100 Official Website) |
| Store Count | Approximately 650 stores clustered in residential and station neighborhoods across Kanto, Chubu, and Kinki areas (Store Search) |
| Ordering / Shopping Style | Self-service retail: place fresh produce, groceries, and bento in a shopping basket and pay at staffed registers or self-checkout kiosks |
| Membership Required? | No membership or ID required (Ponta or d Point cards accepted for point collection, but walk-in purchases do not require registration) |
| Approximate Price Range | Standard groceries and produce at ¥100 (¥108 tax-included), viral "Dake Bento" boxes around ¥200–¥250 (¥216–¥270 tax-included), 2L bottled teas around ¥100–¥150 (as of September 18, 2026; subject to revision) |
| Payment Methods | Varies by location; generally accepts cash, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners, UnionPay), transit IC cards, electronic money (iD, QUICPay, Rakuten Edy, WAON), and QR code payments (PayPay, d-barai, Rakuten Pay, au PAY, LINE Pay, Merpay, Alipay, WeChat Pay) |
| Multilingual Support | Varies by location; self-checkout kiosks support English, Chinese, and Korean; staffed register payment screens display clear visual payment icons |
What it is
Lawson Store 100, operated by Lawson Store 100, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Lawson, Inc.), is recognizable by its bright green storefront and completely distinct concept from standard blue Lawson convenience stores. Functioning as a hybrid between a neighborhood mini-supermarket and a 100-yen variety shop across roughly 650 locations in Greater Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka/Kyoto, it specializes in fresh vegetables, fruits, daily groceries, bakery items, and household goods sold at a uniform base price of ¥100 (¥108 tax-included). The chain is famous on Japanese social media for its budget-friendly "Dake Bento" (ultra-simple meal boxes packed with rice and just a single topping like Vienna sausages or chicken nuggets for around ¥200). For travelers staying in Airbnbs, apartment hotels, or looking for budget fresh fruit and drinks, it is an unbeatable local secret.
How to order
Shopping at Lawson Store 100 is straightforward grocery shopping:
- Pick up a shopping basket at the entrance: Baskets are stacked right inside the front sliding doors.
- Browse fresh produce, snacks, and chilled foods: Look for fresh bananas, seasonal fruits, cut salad bags, milk, yogurt, and private-label "VL (Value Line)" frozen foods—most priced uniformly at ¥108 with tax.
- Pick up a "Dake Bento" or ready-to-eat meal: Browse the prepared food section for Lawson Store 100's viral single-topping bento boxes (around ¥200–¥250 before tax).
- Proceed to the checkout register: Join the line for a staffed cashier counter or head to a self-checkout terminal if available.
- Scan and pay: At self-checkout, tap the language button for English, Chinese, or Korean, choose whether you need a plastic shopping bag (bags carry a nominal fee of around ¥2 to ¥5), scan your barcodes, and complete payment via credit card, transit IC card, or QR code app.
- Pack your purchases: Bag your groceries at the bagging counter before leaving.
What to order first
All signature product lines below are verified on the Lawson Store 100 Official Website and row reference data (prices tax-included as of September 18, 2026):
- "Dake Bento" Series (だけ弁当 - Single-Topping Meal Boxes): Cult-hit bento boxes featuring seasoned Japanese rice and just one simple topping—such as the Wiener Bento (five small Vienna sausages), Chikuwa Isobe-age Bento, or Karaage Bento; priced around ¥216 to ¥270 tax-included (as of September 18, 2026).
- Fresh Fruit & Cut Salad Bags (VL Series): Fresh apples, bananas, cherry tomatoes, and pre-washed shredded cabbage/lettuce salad pouches; standard ¥108 tax-included (as of September 18, 2026).
- 2-Liter Bottled Green Tea & Water: Massive two-liter bottles of Japanese green tea, roasted barley tea (mugicha), or mineral water for around ¥108–¥150 tax-included.
- 100-Yen Bakery Breads & Onigiri: Fluffy sweet melon pan, savory pizza breads, and jumbo rice balls at the standard ¥108 price point.
- Travel Household Essentials: Toothbrushes, laundry detergent packs, tissues, and paper plates for travelers staying in self-catering accommodations.
Payment & practical info
Payment methods and store policies across Lawson Store 100:
- Accepted Payment Methods: Varies by location; generally accepts cash, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay), transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, etc.), electronic money (iD, QUICPay, Rakuten Edy, WAON), and QR code apps (PayPay, d-barai, Rakuten Pay, au PAY, LINE Pay, Merpay, Alipay, WeChat Pay).
- Tax-Free Shopping: Not available. As a neighborhood, low-cost fresh food store, Lawson Store 100 does not operate duty-free refund counters.
- Wi-Fi & Power Outlets: Generally not provided (stores are compact grocery outlets without eat-in seating counters).
- Bag Fees: In compliance with Japanese law, plastic shopping bags are not free; bring your own eco-bag or select bags on screen at checkout.
Good to know / Common mistakes
- Confusing Green Lawson with Blue Lawson: Lawson Store 100 (green sign) has completely different stock and pricing from regular Lawson (blue sign). Regular Lawson sells hot Karaage-kun and Machi Café drinks, whereas Green Lawson sells fresh groceries, 100-yen produce, and Dake Bento.
- Assuming everything is strictly ¥100: While the vast majority of items are base ¥100 (¥108 with 8% food tax), specialty bento boxes (Dake Bento) and larger household goods carry separate price tags (e.g. ¥200, ¥300). Check the shelf label.
- Looking for Tax-Free exemptions: Green Lawson does not process tax-free shopping.
- Looking for stores in rural areas: The chain is primarily located in residential commuter neighborhoods in the Kanto (Tokyo), Chubu (Nagoya), and Kinki (Osaka/Kyoto) regions.
FAQ
Q1: How much do items cost at Lawson Store 100? Most fresh produce, snacks, cut salad bags, and drinks cost a uniform base price of ¥100, which equals ¥108 tax-included for food and beverages (8% reduced tax rate) or ¥110 for general household goods (10% tax rate) as of September 18, 2026.
Q2: What is a "Dake Bento"? Dake Bento (meaning "Only Bento") is Lawson Store 100's viral boxed lunch series that strips away complex side dishes to serve white rice accompanied by only one favorite comfort topping (such as five Vienna sausages or deep-fried fish cakes) for around ¥200 to ¥250 before tax.
Q3: Can I pay with credit cards or Suica at Lawson Store 100? Yes, most Lawson Store 100 branches accept major credit cards, transit IC cards (Suica/PASMO), e-money, and smartphone QR code payment apps including PayPay, Alipay, and WeChat Pay.
Sources
- Lawson Store 100 Official Website & Store Locator: https://store100.lawson.co.jp/ (Verified: 2026-09-18)