Japan’s first Family Mart convenience store sits on a busy stretch of road in Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, without much fanfare.
Aside from an assortment of flowers that sit on display next to a Showa Era (1926-89) telephone box near the entrance, it looks just like any other of the franchise’s 17,000-plus outlets nationwide.
An extensive array of food, drinks and household items sits on the shelves, while a freshly cooked batch of the chain’s signature fried chicken sits in a warming cabinet on the counter.