Beer sold in vending machines on the street, need i say anymore?!
I can’t say i’ve seen them all over the places but i have seen them, most recently on Miyajima Island.
On a hot summers day in Japan these babies really do hit the spot.
If a beer isn’t your thing, why not wet your whistle with a 900 ml Shochu for 900 yen??
Rumour has it these things automatically stop serving after dark, can anyone confirm?
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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
They used to ‘close’ at 11pm. Or at least the ones near me did. Now with 24 hour conbinis everywhere, and seemingly all of them licensed, it thankfully doesn’t matter even if they still do!
Thank heavens for licensed convenient stores …. my dad was very happy with them too.
I found one down a hidden vendi alley, though smelt like your friendly oyaji-san from the other day had been having a private party down there. Was a novelty all the same, though not to be repeated!
They took most of those machines away from my area???
Not very convenient of them then is it mate??!!
There are still a couple of those bad boys around — at least three in my neighborhood alone. But I tend not to use them because it’s cheaper to get booze at the store. And yeah, there is a cut-off time; used to be 9:00 back in the day, and I’d often pedal down the street on my scooter like a bat out of hell around 8:55 with an empty backpack on my shoulder to stock up. These days, I’m living in far more convenient areas and just go the supermarket.
Same, the konbini near my joint has started stocking grog again …. and there`s a bottle shop very close too so my alcohol needs are always taken care of.
A hostel we stayed in at the snow even had Two Dogs in it which impressed me a lot….
Sweet …. a taste from home mate …. i see West End Draugh (S.A) beer in some stores here …. know idea why!
Public vending machines of any nature would never work in the UK, especially those vending alcohol. Really does demonstrate an extreme contrast to moral behaviours of the society.
Australia too. Let alone selling grog in them, they wouldn`t last due to vandalism … stealing the drinks or food, aswell as the money in them, then no doubt towing the machine down the road behind a car. The thing would be covered in graffiti too.
Have seen these in a few places around EU, particularly in the east where regulations are lax! I was reading that they’ve started putting wine vending machines in some pubs/bars in Oz – you take your glass up to the machine, select your tipple and wooshka. Hope there’s been a comprehensive roll out by the time I hit Aussie shores again.
That machine would be great Heater …. here`s to them implementing and us sampling together next time we`re both back in OZ!
Yes, Japan is convenient.
Still haven’t bought any booze out of one of those things yet, though.
Nor i mate ….. BUT, great to know they exist … the ones near my place are all green tea, vitamin water, coffee and the odd bottle of coke.
The only things you can get from a vending machine in Germany are cigarettes, (in more hidden places, e.g. pub toilets) condoms, little toys (very poor in quality and fun factor) and sweets (at train stations). For drinks you still have to go home, in a restaurant/pub or to the next gas station.
Germany is way ahead of Japan, at least in the field of bicycle inner tube vending machines.
Bicycle inner tube machnes ….. man, that`s different.
I would have thought Germany would at least have drinks … interesting.
I love this about Japan. I’d love one of these in my neighborhood, but it wouldn’t last 12 hours in my ‘hood before someone ganked the entire machine… bravo, Japan.
Yep, 100% correct about most western societies doing the same Rick
We used to have them in the military both overseas and in the states. Sadly they are no more. Nothing like getting beer out of a vending ,machine.
they close and so do the cigarette machines as well.
beer vending machines , one of my favorite things about japan!
And as i read your comment Chuck … i`m drinking a nice cold one now!
I never really noticed if they were common – the hotel I stayed in had one right in the lobby – but if you mean a whole vending machine with nothing but beer/alcohol, I didn’t actually see that. Those I saw just had different types of drinks in them, including beer, of course. Easy after a long day out walking around Tokyo
Inside, especially hotels they’re common place to be stocked with grog …. out on the street though, these days, not all that common.