Vending machines are genuinely ubiquitous in Japan, so it’s very rare for me to make one of them the main focus of a photograph. That said, there are exceptions, and this previously posted set of old and defunct drink and tobacco dispensers was something I thoroughly enjoyed putting together.
Similarly enjoyable was both finding and getting some food from the decidedly old school toast vending machine below. One of only a few still in use, there was a choice of either a pizza or ham toasted sandwich.
When it popped out of the contraption, the pizza option I went for was plenty warm enough and tasted surprisingly good. Admittedly it was somewhat on the soggy side, but it was toast, from a vending machine, so that didn’t matter one little bit.
And if a toast vending machine wasn’t enough, there was a similarly retro feel to the pitstop’s car park, as it had an area set aside for youngsters to play and enjoy cigarette breaks between rides.
Sean says
This is such an awesome find! Gotta love the contrast between the toast image on the vending machine and yours! 🙂
Lee says
Definitely not an everyday sight that’s for sure. And yeah, just a slight difference!
cdilla says
What a marvellous find. I love the way you have famed them with the associated conveniences in shot.
My mind’s eye has a tiny kitchenette behind the machines, between the doors, that furbishes the customer with their desired snack on demand.
Did you eat your broccoli garnish (or is it parsley) before the table photographs?
The grey damp day really suited the bleak smoking/play area.
Lee says
Cheers. With the colours it all worked so well. The positioning was certainly an interesting choice, although I suppose something had to go here.
Funnily enough the parsley was nowhere to be seen, although maybe there was a parsley vending machine that we somehow missed.
Yeah, that little play area was something else. The light was starting to fade as we left which really did suit it perfectly.
Rob Dyer says
MY GOD Lee!
I worship toast and vending machines, do this is like The Holy Grail of a find for me.
Hope I get to try vending machine toast one day.
I can then die contented.
Lee says
We were similarly excited to see and use it I have to say. If I remember correctly, the man in charge said there are only 4 left in use, so time to get a move on before there’s none…
Conan the Grammarian says
The youngsters enjoy cigarette breaks? A quick, post-coital puff after they’ve had a ‘ride’, is it? God, they grow up so fast these days…..
Lee says
Those were from pre-smartphone days, so they had to something to pass the time.
Erisie says
Those machines are recognizable enough they even got model kits by a major manufacturer.
http://www.hasegawa-model.co.jp/product_g/fa11/
http://www.hasegawa-model.co.jp/product_g/62201/
Lee says
Ah, no way. Thanks for those. What a lovely surprise. Really quite tempted to get the toast one.