Add a New Kind of Fun to Your Trip With Japanese Convenience Store Printer Services

Japanese convenience stores are a staple of any travel experience, offering snacks, surprisingly good food, and the kinds of everyday essentials you might need during a trip to Japan. But these little shops are more than just a convenience – they’re sometimes referred to as “small infrastructure hubs” in Japan due to the wide array of services offered. Even the multifunction printer tucked away in the corner of just about every convenience store has evolved far beyond the bounds of a simple printer. These super functional machines can print all your travel documents, sure, but they also offer a variety of unique content, and just browsing the menu of unusual options is fun in and of itself.

Some of the most interesting multifunction printer print options include historic newspaper pages, printer fortunes (omikuji), Japanese-style coloring book pages, custom calendars, and even original collectible images and illustrations of popular Japanese characters, including some of the world’s favorite anime and games. When you’ve got a pocket heavy with little yen coins, we suggest taking a look at some of these fun convenience store services, to turn your change into a unique memory from your time in Japan!

Multifunction Printer Service Recommendations

① A Birthday Newspaper

Ever wondered what happened in the world on the day you were born? How about what happened in Japan? This unique multifunction printer service answers those questions by letting you print the front page of some of Japan’s biggest newspapers (Yomiuri, Mainichi, Asahi, Nikkei, The Japan Times, and The Okinawa Times) from any date you choose, as far back as August 1, 1912.

You don’t have to go searching in an archive to find historic headlines – you can just print them out at the convenience store! The large A3 newspaper printouts make cool retro posters for your wall, or great gifts to commemorate an important date. You can even use your chosen newspaper as wrapping paper for a special present!

・FamilyMart Birthday Newspaper Printing Guide
・MiniStop Birthday Newspaper Printing Guide
・Lawson, Poplar, and Others Convenience Store Guides

② A Print Omikuji Fortune

Japan’s traditional omikuji fortunes, little slips of paper that promise a glimpse at your future, are most commonly found Japanese at temples and shrines. But in this modern day and age, those aren’t the only places offering to predict your future. Let your favorite convenience store become your fortune teller with this fun “Print Omikuji” from the multifunction printer!

These printable fortunes feature Japan’s famously adorable shimaenaga birds, sometimes called “snow fairies” (or more officially the “Hokkaido long-tailed tit”), with images provided by Boku, Shimaenaga. The random fortunes are of course decided by your fate, but with 30 different options (including thirty different cute shimaenaga photos) printed on high-quality glossy photo paper, it’s tempting to collect more than your fair share. They even make fun souvenirs for friends!

If your travel schedule doesn’t include any shrines or temples while you’re in Japan, or if you just want an extra omikuji to feel out your fortune for the coming year, these Print Omikuji from the convenience store are quick, convenient, and terribly cute too.

③ Ukiyo-e Coloring Sheets

In recent years coloring has evolved to become a relaxing pasttime for both kids and adults, and in Japan you can enjoy it as a modern twist on a traditional Japanese art form with these ukiyo-e coloring sheets from the multifunction printer content printing service (Famima Print specifically). Perfect for families with kids or anyone looking to chill out with a fun project, these sheets feature classic Japanese ukiyo-e art from centuries past, which you can complete with your own favorite color palette. If you can read the Japanese, you’ll notice that each image comes with a witty Japanese phrase for an added layer of amusement.

Print out a few to keep occupied on long train rides, or to relax with on a quiet evening at the hotel.

・About Famima Print
・Famima Print Guide (Available at FamilyMart shops nationwide. Some locations may be excluded.)

④ A Custom Calendar

You’re bound to take some spectacular photos during your time in Japan, so we recommend you take a look at the calendar printing options at your nearest convenience store, which allow you to turn any image into a custom calendar! The standard “Normal Type” calendar comes in 1-month, 2-month, 6-month, or 12-month formats, whereas the unique “Craft Desktop Type” comes in 2-month or 4-month formats, each of which fold to stand on your desk! With a total of six configurations and a variety of design options, you can create a calendar that fits your exact needs, with your favorite images! Put together a calendar with your favorite family photos, your best snapshots from sightseeing in Japan, or even a calendar featuring your favorite characters or artists. If your travel plans in Japan include the world’s largest otaku culture event, Comic Market/Comiket (December 29~30, 2024), this service is a cool way to create custom fandom goods and make use of your favorite event photos, so you can really make the most of your time in Japan.

To make a calendar with your favorite photos, you can use the PrintSmash app to directly transfer files from your cellphone to the convenience store’s multifunction copy machine. Just open the app in front of the copy machine, and it will automatically connect to the wi-fi. Select the photos you want to use for your calendar and enter the network password displayed on the machine into the app to start the transfer! (Find detailed instructions on how to use PrintSmash here.)

・Download the PrintSmash App: App Store / Google Play

⑤ Anime, Game, and Other Character & Fandom Goods for Otaku

If your plans for Japan include shopping the latest merch for your favorite otaku fandom, you’ll want to check out the selection of official “bromide” prints available from the convenience store copy machine. From popular anime characters like One Punch Man (©ONE・村田雄介／集英社・ヒーロー協会本部, Lawson Print), to cute Sanrio favorites from the Party Collection Series, there’s a huge variety of print designs available, and some even fold so that they stand up ready for display (Conprin). You can collect cool original prints on high-quality photo paper from all your favorite anime series and otaku fandoms, all in one place!

・About Lawson Print
・Lawson Print Guide (Available at Lawson stores nationwide. Some locations may be excluded.)
・About Conprin
・Conprin Guides for FamilyMart, Mini Stop, & Lawson (Available at FamilyMart, Mini Stop, & Lawson stores nationwide. Some locations may be excluded.)

Helpful Tips for Using Multifunction Printers in Japanese Convenience Stores

Now that you know about some of the cool printing services offered by the multifunction printers in Japanese convenience stores, you’ll want to check these quick tips before getting started!

① Which Convenience Stores Offer These Printing Services?

Multifunction printers that offer the content printing services above can be found at common convenience stores like FamilyMart, Lawson, MiniStop, and Poplar across Japan. (Available services may vary by store.)

② What Kind of Language/Customer Support Is Available?

Aside from Japanese, basic services are available in English (as well as Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, Thai, and Tagalog). If you have any specific questions that need answering, customer support in English or Chinese is available over the phone from 9:00 to 17:00, and a Japanese chatbot is available 24/7.

Sharp Multifunction Printer Chatbot

③ How Do I Use the Multifunction Printer to Get Rid of Change?

In Japan, it’s easy to collect a lot of coins fast, since you’re always using cash. Weighed down by heavy pockets full of spare change, many travelers end up at a loss for how to use up all of these coins before heading back home, so they don’t go to waste. Since these printing services are cash-only, and easily accessible at convenience stores all around Japan (even inside airports!), it’s an ideal way to get rid of all those extra coins! Don’t let any of your precious yen go to waste!

Experience the Infinite Possibilities of a Japanese Convenience Store with Multifunction Printer Services

Japanese convenience stores are already famous for their practicality, but many travelers are much more aware of their egg-salad sandwiches than their printing services. But if you’ve learned anything today, we hope it’s how incredibly cool Japanese multifunction printers can be! Add an element of discovery and unexpected joy to your travel experience with these funny printing options, and bring home some unique souvenirs from your trip to Japan, too! Find more details on the various services offered by Japan’s multifunction printers here!

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