Convenience on Every Corner

Japan’s Vending Machines

This story was originally published on japan.travel and has been syndicated here on Medium.

There I was, about an hour into my evening trek up to the top of Mt. Inari upon which Fushimi Inari Taisha resides. As I steeled my resolve for the final few torii-lined steps to the summit, I was met with a rather odd surprise. Here, at the top of this peak, the stone stairway was illuminated by — you guessed it — one of Japan’s ubiquitous vending machines.

Too Many Vending Machines to Count

Now, as anyone who has been to Japan before can attest to, vending machines are everywhere in Japan. In fact, I’ve read that with around four million nationwide, it means that there’s about one vending machine for every 30 people. That number is pretty mind boggling when you stop to think about it.

In contrast to the ones found overseas, the majority of vending machines in Japan tend to sell only beverages. That said, there are indeed a number that peddle snacks, as well as a whole lot more. From the common ice cream vending machines found in train stations to ones selling bags of rice and soup stock, the diversity is truly impressive.