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Japanese things--jidohanbaiki

torakris

By torakris
in Japan: Cooking & Baking

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torakris

torakris

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Here is a list of some of the things sold in vending machines in Japan:

http://www.sonic.net/~anomaly/japan/vending.htm

What are some of your favorite things to buy?

What are some of the strangest things you have seen?

According to another website there is 1 vending machine per 23 people in Japan! :shock:

Kristin Wagner, aka "torakris"

 

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smallworld

smallworld

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I can't say I love vending machines. I've also heard the 1 vending machine per 23 people statistic, and it's horrible- these things are using electricity 24-7. I mean, good luck finding a park bench, water fountain, or public restroom in Japan, but a vending machine? No problem- they're on every corner!

I mean, I use them, but only because they're there- if they weren't I'd have no problem finding my drinks at an actual store.

Only about once a year do I find them really convenient, when I have a sudden craving for diet coke or something (my husband is a different story, he's a smoker and can't live without cigarrette vending machines).

Plus, the cigarrette and beer vending machines are a perfect guarantee that kids start drinking and smoking early here.

I usually buy diet coke or canned coffee for a quick burst of energy, or just water or cold green tea when I'm thirsty. The vending machines usually don't carry all the cool new drinks that can be found at convenience stores, so I never buy anything exciting from the machines.

Strangest things I've seen? Just like in the link, there is a vending machine selling (renting?) porn videos near my place. I've also seen a vending machine that rents regular videos, which I think is great- wish they'd trade the local porn machine for one of those!

And in my neighborhood, the rice shop has a vending machine in front for after-hours sales, and the electonics shops have vending machines selling batteries, just like in the link. It's quite common, I think.

We also have lots of little farm fields around here, many with little stands selling the produce. Most still just use the honour system- you can take what you like and drop some coins in a box, but some keep the veggies in little lockers that can only be opened by dropping in the correct coin. That's kind of a vending machine, right? I buy some fantastic tomatoes this way in the summer.

My eGullet foodblog: Spring in Tokyo

My regular blog: Blue Lotus

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torakris

torakris

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Those porno ones are quite interesting, I have to admit. There used to be one right next to my house for about 6 months about 8 years back. It was full of various porno things books, magazines, videos, toys,etc and a lone Pepsi machine. At the time I was heavily pregnant with #1 and Pepsi was quite difficult to find, of course I would get these Pepsi craving a couple times a week and had no choice but to wander in there. I can't even imagine what my neighbors were thinking to see a very pregnant, very foreign woman walking out of a very pornographic area.

Kristin Wagner, aka "torakris"

 

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  • 4 weeks later...
jhlurie

jhlurie

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I guess this really is a Japanese obsession. Not many to choose from around here.

At least in my part of the U.S., of course there's soda. Everywhere. Always.

Candy vending machines are pretty rare, except for M & M vending machines.

Machines like this have, of course, been common on college campuses for decades.

Alternate beverages (Gatorade, Powerade, various juices) occasionally get a machine.

Cigarette vending machines? I haven't seen one in twenty years. But that just may be in my sheltered little corner of the world.

Condom machines? Well not on streetcorners, but I hear some small number of schools have them.

You see a lot of Ice Cream vending machines in movie theaters, but really not anywhere else. Including Dippin' Dots machines.

Edited by jhlurie (log)

Jon Lurie, aka "jhlurie"

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KNorthrup

KNorthrup

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That's odd. The west coast still has all sorts of vending machines. Cigarettes. Sandwiches/salads/yogurt. Condom machines are common in bar and club bathrooms, along with breath mints and aspirin. In a pub in Ireland last year, I saw a complete overnight kit for about $6 (toothbrush, paste, comb, deodorant, change of underpants, etc).

Were the Japanese used underpant vending machines just an urban legend?

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torakris

torakris

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That's odd.  The west coast still has all sorts of vending machines.  Cigarettes.  Sandwiches/salads/yogurt.  Condom machines are common in bar and club bathrooms, along with breath mints and aspirin.  In a pub in Ireland last year, I saw a complete overnight kit for about $6 (toothbrush, paste, comb, deodorant, change of underpants, etc). 

Were the Japanese used underpant vending machines just an urban legend?

nope they really existed, I even saw one once! :shock:

Now it is more common to buy and sell underwear over the internet................ :blink:

Kristin Wagner, aka "torakris"

 

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  • 8 months later...
Pan

Pan

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I remember hearing or reading a report that it's illegal to eat or drink on the streets in Japan, and that Japanese vending machine customers buy their food or drink at the machine and then dutifully wait until they get home before eating or drinking. Is that true? And is it legal to have a picnic in a park or eat or drink something from a vending machine on a park bench (if you can find one)?

Michael aka "Pan"

 

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torakris

torakris

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I have never heard that it is illegal, it is considered to be bad manners to eat/drink while you are walking.

Though nowadays it is more commonly seen and heck I do it all the time! :biggrin:

When I first came I would try to drink my cans of iced coffee before I started walking again. There is nothing wrong with eating or drinking in public places, in nice weather the parks are full of people sitting on mats eating lunches and drinking, it is fine to drink alcohol in public here.

Most parks won't allow you set up BBQ's, but other than that anything goes....

Kristin Wagner, aka "torakris"

 

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torakris

torakris

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That was cool....I tell you, if I could only arrange a vacation around eating in vending machines and staying in capsule hotels my life would be complete!

Chris,

don't limit yourself to capsule hotels! The love hotels are much more exciting!! :biggrin:

Kristin Wagner, aka "torakris"

 

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torakris

torakris

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What on earth are capsule hotels? Do they take off, and do they call for another thread?

hotels in Japan would be a great thread, unfortunately thay have nothing to do with food..... :angry: so we can just hide it here in the middle of this thread..... :biggrin:

For pictures of a capsule hotel, check out this site:

http://www.hotel-aaa.co.jp/

enter, then go to rooms and click on capsule

Kristin Wagner, aka "torakris"

 

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hillvalley

hillvalley

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I'm betting there is no room service :wink:

What are the love hotels? Anything similiar to Motels in the states?

True Heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.

It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost,

but the urge to serve others at whatever cost. -Arthur Ashe

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torakris

torakris

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I'm betting there is no room service :wink:

What are the love hotels? Anything similiar to Motels in the states?

love hotels can be rented for short periods (meaning for a couple hours)and are usually themed, one by my house is shaped like a huge boat and called Queen Elizabeth, the rooms can be filled with some of the most amazing things.

A previous thread (with a great link):

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showto...=0entry305716

Kristin Wagner, aka "torakris"

 

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torakris

torakris

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I thought you get dessert or something if you stay in a love hotel. I saw a j-soap about the owner of one and she made pudding/flan for her customers.

I have never heard of that or seen it before, it was probably something to make the show more interesting.

At most love hotels you never see other people, some are paid for through machines or else you hand the money to someone through a little hole in the wall. Privacy is usually the most important thing about these places. Some of the places that have parking even have curtains hanging down so people walking by can't see whose car is in there.

A majority of those going to the love hotels are NOT going with their "significant others". :shock:

Kristin Wagner, aka "torakris"

 

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Chris Cognac

Chris Cognac

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That was cool....I tell you, if I could only arrange a vacation around eating in vending machines and staying in capsule hotels my life would be complete!

Chris,

don't limit yourself to capsule hotels! The love hotels are much more exciting!! :biggrin:

I know they are cool, but the capsule's kind of have a "space station" feel to them and it would be like having my own little fort...

Moo, Cluck, Oink.....they all taste good!

The Hungry Detective

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  • 3 years later...
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