I am working at the Tokyo Shiodome building in an area called sio-site. In the 1F and 2F, there are shops and restaurants. One of them is Famima!!. I found Famima!! in Hollywood and Santa Monica in the U.S. when I visited there and it's very interesting because they looked like trendy spots. Famima!! is a special version of the convenience store "Family Mart". The difference between a regular Family Mart and Famima!! is the selection of goods. Each Famima shop can choose unique items according to its location and situation. But Family Mart has the same items all over Japan.
In Hollywood, Famima had Japanese magazine and sushi, edamame, Japanese sweets and more Japanese items. In the Shiodome building, BGM is Jazz and Rock music and they sell MUJI items and foreign stationary. Famima!! can be cool because it has Japanese items in the U.S. and it has foreign items in Japan.
We need more Famimas here in the US. Why are they only in downtown LA?
Posted by: Kandy | Monday, July 13, 2009 at 12:35 PM
I found Family Mart name to be an oxymoron the last time I visited Japan. Like every other convenient store, it had porn magazines on the magazine rack, and yet it is a "Family Mart". Lolz.
Posted by: Jeff | Friday, October 17, 2008 at 06:14 AM
Hi There
this morning i got Konnyaku Drink at Famima. I don't think it would be sold in Famima in the U.S. But I can tell they had good selection.
Posted by: Mari | Friday, January 12, 2007 at 11:03 AM
Hehe! I love going to Famima!! in Santa Monica, they have yummy salmon rice balls and inari. That is so funny that they have foreign items in Japan while Japanese items in LA. ^_^
Posted by: Chibi | Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 02:00 AM
By the way mari,
you really have a nice blog. it really is.
Continue and enlighten us with nice short stories. :)
Posted by: Holden | Tuesday, January 09, 2007 at 05:07 AM
I'll rather have Kansai style cooking. Nothing is better than that. Nothing beats overkill on flavouring.
Whats the equivalent dish of Tempura? its really good. I need something that taste equally good as that
Posted by: Holden | Tuesday, January 09, 2007 at 04:57 AM
Ah! Family Mart! When I lived in Korea we went to those often as it was good for a quick "Peppero" fix (Korean version of Pocky). I didn't realize they were so widespread and had an "upgraded" version. I want a Famima near me! :(
Posted by: michael | Tuesday, January 09, 2007 at 04:07 AM