Craziest Vending Machines in Japan

Japanese vending machines 自動販売機 (jidou hanbaiki) are everywhere in Japan, and I’m sure that if you've ever been there, you’ve been amazed at how many there are.

Cold beverages, hot beverages, lockers, ice cream… There are so many purposes for them that I’ve found some incredible ones that would leave you speechless.

Let’s have a look at them!

チャバコ Chabako

(image via att-japan.net)

🍵 Although the name could sound similar to Tobacco, this vending machine sells tea boxes.

The word Chabako can be written as 茶箱. The first kanji is Tea, and the second is Box. Very nice name 😉

📍located in Shibuya, Tokyo, at the MEGA Don Quijote

冷凍ラーメン Frozen ramen

(image via att-japan.net)

🍜 Did you finish working so late that even restaurants were closed, or did you want to grab something to eat at home? Well, this Ramen vending machine has you covered!

📍various locations

だし Fish Stock

(image via att-japan.net)

🐟 Fish broth is widely used in Japanese cuisine, and it’s needed to prepare almost everything🧑🏻‍🍳

📍various locations

A.I. powered Cosmetics vending machine

(image via att-japan.net)

💄 This vending machine analyzes your face and suggests the best color match for the eyeshadow palette. You can even customize the bag with a name of your choosing. Wow!

📍located in Shinjuku, Tokyo

おむすびケーキ Cake Onigiri 

(image via tsukiichi-shop.com, syuttyou-camp.com)

🍙 This fascinating vending machine sells Onigiri-shaped cakes! They look like onigiri, but they are desserts. There are 9 types of cakes to choose from. Very creative!

📍located in Osaka

Military character speaking Vending Machine

(image via att-japan.net)

When you buy some drinks in this vending machine, a military person speaks to you🏯. There 6 of these vending machines all around Kyoto.

📍various locations in Kyoto

Bugs

(image via att-japan.net)

🐜 In recent years, eating bugs has become more popular, and now bugs are even sold at vending machines. Will it really become the food of the future?

📍located in Shibuya, Tokyo

Dumplings

(image via att-japan.net)

🥟Dumplings are a very loved food in Japan; here, you can get frozen and cook them at home anytime! How convenient is it?

📍various locations

10 Yen Vending Machines

(image via asahi.com) 

🪙 People from Osaka are known to be great at sales, and they’ve found a way to sell drinks (and not only) at 10 yen, a price you can’t beat😂

 But there are 2 things to keep in mind: firstly, you can’t choose what to get, and secondly, what you get is close to the expiry date.

📍located in Osaka

お守りなど Amulets and more

(image via daizukan9 blog)

🔴 With a variety of 70 types of amulets, this peculiar vending machine gives you the possibility to buy お守り at any time of the day, even when shrines are closed.

📍various locations

ポケモン Pokemon 

(image via pokemon.co.jp)

🟡 Installed in 2018, this Pokemon vending machine is located in Haneda Airport. If you love Pokemon or you collect them, here you can find exclusive Pikachu cabin attendants or Pikachu pilots plushies!

📍located in Haneda Airport

花 Flowers

(image via att-japan.net)

💐Fresh flowers are sold in vending machines, making it very easy for people who like flowers or receive them to grab them quickly!

📍located in various locations

And those are the craziest vending machines you can find in Japan! I am sure there are many more, so if you find them be sure to let me know!

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫