ID Photo at Japan Convenience Stores: 5 Chains, ¥30+

In Japan, a photo studio runs ¥1,500–10,000 and a station booth ¥700–1,500, and most of that cost is the shooting fee. Shoot it yourself, print it at a convenience store multi-copy machine: over the last few years this has become the go-to route for keeping the cost down.

This article compares Seven-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, Ministop and Poplar across their machines, prices, QR-code support and operation, and explains how to pick the best store. For the step-by-step operation, see our convenience-store printing guide.

Why the convenience store became the standard route for ID-photo printing

From the late 2010s onward, multi-copy machines were updated en masse, and their resolution, color reproduction and QR-code support all improved dramatically. Today almost every store can output L-size photo paper at ¥30–¥40 per sheet.

There are three big advantages for the user.

The shared flow — 30 seconds with a QR code

At any Japanese convenience store (konbini) the flow is nearly the same. If you’ve already created the photo with an AI tool and have the QR code ready on your smartphone, you’ll rarely get lost inside the store.

1. 1

   Have the QR code ready on your smartphone in advance

   When you create a photo with Ramune AI ID Photo, the QR code for printing arrives by email. Taking a screenshot of it gives you peace of mind.

2. 2

   Step up to the convenience-store multi-copy machine

   At every chain, a large multi-copy machine sits in plain view right as you walk in. During the day you may overlap with other users, so late at night tends to be smoother.

3. 3

   Select “Network Print” or “Photo Print”

   From the menu screen, choose the QR-code option. The name differs by chain, so refer to the per-chain guide below.

4. 4

   Have it scan the QR code

   Just hold your smartphone screen up to the machine’s scanner. As a fallback, you can also type in the 8-digit user number by hand.

5. 5

   Insert payment and print

   One sheet of L-size photo paper comes out. The sheet has cut marks, so you just trim along them with scissors — at home or on the spot — to finish to spec.

Machine, traits and operation differences by chain

The multi-copy machines at the five chains are mostly either Sharp or Fujifilm. Because the operation screens and menu names differ by chain, here’s a rundown of each one’s traits so you don’t get thrown off.

Seven-Eleven — ≈ 21,700 stores nationwide, Fujifilm multi-copy machines

With about 21,700 stores as of 2025, it’s the industry’s largest player, covering not just urban areas but rural arterial roadsides too. Its multi-copy machines are mostly made by Fujifilm Business Innovation, and the home screen lines up options like “Copy,” “Photo Print,” “Network Print” and “Document Print,” so first-time users can get confused. But when using a QR code, you just select “Network Print” to proceed. Once you’re used to it, it’s done in under 30 seconds. The L-size price is ¥40.

FamilyMart — ≈ 16,400 stores nationwide, Sharp multi-copy machines

It has about 16,400 stores as of 2025. The multi-copy machines are mostly Sharp-made, and the operation screen is the same as Lawson’s. Late at night there are relatively few users, so even an urgent print is unlikely to involve a wait. The L-size price is ¥30.

Lawson — ≈ 14,700 stores nationwide, standardized on Sharp

It has about 14,700 stores as of 2025. Across 2020–2021 it updated the multi-copy machines at stores nationwide to Sharp models (MX-3631DS), and the machines are now almost fully standardized. The operation screen is the same as FamilyMart’s, and you can also print via Sharp’s “PrintSmash” app. The L-size price is ¥30.

Ministop — ≈ 1,820 stores in Japan, same models as the Lawson group

It has about 1,820 stores in Japan as of 2025. The multi-copy machines are the same Sharp models as Lawson, and the operation screen is nearly identical. Although it has fewer stores than the others, it’s known as a quiet late-night option, centered on the Kanto and Kansai regions. The L-size price is ¥30.

Poplar — centered on western Japan, the Lawson tie-up at a turning point

In 2020, Poplar signed a joint-business agreement with Lawson and proceeded to convert many of its stores to “Lawson Poplar” or “Lawson.” In August 2025 the capital and business alliance ended, and it has now shifted to a business-tie-up arrangement. Poplar-only stores number in the several hundreds, concentrated in the Chugoku and Kyushu regions. Converted stores have been replaced with the same Sharp models as Lawson, and the L-size price is ¥30.

All 5 chains, side by side

The main specs of the five chains’ multi-copy machines, summarized on a single sheet, look like this.

Which store to pick — 5 deciding factors

The quality is roughly the same at every store. Use the following five axes to choose the one that suits you.

When printing doesn’t work

When printing doesn’t go smoothly, the cause almost always falls into one of three patterns.

How many copies to print

The number you need varies by document.

• My Number card — 1 copy (for an online application, no print is needed; you only submit the data). If you want to avoid a reshoot due to a spec problem, see why 80% are rejected and how to fix it.
• Passport — 1 copy. It needs to meet the ICAO standard, and getting the 12 reasons for rejection down before you shoot helps you avoid a reshoot at the counter.
• Driver’s license renewal (when bringing your own photo) — 1 copy
• Résumé / job hunting — 1 copy per résumé; if you’re applying to multiple companies, 4–6 copies gives you peace of mind. How your photo is read in document screening is covered in the truth about job-hunting photos from recruiters.
• Residence card / various visas — 1–2 copies (varies by counter)

Ramune AI ID Photo’s standard sheet is laid out with four ID photos on one L-size sheet, so even when you need several — for job hunting, school documents and the like — it’s done for ¥30–¥40 in a single run.

Related articles

• Convenience-store printing steps
• Why 80% of My Number photos fail
• 12 passport rejection patterns
• Job-hunting photos & recruiters’ honest take
• Photo reprints: the konbini guide
• All 105 supported specs
• Pricing details

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