What a cold day!
it's an old trick to buy a can of hot coffee or tea from a vending machine
and then put it in your pocket to keep you warm
in japan there's a wide variety of vending machines and each machine has a
huge selection
some of these drink machines have over thirty different types to choose from
in fact, by the time you get in front of one of these machines you may have
changed your mind and what you want it
offering a large selection is one way that japan offers excellent service
vending machines are no exception
here are some facts about japanese vending machines
in japan there is one vending machine for every 23 people
vending machines in japan do over 7 trillion yen of business every year
There are over five million vending machines nationwide
so that means that each vending machine yields about 1.4million yen
0r 15,000 dollars
The average electricity bill per vending machine is 4300yen per month
Machines turn off heating in refrigeration from 1 to 4 AM to
conserve power
if you're thinking of picking a fight with the vending machine
Think twice
Each machine is equipped with a PHS transmitter which sends a signal
to the police when it's being tampered with or vandalized
We're talking about high-tech machines here
let's look at drink vending machines
These are the most well known and can be found everywhere.
The selection is amazing
There are several different beverage companies & distributors in japan
and each machine features drinks produced by the manufacturer or its partners
Are these drinks with characters any good?
you'll have to try to find out
Vending machines are made in all sizes
This half size machine wastes no space
Technology is gradually turning japan into a cashless society
and the PASMO & SUICA cards are good examples
2 re-chargeable smart cards
Just touch your card to the sensor, and WALLAH!
you've purchased a drink
SHIBUYA
people are on the move
it's a busy place
There isn't always time to get a healthy meal
but people need the energy to keep on working
Enter this machine
The banana vending machine
It's easy to make a choice. They are all bananas!
Insert 130 yen
select a number
and watch the machine get your banana
the banana is carefully lowered and deposited in the lower receptacle
to be collected without any bruising
It's the perfect banana! Chilled and ready to eat
Bananas are always fresh and this machine is refrigerated
which is especially good during the hot summer months
if you have a family you can buy a bunch of bananas for 390yen
My buddy Peter and i were out for a walk in one of Tokyo's parks
It was a lovely day
Peter wanted lunch and thought of going back to be stationed
to eat at a restaurant
But there's another option
Down the street is a hot lunch vending machine
Why not picnic outside and enjoy the day?
This vending machine serves hot boxed lunches at a reasonable price
It takes a couple of minutes to prepare
I hit the Cup Noodles machine for an appetizer
There is a good selection
Peter's still waiting so i filled the cup of noodles with hot water from the
hot water dispenser inside the vending machines
Peter finally got his hot lunch for two
Too hot drinks complete the fast lunch set
"ONIGIRI" rice balls with two chicken "KARA-AGE"(deep fried)
Curry flavored Ramen
Ahh... nature
you can't beat it
and with vending machines you can grab lunch and never step foot inside a store
this vending machine offers entertainment while you wait
Choose your coffee and watch the TV robot go to work!
The seconds tick away faster when you're looking for a red ball in the right cup
which one is it?
you didn't forget about your coffee, did you?
A perfect cup
Auto door, and you're done!
the coffee vending machine experience, at its best
AKIHABARA
it's known as Otaku central
and OTAKU need a lot of energy in this town
unfortunately people don't have much time to eat around here,
so here's the solution
it's a Ramen in a can vending machine
It serves up hot and cold Ramen
japanese ODEN, too
each can comes with a fork
We caught up with one computer Otaku on his lunch break
Let's take a look at some other machines
an ice cream vending machine
How about a quick newspaper and a candy bar before you catch the train?
Trade platforms are convenient place for busy people
It carries some of my favorite snacks
Rice vending machines can be found in rural areas
If your family runs out, there's a bag available 24 hours a day
Digital vending machines are quickly taking over in Tokyo
This one gives info about the drinks
Just touched the screen
Here's an interesting couple. A bread and umbrella vending machine
A bread in a can vending machine offers 8 different flavors
The umbrella machine is perfect for rainy days
Only 500 yen and you'll stay dry on the way to work
Smokers have come to the right place
Vending machines for cigarettes can contain over 60 different varieties
but beware
You must be over twenty one to smoke in Japan
And you need an ID card called TASPO before buying from machines
Applications are available at tobacco kiosks around the country
tobacco machines turn off after 11PM
Underneath the tracks of YAMANOTE line in YURAKUCHO (station)
Is this watering hole
it's a cove for lovers of alcohol
Yes
japan has a beer vending machines and it's a perfect place to grab a brewski after work
There is even a hot SAKE machine
you can buy snacks from a non machine inside after 6PM
uh...
This place is great because it has the real, kind of "SHITA-MACHI" (old town) feeling here,
like downtown tokyo feeling
Plus, outdoors and there's always lots of people around here
especially like this place a lot of foreigners come here. Just people outside
all the time
I guess
my friends and I like to drink can beers like to be outside and so we kind of
know the places where you can buy alcohol outside.
It's way cheaper and it's
nice to have open-air
be able to relax little bit
KANPAI! (cheers!)
so when you come to japan
try some of the vending machines. The longer you stay, the more you can try
and travel around! You'll be surprised at what you find