Convenience stores are a hit with foreignersโmany are amazed at just how handy they are. The option to enjoy your meal right there in the store is a big bonus too. Yet, what many donโt realize is that these dining areas come with their own set of rules. While some are common sense, others can be tricky for first-timers. Lately, some foreign tourists have been missing the mark – mostly because one of the key rules is confusing, even for Japanese citizens and residents.
Rising discontent
Weโve all noticed itโJapan is overflowing with tourists lately. In June 2024 alone, the Japan National Tourism Organization reported a record-breaking 3,135,600 visitors. This is great news for both local and national economies, but it also brings challenges. Some of these stem from different systems, language barriers, and cultural differences.
Weโve dealt with over-tourism issues before. However, a new concern is cropping up – this time from convenience store clerks.
Eat-in spaces in combinis have been popular since they first showed up. Foreign tourists are getting into them, too. However, some staff have noticed that some visitors arenโt quite following the rules, leading to a few issues.
A combini clerk in their 20s from Tokyo noted that one big hassle is the tax rate difference. In Japan, takeout food is taxed at 8%, while the tax for dining in jumps to 10%. This can trip up tourists who arenโt familiar with the system. Clerks often see foreign visitors not mentioning theyโre eating in but still using the space after paying the lower 8% tax.
But tax issues arenโt the only complaints cropping up. There are reports of people sitting on tables or floors, playing loud music, or bringing their own food and drinks. One woman even saw a foreign customer trying to change a babyโs diaper on a table.
While these issues are worth discussing, but they seem to be isolated cases. They donโt represent how all foreign visitors act in dine-in spaces. Plus, such behavior would be considered rude anywhereโso itโs not just about tourists catching on to the system.
What could use more focus is the tax confusion. This issue has come up repeatedly, causing headaches for everyone involved. And while some might be trying to game the system, there’s likely genuine confusion over how things work.
A quick bite inside
As mentioned earlier, dining spaces are a recent addition to Japanese combini. Surprisingly, it wasnโt one of the โbig threeโ โ Lawson, Family Mart, or Seven-Eleven โ that introduced them. Instead, it was a new chain aiming to set itself apart by offering a fresh take on the combini experience with in-store dining.
Ministop, founded in 1980, was ahead of the curve with built-in eat-in spaces and kitchens from day one. This feature quickly became popular, offering a cozy spot to grab a quick bite away from the outdoor hustle. It was a clever move that encouraged customers to stick around longer, make extra purchases, and come back for more.
The success of this model quickly caught the eye of the big three, prompting them to add dining features to their combini. By 2016, the trend was in full swing, with FamilyMart setting a goal to have 6,000 eat-in spots by the end of the 2017 fiscal year. These spaces became popular with certain customers at key timesโlike employees stopping in for a quick breakfast before work or holding a brief meeting before heading home.
The warm reception of this idea led to a swift spread of eat-in spaces at combini. But it didnโt take long for the food industry to feel the squeeze. Local coffee shops, for example, are struggling as combini offer fresh coffee and comfy spots to enjoy it.
The rise of eat-in spaces at convenience stores has shaken up consumer habits ever since. After all, who wouldnโt prefer cheaper options with similar service and amenities? This trend has quickly caught on, with inbound visitors also seeing the appeal of these convenient spots.
Tax trickery
The new tax system didn’t line up with the launch of eat-in spaces. The tax changes, which set a 10% rate for dining in and 8% for takeout, kicked in a few years later in October 2019. Adapting to this new setup wasnโt an easy task for many stores.
The confusion around this tax has been a problem from the start, not just for recent foreign tourists. Since 2019, many customers have been buying items at takeout prices and then eating inside. Dubbed “eat-in tax evasion,” this issue has sparked lively online debates and calls for stores to tackle it more effectively.
“Eight to nine out of ten customers buy at takeout prices and use the eat-in space without saying a word. We have no choice but to silently tolerate it,” lamented Yusuke Tsuneda, a Nakano combini owner, back in 2019.
Once this trend took off, it riled up customers who were paying the additional tax correctly. The pressure on stores ramped up, with one combini in Ibaraki even having to shut its dining space for three days due to persistent tax evasion. But while some were definitely trying to cheat the system, others were just genuinely confused about the new rules.
Just think about it: the tax rate is set at checkout based on what customers say. To make things easier for staff, big convenience stores donโt directly ask if the purchase is for eating in or taking out. Instead, they use signs asking customers to declare their choice.
With that in mind, if Japanese customers have found the system confusing, foreign tourists are likely even more puzzled. The tax reduction system was rolled out at the end of 2019, right before three years of COVID-19 travel restrictions. So even repeat visitors might not be familiar with it. On top of that, if clerks donโt ask directly at checkout, tourists might miss the Japanese signs explaining the tax rates.
Adding to the confusion
Even with the term โeat-in tax evasionโ making the rounds, customers arenโt technically evading taxes if they fail to mention theyโre dining in. Lawyer Saori Sugawara puts it this way:
โStores are responsible for paying the tax to the government, not the customers. Since the system relies on what people declare, it should have anticipated this kind of confusion.โ
That doesnโt mean stores and their staff will face legal repercussions for this issue. However, they do have a responsibilityโthough not legally bindingโto confirm with customers about their dining intentions. If they donโt, the risk of tax evasionโwhether intentional or notโgoes up.
A 2018 investigation by Tax Accountant.com found that out of 50 stores, only one actually checked customersโ dining intentions at checkout. Additionally, just 25 stores correctly applied the 10% tax for eat-in customers, indicating a poor integration of the procedure among staff.
As noted, stores and clerks wonโt be punished for not doing their part. The responsibility ultimately lies with the buyer. However, businesses play a crucial role, especially when it comes to helping customers who are new to the rules and may have trouble with language barriers and tax-related signs.
Meeting halfway
Japanese combini are a favorite for their great prices, convenience, and variety, making them especially appealing to international visitors. The chance to grab a quick meal and enjoy it on-site before heading out to explore is a major perk.
Combini eat-in spaces are particularly popular for this reason, but they come with their own special rules. Some are straightforward, while others might be confusing for newcomers. Although some behaviors can seem disrespectful, not all cases of โrule-breakingโ are intentional.
Stores can make a big difference by helping foreign tourists understand the rules. This way, they can avoid awkward situations and ensure that those who genuinely donโt know the system arenโt unfairly labeled as inconsiderate.
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