Ticket machines inside Japanese convenience stores are a little different from ordinary vending machines that simply print an admission ticket on the spot. In many cases, you first complete the procedure on the machine, then take the printed slip to the register to make any necessary payment and receive the ticket.
At FamilyMart, for example, you can use the in-store multi-copy machine to search for events and apply for tickets. When you finish, the machine prints an application slip, which you take to the register within the required time. If you already booked the ticket online, you can also use a reservation number or other information to complete the necessary steps at the store.
Lawson’s Loppi machines work in a similar way. You can choose a ticket on the screen or enter a number you received when making a reservation. The machine then prints an application slip, which you take to the register to complete any required payment or ticket issuance.
At 7-Eleven, tickets for events, movies, sports, and other activities can be purchased through the ticket menu on the multi-copy machine. The machines and screens differ from one convenience store chain to another, and the exact steps may also depend on the service where you made the reservation. In general, however, you can simply follow the instructions on the screen.
Even if you have never used one of these machines before, they are not particularly difficult to operate. When you book a ticket online, the website will often give detailed instructions explaining how to pay for or collect it at the convenience store. If anything is unclear, you can quickly check the instructions online, and of course you can also ask a store employee.
You do not need to memorize where every button is. The basic pattern is enough: search for the ticket or enter your reservation number → receive a printed slip → take it to the register → make any required payment and receive the ticket.
The greatest advantage of this system is not really the machine itself. When convenience-store payment or ticket pickup is available, you can make the reservation online and then handle the remaining steps at a nearby convenience store. There is no need to travel to a special ticket counter. More than the simplicity of the machine, the real convenience is being able to complete so much of the process at a store you already use in everyday life.
