Early last year I posted a set of old and broken vending machines that I’d photographed over several years. A few months later I managed to find a few more, and then later in the year got lucky again with a wonderful looking machine discovered in a long-abandoned apartment complex.
Now there’s another one to add to the collection. One so unique due to its television-like vending machines within a vending machine that it deserves a post all of its own. A lovely chance find that made a cold and dull day considerably brighter.
Tom says
On my first trip to Tokyo my wife and I were amazed at how many vending machines we saw but none like this.
cdilla says
Likewise on our first trip. But in addition my wife was dismayed by the number of photos I took of them 🙂
Lee says
@Tom There is definitely no shortage of them that’s for sure. Old and broken ones like this though are much rarer. But get out into quieter areas and there’s always the chance of a sighting.
@cdilla Haha, but I’m with you all the way, one can never have too many photos of vending machines.
cdilla says
Such a festival of textures. A wonderful find and photograph.
Often your photographs hint at people stories, but they can also do the same for inanimate objects. Within arms reach around the corner to its left was a companion Pokka vending machine back in 2009. At some point that year it was taken away and this one began a long and slow lonely decline.
Lee says
Cheers. Was very happy to say the least when I found it.
Ah, hadn’t thought about looking back over time on street view. Thankfully this was one spared, but what a shame they didn’t make it into decrepitude together…
Richard says
When I was back in Japan in Nov 2019, I was impressed with the number and variety of these machines. It has been 10 years since I had been there. I had forgotten how ubiquitous they are to the society!
Lee says
Yeah, they really are. You’d think the similarly ubiquitous convenience stores would render them redundant. At least in the cities anyway. But that’s clearly far from the case.