Japanese Features Japanese Streets vending machines

Vending Machine Ubiquity (Part 1)

One of the first things you will notice while walking on the streets of Japan is vending machines.  Vending machines are present everwhere in Japan, right?

A Vending Machine Making Coffee from Scratch

Whenever you go, you see vending machines.  Interestingly, they are available on the streets, as well as inside buildings.  When you get thirsty while walking down the street, you can buy drinks from a “drink” vending machine on the spot (as shown in the middle).  The machine (right) mills coffee beans of your choice, and make really fresh coffee for you.  For coffee with or without sugar/milk, just push the right button of your preference.

Although not as common in recent years due to some new regulations targeting underage alcohol consumption, you can buy beer or sake (English: fermented alcoholic beverage made from rice) from some street vending machines.  When you are hungry, you can get food from a vending machine.  Some vending machines even cook food on the spot (e.g., fried chicken).

Other vending machines sell magazines, which feature ladies posing for men and/or contain dirty comic illustrations, as shown in the picture below.

There are also some vending machines that sell adult toys.  Some machines for adult products are blocked from the view of passers-by with a cheap plastic fence, but it is not so difficult to notice the items on display in the machine.

Also, condom vending machines are located near drugstores.  Since many drugstores in Japan are not open 24/7, these condom vending machines are quite convenient when sparks begin to fly after hours.

The pictures above and below were taken in 2020.  We were pretty surprised to find these condom vending machines still available on the street.  These days, they are rarely seen on the street because of the ubiquity of convenience stores ( 24/7 open or late closings) where you can purchase condoms without trouble.

Also amazingly, the above machine sells the Sagami brands, which are Sagami Original 0.02 and Sagami Original 0.01, which are really thin but safer condoms.  Sagami Original 002 costs 500 yen, while 001 costs 800 yen (for 3 condoms).     

Interestingly or more shockingly, the machine was found in a rural area.  A famous temple is 5-minute-walk away from this location.  It is probably good for the sale, but looks weird that the machine coexists with a very sacred place, or the temple in this case.