Japan #6 – Vending Machines

Japan is vending machine heaven!


In fact, Japan has the highest number of vending machines per capita, with about one machine for every twenty-three people (note: they have a population of 128 million!)


You will find vending machines at train stations.

On the side of streets.

I was expecting to find vending machines that sold really random things but the only vending machines I found where ones that dispensed water, soft drinks, juice, coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, icecream, cup noodles and family planning items (ie: condoms). I can’t complain, these are pretty much the necessities of life and I didn’t even have to show my proof of age card.


Being in Japan in July meant that the weather was really hot and humid. It was very convenient to find vending machines practically everywhere you went so that you could get a thirst quencher at anytime of the day.


My first vending machine purchase – House Wellness Physical Drink Vitamin Lemon

Pocari Sweat

The most purchased item at vending machines was a bottle of Pocari Sweat. After a whole day of walking around Japan and sweating it out in the humidity, a Pocari Sweat is what you need to revitalize yourself. 

Pocari Sweat supplies to the drinker all of the nutrients and electrolytes lost when sweating. 


If you are unconvinced by the powers of Pocari Sweat, see below.


Before drinking Pocari Sweat.

After drinking Pocari Sweat.

Family Planning Vending Machine

(Birth Control and Prevention of Diseases)

Icecream Vending Machine

Cigarette Vending Machine

Coffee Vending Machine

Cup Noodle Vending Machine

Vending Machine with a mini screen that showed advertisements