it's an old trick to buy a can of hot coffee or tea from a vending machine

and then put it in your pocket to keep you warm

in japan there's a wide variety of vending machines and each machine has a

huge selection

some of these drink machines have over thirty different types to choose from

in fact, by the time you get in front of one of these machines you may have

changed your mind and what you want it

offering a large selection is one way that japan offers excellent service

vending machines are no exception

here are some facts about japanese vending machines

in japan there is one vending machine for every 23 people

vending machines in japan do over 7 trillion yen of business every year

There are over five million vending machines nationwide

so that means that each vending machine yields about 1.4million yen

0r 15,000 dollars

The average electricity bill per vending machine is 4300yen per month

Machines turn off heating and refrigeration from 1 to 4 AM to

conserve power

if you're thinking of picking a fight with the vending machine

Think twice

Each machine is equipped with a PHS transmitter which sends a signal

to the police when it's being tampered with or vandalized

We're talking about high-tech machines here

let's look at drink vending machines

These are the most well known and can be found everywhere.

The selection is amazing

There are several different beverage companies & distributors in japan

and each machine features drinks produced by the manufacturer or its partners

Are these drinks with characters any good?

you'll have to try to find out

Vending machines are made in all sizes

This half size machine wastes no space

Technology is gradually turning japan into a cashless society

and the PASMO & SUICA cards are good examples

2 re-chargeable smart cards

Just touch your card to the sensor, and WALLAH!

you've purchased a drink

SHIBUYA

people are on the move

it's a busy place

There isn't always time to get a healthy meal

but people need the energy to keep on working

Enter this machine

The banana vending machine

It's easy to make a choice. They are all bananas!

Insert 130 yen

select a number

and watch the machine get your banana

the banana is carefully lowered and deposited in the lower receptacle

to be collected without any bruising

It's the perfect banana! Chilled and ready to eat

Bananas are always fresh and this machine is refrigerated

which is especially good during the hot summer months

if you have a family you can buy a bunch of bananas for 390yen

My buddy Peter and i were out for a walk in one of Tokyo's parks

It was a lovely day

Peter wanted lunch and thought of going back to the station

to eat at a restaurant

But there's another option

Down the street is a hot lunch vending machine

Why not picnic outside and enjoy the day?

This vending machine serves hot boxed lunches at a reasonable price

It takes a couple of minutes to prepare

I hit the Cup Noodles machine for an appetizer

There is a good selection

Peter's still waiting so i filled the cup of noodles with hot water from the

hot water dispenser inside the vending machines

Peter finally got his hot lunch for two

Too hot drinks complete the fast lunch set

"ONIGIRI" rice balls with two chicken "KARA-AGE"(deep fried)

Curry flavored Ramen

Ahh... nature

you can't beat it

and with vending machines you can grab lunch and never step foot inside a store

this vending machine offers entertainment while you wait

Choose your coffee and watch the TV robot go to work!

The seconds tick away faster when you're looking for a red ball in the right cup

which one is it?

you didn't forget about your coffee, did you?

A perfect cup

Auto door, and you're done!

the coffee vending machine experience, at its best

AKIHABARA

it's known as Otaku central

and OTAKU need a lot of energy in this town

unfortunately people don't have much time to eat around here,

so here's the solution

it's a Ramen in a can vending machine

It serves up hot and cold Ramen

japanese ODEN, too

each can comes with a fork

We caught up with one computer Otaku on his lunch break

Let's take a look at some other machines

an ice cream vending machine

How about a quick newspaper and a candy bar before you catch the train?

Trade platforms are convenient place for busy people

It carries some of my favorite snacks

Rice vending machines can be found in rural areas

If your family runs out, there's a bag available 24 hours a day

Digital vending machines are quickly taking over in Tokyo

This one gives info about the drinks

Just touched the screen

Here's an interesting couple. A bread and umbrella vending machine

A bread in a can vending machine offers 8 different flavors

The umbrella machine is perfect for rainy days

Only 500 yen and you'll stay dry on the way to work

Smokers have come to the right place

Vending machines for cigarettes can contain over 60 different varieties

but beware

You must be over twenty one to smoke in Japan

And you need an ID card called TASPO before buying from machines

Applications are available at tobacco kiosks around the country

tobacco machines turn off after 11PM

Underneath the tracks of YAMANOTE line in YURAKUCHO (station)

Is this watering hole

it's a cove for lovers of alcohol

Yes

japan has a beer vending machines and it's a perfect place to grab a brewski after work

There is even a hot SAKE machine

you can buy snacks from a non machine inside after 6PM

uh...

This place is great because it has the real, kind of "SHITA-MACHI" (old town) feeling here,

like downtown tokyo feeling

Plus, outdoors and there's always lots of people around here

especially like this place a lot of foreigners come here. Just people outside

all the time

I guess

my friends and I like to drink can beers like to be outside and so we kind of

know the places where you can buy alcohol outside.

It's way cheaper and it's

nice to have open-air

be able to relax little bit

KANPAI! (cheers!)

so when you come to japan

try some of the vending machines. The longer you stay, the more you can try

and travel around! You'll be surprised at what you find