I’ve seen my fair share of unusual ideas and concepts in Japan, but these 5 obscure vending machines definitely stand out as the most unique!
Japan is the homeland of vending machines. You’ll typically see at least one vending machine on every suburban street and even in the country’s most remote areas!
As you explore Japan more and more or live here for a prolonged period of time, chances are you’ll run into some truly unique and interesting concepts that simply don’t exist outside of this country.
That being said, these are the 5 most obscure vending machines I’ve seen in Japan (and the world for that matter)!
1. Ox-Tongue Vending Machine
Starting off the list with a Japan classic, these gyutan vending machines quite literally dispense ox-tongue. In this case, you choose what type of ox-tongue dish you’d like and the portion size in grams.
The machine will give you a frozen box of your selected gyutan which you can grill for yourself at home. Unfortunately, they don’t come out ready-made, but truthfully, that’s probably for the best health-wise.
2. Whey Protein Vending Machine
For this next one, I’m not 100% sure that it exists in other countries, but Japan is definitely the only place I’ve seen it! At one particular Anytime Fitness gym in Asakusa, Tokyo, I was impressed with this Whey Protein vending machine that lets members purchase ready-to-drink protein and BCAA supplements to complement their workout.
They offer chocolate and strawberry flavors for the protein drinks, and they also come as a cold or hot beverage as preferred! Simply tap your IC card, make your selection, and the machine will do the rest! Personally, I recommend the cold chocolate protein drink (available for just 150 yen!).
3. Toast Vending Machine
Finally, a vending machine that serves ready-made food! Don’t worry, this one is hygienic (I think). At the famous Sagamihara Vending Machine Park, you can access a myriad of incredibly unique (and delicious) vending machines that serve ready-to-eat meals.
Personally, I really liked the toast vending machine for its unique varieties such as the red bean paste toasted sandwich for just 200 yen. The quality is as good as any toaster can do, and it only takes 40 seconds to dispense!
4. Hamburger Vending Machine
It’s not surprising that another item on my list also comes from the Sagamihara Vending Machine Park. In this case, a hamburger vending machine that dispenses small but delicious ready-to-eat piping hot burgers!
For just 280 yen, these packaged burgers take one minute to cook and you can keep track of the countdown on the digital timer built on the machine. I recommend waiting for a bit before biting into it, because the burgers are super hot!
5. Cigarette Vending Machine
Lastly and perhaps the most intriguing type of vending machine is this cigarette machine I came across at Kansai Airport in Osaka. Cigarette vending machines are very common in Japan and they are a smoker’s paradise (especially if you’re from Australia).
I’m not a smoker myself, but I can imagine what a bargain it would be to pay a few hundred yen for a pack of cigarettes rather than up to 50 AUD as is the case in Australia. Unfortunately for you smokers out there, these machines don’t provide lighters, so be sure to have your own!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!