(コンビニ) Short for "convenience store". Conbini in Japan are open 24hrs and sell nearly everything you would ever need for modern living, from newspapers to microwavable food to manga porn to nappies to lighter fluid to PlayStation games to concert tickets to whiskey to dog food to iPods to ski resort lift passes. Oh - and you can pay your utility bills too. All this at 4 in the morning, dressed in your pyjamas and Miffy slippers, and no-one will bat an eyelid.

a road-tripper's best friend