10 Most Bizarre Vending Machines in Japan
With 1 vending machine for every 23 people, Japan has one of the highest vending machine densities in the world.
You can hardly walk 100 meters without finding a vending machine in Japan. Japan has a dense population, limited space, and a decreasing number of working-age people. Vending machines have proven to be a convenient solution to the problem. Almost any good you can purchase in a store, you can find in one of Japan’s 6 million vending machines.
Here are some of the more unusual vending machines found in Japan:
1. Lobster vending machine
You can find this in Osaka. Modelled after a claw machine, for a mere 100 yen you can catch your very own fresh, live lobster.
2. Fortune vending machines
These vending machines are commonly found at temples and shrines. They are small slips of paper that presumably tell your fortune (called “omikuji” in Japan). For good luck, omikujis are traditionally tied to trees or pillars.
3. Used schoolgirl panties vending machines
Controversy surrounds the actual existence of these vending machines. It was declared illegal in 1993 to sell used schoolgirl panties in vending machines, yet many locals and travelers claim they still see them around!