With one vending machine per 23 people, Japan has one of the world’s highest concentrations of vending machines (jidoohanbaiki). They can even be found in the countryside. Vandalism is rare and almost all machines are functional. Some even have salesgirls to attract customers!
Besides the widespread appeal of these machines, Americans may be surprised to know what they contain. Here’s some of the more interesting products you can get from a vending machine in Japan:
- Beer, Sake & other alcoholic drinks
- Eggs
- Vegetables
- Hamburgers , Hot Dogs & other hot meals (food is cooked in the machine)
- Rice
- Pornography (3rd most popular behind cigs and soda)
- Video Games & CDs
- Fishing line, hooks & bait
- Toilet paper
- Toys
- Film & disposable cameras
- Flowers
- Rhinoceros Beetles (oh yeah) (a poplular pet for kids)
According to an urban legend, the government had to crack down on machines selling a certain “used” fetish item. According to snopes.com, these love machines did exist. PhotoMann.com documented one (click image below).
copyright PhotoMann.com
Other vending machine photos from the Quirky Japan Home Page.
While researching for this post I noticed that BoingBoing had done the lobster vending machine, so I left that one out. Quirky Japan says it’s a bizarre lobster catch arcade game. You decide.
