7-Eleven — Konbini in Harajuku, Tokyo

This is a branch of 7-Eleven on Jingumae, in the middle of Harajuku's Takeshita street, and what you notice first is the churn: the door keeps swinging and the queue moves. It is a konbini built for volume rather than browsing, so come knowing roughly what you want.

Drinks and smoothies are the things to reach for, sold to take away; a cashier will pack your drinks into a paper tray so you can carry several at once. Snacks and bento are the other reason to step in, at roughly ¥200 to ¥1,000 for the stop.

How it works is plain: you pay at the counter, and you take your purchases outside. Drinking inside the store is not allowed, and there are no trash bins in the store, so plan where the empty cup goes before you buy. There is no Seven Bank ATM at this branch, so do not count on it for cash.

Expect the service to be quick: staff here handle transactions fast despite the crowds. Security cameras are everywhere, and cigarette sales are refused to any group that includes a minor, so bring ID and split up if that applies.

The store suits a traveler who needs a cold drink or a quick bite between shops on Jingumae and does not need to linger. It is a busy convenience stop rather than a place to sit, and the lack of a bin and the no-drinking-inside rule are the trade-offs you accept for the location and the 24-hour door.