Vending machines in Japan are ubiquitous, with one found against almost every wall; in front of apartments, under bridges, outside restaurants, and inside government buildings. Travellers can find the following vending machines throughout the Setouchi region.
Here are some of the weirdest vending machines in Japan you are likely to encounter upon your travels.
Dashi Vending Machine – Hiroshima city, Hiroshima
Dashi is the umami rich stock that forms the base of most Japanese cuisine including ramen, udon, nabe, miso, and more. It is made from kombu (dried kelp) and katsuobushi (dried and smoked bonito tuna shaved into flakes) and many slight variations in recipe exist across Japan. Citizens in Hiroshima can now choose their favourite brand of dashi from a vending machine, served cold, just like a bottle of soda.
Egg Dispenser, Kagawa
In the countryside of rural Kagawa prefecture, on the island of Shikoku, some egg farmers have come up with an ingenious update to the classic farm ‘honesty box’. Fresh eggs are loaded into the machine daily by farmers, for local residents to buy 24/7.
Udon Vending machine – Anan, Tokushima
Roadside service stations with rows of snack food filled vending machines is a common sight in Japan, even along rural roads. This particular pit stop in Tokushima is no different, and lucky motorists can treat themselves to a bowl of hot udon – a local speciality in Tokushima. The locals are rightfully proud of the variety and quality of the noodles in their prefecture, and this vending machine is filled daily to ensure visitors don’t have to leave the prefecture without trying their speciality dish.
If visiting vending machines in Japan is not quirky enough for you, then for more ideas off-the-wall ideas of what to do in Setouchi, read Seven Quirky Spots in Setouchi, Japan.
For more information on Setouchi, visit: setouchitrip.com