How to Buy Cigarettes at a Japanese Combini: Step-by-Step Guide
Updated 2026
Purchasing cigarettes in Japan can feel intimidating due to language barriers and digital age verification prompts at the counter. This step-by-step guide explains exactly how to buy tobacco at any Japanese convenience store (combini) without needing to speak fluent Japanese.
Quick TL;DR
- Point 1: Look behind the cashier counter to find the numbered cigarette display grid.
- Point 2: Order by stating the number of the pack rather than trying to pronounce the brand name.
- Point 3: Confirm your age by pressing the touch-screen prompt on the customer register screen.
Why the Combini is the Best Option
For foreign tourists and expats in Japan, the local convenience store (combini) is the most accessible place to purchase cigarettes. Because outdoor cigarette vending machines require a domestic residency-linked Taspo card, brick-and-mortar retail stores are the primary legal option for visitors. Major chains like 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart stock dozens of varieties, from classic paper cigarettes to modern heated tobacco units.
Tobacco products are kept strictly behind the cashier counter, meaning you cannot grab them yourself. This setup requires a brief interaction with the store clerk. Fortunately, the ordering system is highly standardized across all major chains, making the process straightforward even if you do not speak Japanese.
Heated Tobacco Warning
If you use heated tobacco devices like IQOS, Ploom, or glo, make sure you know whether you need heat-not-burn sticks (like TEREA or SENTIA) or traditional tobacco. These are sold in the same display racks and are also assigned specific numbers.
Essential Japanese Phrases for Ordering
While many clerks in metropolitan areas like Tokyo or Osaka are accustomed to tourists, knowing a few basic terms makes the transaction smoother. Rather than trying to describe the brand packaging, simply reference the index numbers shown on the display.
- "Kudasai" (pronounced koo-dah-sigh): This translates to "please."
- "Ban" (pronounced bahn): This means "number" when referencing a sequence.
- "Niko" (pronounced nee-ko): This means "two pieces" if you want to buy more than one pack of the same brand.
- "Fukuro" (pronounced foo-koo-ro): This means "bag" if you require a plastic bag for your purchases.
Popular Brands and Pricing
Cigarette prices in Japan are heavily regulated, meaning a pack of a specific brand costs the exact same amount whether you buy it at a high-end department store or a rural convenience store. Expect to pay between 500 yen and 650 yen per pack.
| Brand Name | Average Price | Tobacco Type |
|---|---|---|
| Mevius (formerly Mild Seven) | ¥580 | Traditional |
| Seven Stars | ¥600 | Traditional |
| Marlboro | ¥600 | Traditional |
| TEREA (for IQOS ILUMA) | ¥580 | Heated Tobacco |
The 4-Step Purchase Process
Follow this simple sequence to buy your cigarettes at any Japanese convenience store quickly and without confusion:
Walk up to the register and look at the display grid behind the clerk. Locate your preferred brand and note the two-digit or three-digit number printed below the pack.
Point toward the shelf and say the number followed by "kudasai" (e.g., "Number 35, please" or "San-ju-go ban, kudasai").
The register screen facing you will light up with a message asking if you are 20 years of age or older. Tap the screen to confirm (usually a green button marked 「はい」 or "Yes").
Pay using cash, credit card, or your mobile IC card (such as Suica or Pasmo).
Find a Legal Smoking Spot Right Now
Find the nearest legal smoking area in Tokyo right now.
Open Interactive Tokyo Smoking Map