Paying Bills

While often a dreadful topic at home, paying bills in Japan is the most easiest of experiences. All bills: water, gas, electricity, cell phone, land line, etc. are paid at the konbinis (at the convenient stores such as 7 eleven, family mart, circle k, etc. The paper bill arrives in the mail. One walks to the closest konbini, and there is literally one on every corner. They are more common than all coffee shop chains combined in the States. At the konbini, one hands the cashier the paper bill and then one hands the person in CASH the correct amount of money. The cashier, in return, gives a receipt and the whole process is finished! Moreover, most all konbinis are open 24 hours a day everyday so there is little worry about being late. No checks, no money orders, no stamps. It makes paying bills (except for the dishing out money part) quite simple.