13:04 05-12-2025

Inside Japan’s vending machine culture: bananas to bugs

Generated by DALL·E

Explore Japan’s unique vending machine culture: 5.5 million machines selling hot meals, bananas and edible insects—blending technology, convenience and trust.

In Japan, vending machines have long been more than a convenient way to buy something. They have become part of the cityscape—surprising visitors while fading into the background for locals. As the TURISTAS portal notes, these machines can dispense almost anything: hot noodles, fresh vegetables, toys and even edible insects. The country has turned a basic retail model into a piece of its culture.

Bananas, crickets, and no gimmicks

Picture walking through Tokyo, looking for a quick bite—then spotting a machine. It looks standard, but inside are bananas. Or a can of crickets. Or a hot soup. In Japan, such surprises stopped being surprises long ago: vending machines sell virtually everything and have done so for decades.

Today there are about 5.5 million of them. By headcount, that’s roughly one machine for every 23 people. They stand everywhere—from busy districts to rural roads—and the selection reaches far beyond the usual snacks.

Several forces fuel their popularity. Low crime allows machines to sit even in places few people pass. The country’s tech mindset helps too: machines can heat, cool and accept payment in whatever way is convenient. Some connect to the internet so owners can track sales. And Japan’s affection for convenience makes the format ideal—available around the clock and sparing buyers any social interaction.

There’s also a practical upside for business: a vending machine is a nimble way to test new products—quick, inexpensive and without opening a full store.

What’s on offer?

Insects for a snack

Crickets, hornets, worms—neatly packed in cans and sold as protein-rich bites. In cities, some see them as a curiosity, others as a taste of the unusual.

Hot meals

Some machines dispense ramen or oden soup. No reheating needed—the food is already hot inside.

Bananas

A straightforward fruit machine: fresh or packaged bananas, popular with city dwellers on the move.

Capsule toys

Gashapon machines deliver tiny surprises. Inside you might find anything from miniature sushi to pocket-size home decor and other playful trinkets. Adults line up for them too.

Alcohol

Machines with beer or sake still exist, though they require age verification and appear less often as regulations tighten.

Local produce

In rural areas, you’ll come across machines stocked with vegetables, salted fish or regional delicacies. The format helps farmers and gives travelers a chance to sample local products.

What this says about Japan

Vending machines reflect a lifestyle that values speed, autonomy and minimal contact. They suit people who work long hours, live alone or simply prefer to handle small errands without delay. At the same time, they help offset labor shortages: where a store wouldn’t pay off, a machine keeps serving the community. It’s hard not to read this as a quiet portrait of efficiency with a flair for the offbeat.

How it all works

Many machines are complex pieces of engineering. Some compartments cool drinks while others warm meals. You can pay by card, phone or IC chip. Not everything is seamless, though: in 2025 the country introduced new banknotes, and older machines don’t always accept them, pushing owners to upgrade hardware or go fully cashless.

Vending: business or culture?

In Japan, vending is both a business and a cultural phenomenon. It makes daily life remarkably convenient—and sometimes delightfully eccentric. Craving a banana? Done. Need hot soup? Also fine. Curious about insects? Help yourself.

These machines say as much about Japan as its temples and skyscrapers. They show how technology, trust and creativity weave into the everyday. And perhaps, someday, similarly unconventional machines will appear elsewhere—if someone is willing to borrow the Japanese playbook.