You can't walk several meters in Japan without encountering a vendo machine. This is specially true for the urban areas around Tokyo. They are not only useful (direct selling at its best), they are also aesthetically pleasing, well at least during the night.
Coke vendo machine in Nakano
Coke vendo machine in NakanoSo one night (around midnight), with two of my friends in tow, I set out to take photos of vendo machines around Akishima. Oh did I mention it was a very cold winter's night? It must have been below zero because I cannot feel my hands and ears. Ah, the stuff we do for a couple of photos ....
Hot and cold drinks available
Cigarette vendo machine, choose your poisonThey also took it a step further. In small restaurants, ordering machines such as the one below are very common.
Restaurant vendoThis takes care of the language barrier when ordering items in the menu. Saves you the trouble of explaining what you want to the waiter/waitress, that is IF you know how to operate one of these.
It isn't very hard actually. Just pop in a couple of bills (and/or coins), cover your eyes with one hand and start pressing some buttons with the other. Little coupons will pop out. Hand them over to a waiter/waitress and wait for your food. If you are lucky, you'll have a dinner you won't forget =D
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What a clever, fun post! Amazing! Great shots and lots of color! Thanks for dinner!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Sylvia
@Sylvia - Thanks! :)
ReplyDelete@Tabib - Haha, no i didnt. But they have vendo machines for umbrellas :D
"If you are lucky, you'll have a dinner you won't forget" LOL
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures!
love the colorful contents of the vendo machines. sana, I can get to Japan someday.
ReplyDeleteis there a menu, i take it you can at least see what food it is you are ordering? it would make no sense for a foreigner to order off the machine as they'd have no clue as to the what was on the buttons.
ReplyDeleteenjoyed your post.
@Marites - I hope not as entertainer LOL!
ReplyDelete@Erin - Nope no menus :D. Unlike in Korea, where they tried hard to learn English, folks in Japan are "English-phobic". So their menus have no English translations. No pics either
You still have me laughting....love your menu selection!
ReplyDelete