What konbini payment is
Konbini is the Japanese term for convenience store, and in payments it refers to paying for an online order with cash at a convenience store such as 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, MiniStop or Seicomart. The customer completes checkout on your site, receives a payment slip or code, and then walks into a store to pay cash at the register. It is a cash-based, one-time payment method that suits shoppers who do not own a card or who simply prefer cash. For a cross-border merchant, konbini opens a large segment of Japanese buyers who will not pay any other way.
- Konbini is cash at a physical store, not a card or wallet transaction.
- It is one-time use: each order generates a fresh reference number.
- The shopper pays at the register and gets a receipt as proof.
- It is most common in Japan, where cash remains widely used for ecommerce.
How a konbini payment works at checkout
At checkout the customer picks konbini as the payment method and enters a name, phone number and email. Your payment provider then generates a voucher with a reference number and, in some cases, a confirmation number. The customer takes that information to a store, gives it to the cashier or enters it at a kiosk, pays in cash, and receives a receipt. The store notifies the network, and your provider marks the order paid, usually after the cash is collected. Because the money is not taken instantly online, konbini is an asynchronous payment: you should ship only after you receive the paid confirmation.
- Customer selects konbini and provides name, phone and email.
- A voucher or reference number is generated by your provider.
- Customer pays cash in store and keeps the receipt.
- You fulfil the order after the paid webhook or status update arrives.
Which stores and providers support it
Most major Japanese convenience store chains are reachable through konbini, but coverage differs by provider. Some providers require a local Japanese entity to enable certain chains such as 7-Eleven, while others support the remaining chains with just a standard cross-border account. The exact store list and any local-entity requirement depend on the payment provider you choose, so confirm the supported chains before you build. You can compare providers that list konbini as a supported method on LocalPayMap.
- Coverage of specific chains varies by provider.
- A local entity may be required for some chains but not others.
- Check the supported store list in your provider's documentation.
Settlement, expiry and refunds
The unpaid voucher is valid for a limited window, commonly around three to seven days, after which it expires and the order is cancelled. Once paid, the funds settle to you on your provider's normal payout schedule, which is typically a few business days after the cash is collected. Refunds are possible but require the customer to supply bank account details so the money can be returned; the provider contacts the customer by email to collect those details. Because the original payment was cash, there is no card to reverse, which is why refunds need the customer's bank information.
- Unpaid vouchers expire, often within three to seven days.
- Payout happens on your provider's standard schedule after payment.
- Refunds need the customer's bank details, gathered by the provider.
Who should offer konbini
Konbini is worth adding if you sell into Japan and see checkout drop-off from customers who cannot or will not use cards. It fits one-time purchases well, such as physical goods, digital top-ups and tickets. It is a poor fit for recurring billing, because the customer must appear in person to pay each time. If most of your Japanese sales are subscriptions, pair konbini with a card or wallet option rather than relying on it alone.
- Good for one-time physical or digital goods in Japan.
- Weak fit for recurring or subscription billing.
- Best used alongside cards or wallets, not instead of them.
Things to check before you go live
Before launch, confirm the supported store list, the expiry window, the payout timing, and any local-entity rule for specific chains. Build your fulfilment flow around the paid notification rather than the initial checkout, since konbini is asynchronous. Also review your provider's prohibited-business categories, because some products are restricted for konbini specifically. Finally, check the fee structure carefully.
- Confirm the store list and any local-entity requirement.
- Fulfil only after the paid status arrives, not at checkout.
- Review prohibited categories that apply to konbini.
Pricing note
Published pricing is for initial screening only; confirm the provider's official pricing page or a written quote before you go live. Konbini fees are set by your payment provider and may include a per-transaction charge different from cards. Screen the published numbers, then verify on the provider's official pricing page or a written quote before you commit.
- Konbini pricing is provider-specific, not set by the stores.
- Confirm the live rate on the provider's official page.
Questions merchants ask
Can I accept konbini without a Japanese entity?
In many cases yes. Several cross-border payment providers support konbini with a standard international account. However, certain chains such as 7-Eleven may require a local Japanese entity depending on the provider. Confirm the entity requirement for each chain you want to support before you build.
Which convenience store chains are covered?
Commonly supported chains include 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, MiniStop and Seicomart. The exact list depends on your payment provider and on any local-entity rules, so check the provider's konbini documentation for the live store list.
How long does the customer have to pay?
The unpaid voucher usually expires after three to seven days, though the exact window is set by your provider. If the customer does not pay within that window, the order is cancelled and no funds move.
Are konbini payments refundable?
Yes, but the refund is not automatic because the original payment was cash. Your provider will contact the customer by email to collect bank account details, then return the funds to that account. Partial refunds follow the same process.
Are there transaction limits?
Yes. Providers typically set a minimum and maximum per charge, often in the range of a few hundred to several hundred thousand JPY. The limits depend on your provider, so check the documented range before listing high-value items.
Do konbini payments carry chargeback risk?
Chargeback exposure is low because the customer pays cash in person at a store, which makes unrecognised or fraudulent payments uncommon. That said, disputes can arise from store-side handling, in which case your provider will contact you for next steps.
Can I use konbini for subscriptions?
Not well. Konbini is a one-time, in-person cash payment, so the customer would have to visit a store for every billing cycle. Use a card or wallet for recurring billing and keep konbini for one-off purchases.