Famima!!

Famima!!
Originally uploaded by kardinalsin.

This here, is the exterior to a new Japanese import to our shores, the convenience store known as Famima!! Known as Family Mart in Japan, this store is normally on par with 7-eleven, but on our shores, it's something very different.

First of all, one must understand how much more integral the convenience store is in the modern-day Japanese lifestyle. As most days are spent on the train and at the office, a most common sight seen on the streets of Tokyo is many people eating on the run. What better place is there to eat and run than a convenience store? On our trip to Japan (almost a year ago, wow), we would stop by one of the many convenience stores throughout the city. It was either Family Mart, Lawson, or 7-eleven where we'd stop, grab a couple of onigiri and some drinks (Calpico for me and Green/Barley tea for Gracie) and truck on over to the subway before setting out for our tourist destination for the day. Always a fine start to our day, it's one of my fondest memories of our trips, just sitting next to Grace and chowing down on our breakfast. What came to our shores, however, is much different.

Seeing that 7-eleven, Circle K, and AMPM are probably the only two recognizable convenience stores in the US, Family Mart really needed to set themselves apart, and they really have. What is normally a run-of-the-mill stop-and-go in Japan is more of a destination on our shores. Japanese treats, including the always-desirable Pocky, and drinks are numerous and high-end bottled water adorns the shelves. Instead of rotating hot dogs, there are steamed buns underneath heat lamps and there are even shelves topped with onigiri! Also, if you ever need a bento box for lunch, there's no shortage of them to be found at Famima.

It was crowded, for a convenience store, and there was so much good stuff that we left with a couple of good-sized bags filled with treats. It makes me nostalgic for our Japanese vacation, but seeing that it wasn't exactly the same as its Eastern counterpart, it was almost a lesser experience. That doesn't really diminish what it was, however. Along with Beard Papa, it's a welcome addition.