Japan’s vending machines strike again—this time with pizza and crepes · Global Voices
N'Donna Russell

Vending machines in Honmachi entertainment district, Tsuruga, Japan. Photo by Nevin Thompson.
Japanese vending machines have long been famous for selling the most curious things, like flowers, umbrellas, and ties. But even with one vending machine for every 23 people and annual sales that exceed $60 billion, one can still be surprised at what comes out of their take-out port.
User senegirl on Japanese curation site Naver Matome tells the story of three unique food vending machines found in three separate cities that have captived Twitter.
日本初?!らしいけど…
pizzaが焼きたてで買える自動販売機(笑)
中でおじさんが焼いてるわけではなさそうでした。 pic.twitter.com/MnNCiDpDZH
— ケロちゃん@グラブル初心者 (@Lee_sakura1210) September 1, 2018
A first in Japan? Seems that way… It's a fresh-baked pizza vending Machine! (ha ha) I bet there's an old guy inside making them.
In the city of Hiroshima, residents have been abuzz over the appearance of a pizza vending machine located near local hangout TSUTAYA, part of a national chain of bookstores in Japan. The vending machine serves up two kinds of pizza: margherita (basil, mozzarella cheese, and tomato sauce) for about US$ 10 and four-cheese for about US$ 13 with a cooking time of just three minutes. TSUTAYA's parent company, which is behind the vending machines, hopes to eventually have other such machines at bookstores across Japan.
In the meantime, locals are pleasantly surprised by just how tasty machine-baked pizza can be.
日本初！話題のピザ自販機！
会社の近くなので行ってみました(^^)
ピザにはレモスコですね?
今日は時間がなく購入はできなかったので、また後日チャレンジします(*'▽'*)#レモスコ #ピザ pic.twitter.com/5RxFNY5ge7
— レモスコ(ヤマトフーズ) 公式 (@_lemosco) August 22, 2018
The first of its kind in Japan! A fresh baked pizza vending machine. (^^)
It's near my job so I thought I'd go and try it. Here it is with my Lemonsco. I didn't have time to get it, but next time I'll give it a go! (*'▽'*)
Meanwhile, in Inashiki, a city located in the Ibaraki prefecture, about an hour by train northeast of Tokyo, one restaurant was found to have fully-functioning antique vending machines from the 1960s.
国道沿いにたたずむあらいやオートコーナーでは、なつかしのレトロ自販機でお弁当が買えるよ。１個300円のお弁当は近くのお店で作られた手作り。多いときは１日100個も売れる人気商品です?https://t.co/W329qK7ItI pic.twitter.com/E161A1MTXK
— ＢＱ B-spot explore (@B_spot_explore) March 30, 2018
Along side the national highway at an old auto stop stands an old, nostalgic vending machine where you can buy bento boxes. For 300 yen (US$3.00), you can purchase a bento made by nearby store.
For 300 yen, travelers can purchase a simple meat-and-rice bento box with chopsticks. There are three types to choose from: fried chicken, pork cutlet, and grilled meat, with the last being the most popular choice.
テレビで有名になった弁当自販機の焼肉弁当。
#これを見た人はフォルダの食べ物を晒す pic.twitter.com/Q70VuhAHVY
— ちが (@citrus_spp) August 31, 2018
The famous grilled meat bento machine featured on TV.
Finally, hidden in the city of Kagoshima, on the southwestern tip of the island of Kyushu, lies a fresh crepe vending machine. It's located in Kagoshima's Tenmonkan shopping district, hidden near a bus stop and reportedly difficult to find.
Those lucky enough to find this most unusual of vending machines are treated to tasty crepes at the cost of 200 yen (about US$ 2).
鹿児島の隠れた名物クレープの自販機！ pic.twitter.com/eBocQVwotU
— やきとり弁当 (@kirakira2nd) August 24, 2018
Kagoshima's hidden gem: a crepe vending machine!
The vending machine serves a variety of flavors of crepe, including chocolate cream, caramel, strawberry cream, and cheese. The crepes are delivered in a glass bottle, which customers are asked to return after they are done.
With this machine being a one-of-a-kind favorite, some users are wondering if other cities also have one of their own:
ないです･･･
いいなぁ！！
— 林檎ソーダ@†AtRたまアリ2days超余韻† (@apple_soda1810) August 26, 2018
“This crepe vending machine is in Kagoshima, but does anyone else have one in their prefecture?”
“No, we don't. You're so lucky…”