Interesting Facts!! #33

33. Vending Machines 

If you just walk around one town in Japan you will find vending machines everywhere. Japan has vending machines for just about everything and some are just bizarre. There are 5.6 vending machines in Japan according to the Japanese Vending Machine Association. That's about 1 vending machine for every 23 people.

Around the 1950's Japanese vending machines (jidohanbaiki ~ 自動販売機) made their first appearance. Whatever the the age of the machine is, they rarely malfunction. They're always in working order and almost always fully stocked.

Japan has the highest number vending machines compared to other counties; the reason for that is that it is very safe — vending machines aren't vandalized (even in remote locations) (In the rare cases that graffiti can be found on machines — it almost looks like permission was obtained) and Japanese people walk a lot — Pedestrian traffic is highly centralized (around train stations). 

The vast majority of machines serve beverages. However, it's possible to buy virtually anything from a vending machine in Japan. Vending machine prices are amazingly standardized across the country. A 500 ml beverage usually costs 150 yen. Machines in prime locations rarely have higher prices. 


Japanese companies views robots (such as vending machines) as an important part of the solution to Japan's aging society. Modern vending machines accept electronic payments from smartphones and train cards. They can also validate your age (a system called TASPO) for certain restricted purchases. In Japan people highly value their privacy. Vending machines sell anything that people are shy about buying in a shop. Traditionally, it's rude to walk and drink a beverage at the same time. It's still possible to see people doing this in Japan today. Younger generations of Japanese walk and drink instead though. 

You can buy just about anything form a vending machine in Japan and it would be available all the time. You can buy: Canned/noodle-based Meals, Buddhist Charms, Floral Arrangements, Toy Cars, Umbrellas, Women's underwear (oftentimes previously worn), Frozen foods (served hot), Toasted Sandwiches, Fresh Eggs, Gloves and Undershirts, Neckties, Pringle's Chips, Coffee drinks, Tea drinks, Barbecued Meats, Beer, French Fries, Batteries, Cigarettes, Fish bait, Kit-Kats (which come in more than 15 different flavors), Sake, Manga, Pornography, Sliced Apples, Bananas, Sushi, Used Cell Phones, and much more.

So when you go to Japan don't be too surprised about all these machines and what they sell. Also if you don't feel like dealing with a person in a store just go to a vending machine you are bound to find whatever you are looking for without having to go to far.

 -The more you know~