Japanese vending machines

September 1, 10:18

Japan has become infamous for its vending machines. Pictures of ever stranger items being sold, such as batteries, eggs, or even underwear, can be found around online. When I asked rock music and radio DJ Brian Hardgroove about any strange experiences he’s had while traveling in Japan, his first thought was “just the fact that there were soda and drink machines on the street.”

How many vending machines are there in Japan?

According the Japan Vending Machine Manufactures Association (JVMA), there were 5,263,900 vending machines in Japan in 2008, with drink machines making up 49% of that number. That means there is about one drink vending machine for every fifty people in the country.

Although America is said to have the most vending machines in terms of overall numbers, at 7.76 million, Japan is the number one vending machine society in terms of machines per person.

What kind of vending machines are there in Japan?

The JVMA divides vending machines into three large categories: product vending machines, automated service machines, and information booth machines. Product vending machines include food and drink, cigarettes, tickets, newspapers, etc. Service machines include change machines, coin lockers, laundromats, photo booths, etc.

Top vending machines by sales in 2008 in Japan were drinks, followed by tickets and then cigarettes. Sales from vending machines averaged just below 7 trillion yen between 1997 and 2007, but dropped to 5.7 trillion yen in 2008. (In 2008, at an exchange rate of 100 yen to the dollar, that would be $57 billion!)

What is the difference between Japanese vending machines and American vending machines?

There are several noticeable differences to travelers to Japan. The first, as mentioned by Brian Hardgroove, is the location. Many vending machines in Japan are located outside. Machines are most commonly lined up in front of buildings, but they can be found almost everywhere—even on small streets in the middle of the countryside.

The next is type of machines. Almost half of all machines in Japan are drink machines. Canned coffee, for instance, is quite a popular product, and it is often vended both cold and hot from the same machine.

Also surprising is the lack of snack machines. Snack and drink machines may go hand-in-hand in the States, but if you want a snack in Japan you are better off going to a convenience store. In contrast, machines selling hot canned soups, ice cream, or even full meals can be found.

Japan still has machines that serve alcoholic beverages and machines that vend cigarettes. Alcohol vending machines are meant only for people over the age of 20, but it works on the honor system. (Outdoor alcohol vending machines will generally stop vending after about 11pm.) Cigarette vending machines were the same up until recently. Now one needs to use a “TASPO” card, which is an age verification ID card for cigarette machines only.

What are some truly bizarre Japanese vending machines?

What you might find strange is really all based on your own perception, but here is a short list of machines that have puzzled this examiner: battery vending machines, pasta vending machines, canned soup vending machines, rice vending machines, and adult video vending machines.