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DISCOVER: Shop the World’s Most Varied Vending Machines

Vending machines are big business in Japan. Found on almost every street corner, there are an estimated five and a half million of the machines, serving the nation with everything from hot coffee to fresh fruit.

When travelling in Japan, the convenience of running out of your front door to grab a bottle of mineral water from the street outside is a novelty that doesn’t wear off. And whilst coffee and cola are commonplace, keep your eyes peeled for these more unusual vending machine products…

1. Flying Fish Soup

Vending machines containing bottles of soup stock complete with a whole fried flying fish, began appearing in cities throughout Japan last year after the popularity of Dashidouraku company’s udon lead them to sell their famous soup stock in convenient street corner vending machines. Now, anyone desperate to whip up a bowl of tasty Dashidouraku udon can do so at their own convenience.

2. Homemade Meal

Make the trip to the town of Awa-shi and you’ll find 74-year-old Tadashi Yoshimoto’s one-of-a-kind machine
along a lonely stretch of highway. A former rice farmer, Yoshimoto has been running his vending business for 40 years, gradually making a name for himself as Japan’s only supplier of homemade vending machine meals – lovingly prepared, twice a day.

3. Umbrellas

When it rains in Japan, it really rains. But you’ll be glad to hear you’re unlikely to get caught out with
the proliferation of umbrellas sold, not only in every convenience store, but in vending machines too. Keep your eyes open at local train stations for brollys at the press of a button.

4. Surgical Masks

Equally useful for navigating Japan’s busy streets, look out for machines selling surgical masks – your
opportunity to make like a local and keep your lungs germ and pollution-free.

It’s not just big businesses that get to cash-in on Japan’s culture for street corner convenience. Local famers, too, grab the opportunity to sell directly to customers hungry for fresh produce via cleverly designed vending machines. Keep your eyes open and you’ll spot machines selling fresh fruit and vegetables, and occasionally even freshly-laid eggs…