Japan has more vending machines per capita than any other country in the world. Selling everything from hot and cold drinks, cigarettes, woman’s underwear and even live lobsters, these robotic store fronts can be found on almost every street corner.
The shelf life of a product in Japan can be as short as one week if the product isn’t selling so there is constant turnover in the stores so it’s fun to be able to constantly try new drinks. My latest favourite is this acerola cherry drink! Most drinks from a vending machine will cost between ¥100 ~ ¥120. If you’re on holiday it’s a great way to get rid of change because typically currency exchange outlets don’t accept coins. An even easier to pay is to use your train card.
I have a Suica train card that I buy every time I visit Japan and not only can this card be used for the train system but it can be used on the bus, convenience stores, storage lockers, and even some vending machines. Just look for the green Suica symbol, swipe your card and make your selection. A warning though, with all the delicious food available from vending machines in Japan it can be very easy to quickly deplete your credit on your train cards.
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