Almost every public space has at least one vending machine selling water, sports drinks, and cold coffee and tea. This is the vending machine in the lobby of the Ehime University Faculty Guesthouse where I've been staying.
It's not uncommon for a store on the street to operate two, three, or even more vending machines.
At the water taxi dock at Yamashita Park in Yokohama, I counted 10 vending machines lined up in a row.
This vending machine, on the grounds of the Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社) in Kyōto, even has some Tully's Coffee drinks. They are the ones that cost 130 yen each, and you can see an ad for them at the bottom of the frame.
Some vending machines, like the one in our hotel in Kyōto, sell beer. The one pictured below, on the campus of Ehime University, sells hot and cold coffee drinks. It has an elaborate mechanism (the line of black buttons on the right, above the coin slot) that allows you to adjust coffee strength and the relative amounts of sugar and cream.
The seasonal ad at the top says "It's summer! It's ice! Blendy". I think "ice" here refers to iced drinks.
It's well worth clicking through to look at the selection of hot and cold drinks. My favorite, top center, is the "banana au lait" (バナナオーレ), which you can get hot or cold.
The vending machines on campus take payment by coins, bills, student meal card, and cell phone--and perhaps other means that I haven't figured out yet.
Please enjoy the following video demonstration of a vending machine in action.
Looks so good, I think I'll get another cup of coffee myself. I have noticed in this section of the world, at the prospect park zoo, at the local giant shopping mall, the phenomenon of kosher vending machines. wonder if the vending machine world is expanding.
ReplyDeleteThere were once, famously, vending machines that dispensed "used panties," a particular Japanese fetish.
ReplyDeleteShouldn't there be an accent aigu over the last character of カフェ on that ice café au lait container?
ReplyDeleteKidding of course, but as I recall, you posted a photo of a café where they'd done just that.
And John, don't forget the ACTUAL JAPANESE WOMEN who dressed up as vending machines as a means of foiling sexual predators. Or at least, the vending machine costumes that were designed for that purpose.
ReplyDeleteThat video's great, Lance! You should post it to YouTube.
On my first trip to Japan, in 1993, I remember being amazed to find vending machines selling fresh eggs and fresh flower bouquets out in a small countryside town.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous: I wonder what the process is for certifying a vending machine as kosher?
@Dan: Hah, indeed!
For Real, @ Lance, will follow up on certification process and the vending machine Rabbi's.
ReplyDelete