17 COOLEST Vending Machines in Tokyo! [2023]

6/26/2023

**Updated : July 2023**
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Vending machines are HUGE in Japan, and no we don't mean literally. During our most recent trip to Japan, we decided to challenge ourselves to find the most interesting and unique vending machines in Tokyo - and to survive on just vending machine food for 24 hours. Let's just say it was a little easier than we thought, and we were able to find the following 17 coolest vending machines in Tokyo, dispensing everything from crickets to fresh ramen! Read on for 17 of the best vending machines we found!

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Vending Machine Etiquette in Japan

You might be thinking to yourself, "Vending machine ettiquette? You're kidding me." Well yeah, we kind of are, BUT here are some things you might want to know before visiting our amazing list of vending machines throughout Tokyo :

Some machines require an IC/Suica card to purchase items, you can use these for transportation fees on the subway as well, and they can be purchased at most ticket gates.
Don't budge the line. And let others go first if you can't decide.
Hold on to your garbage until you find a garbage can, no one wants to visit a vending machine that's all dirty. ;)
If you change your mind or want your money back, you can press the little lever that will return any money you put in that you haven't used yet.
If you're planning on visiting these same vending machines, in the order we did, here's a list of how much transportation to each spot costs per person (by starting at Nippori Station) :
- Nippori to Shibuya : 210 yen
- Shibuya to Ginza : 210 yen
- Yurakucho to Akihabara : 150 yen
- Akihabara to Takodanobaba : 210 yen
- Takodanobaba to Ueno to Nippori : 210 yen
- To Get Inside Shinkansen Gate : 150 yen
That's it! Have fun exploring Tokyo's best vending machines! :)

We Found the Best Vending Machines in Tokyo (so you don't have to)

Coffee (and drinks) Vending Machines - although you can find drink vending machines throughout literally all of Japan, we started our "24 Hours on Vending Machines" challenge with coffees from Nippori Station South Gate Exit for 160 yen each. And even though we wouldn't consider ourselves coffee aficionados by any degree, we have to say they were pretty tasty!

Banana Vending Machine - located at Shibuya Station towards Exit 3 Hanzomon Line you can find this vending machine that dispenses fresh bananas! There's even a special catcher that makes sure your banana won't bruise. 150 yen per banana.

Fresh Pressed Juice & Salads by La Sante Vending Machine - located inside the 2nd Floor of Mark City Shibuya (where the Cake in a Can Vending Machine used to be) you can find this healthy vending machine serving fresh pressed juices and salads in a jar. We got the cheapest option at 960 yen!

Cake in a Can (980-1180 yen), Cotton Candy, Ice Cream Vending Machines - hidden away in the Adores Shibuya 3rd Floor, you'll find a collection of vending machines perfect for a sweet tooth. Although we originally went for the Cake in a Can, it turned out to be out for the day (or broken) - so we settled for some Macarons (see below!).

Macarons Vending Machine - tucked away with the other vending machines on the Adores Shibuya 3rd Floor, you'll find a vending machine dispensing frozen Macarons! You'll have to wait about 20 minutes for them to thaw out, and it'll cost about 850 yen for a set of 3, but they were honestly delicious!

Apple Slices Vending Machine - if you're craving some more fresh fruit, Ginza Station has a vending machine dispensing slices of apples! For 200-400 yen depending on what bag you decide on, you'll need an IC or Suica Card to complete the purchase.

Fresh Pressed Orange Juice Vending Machine - also these fresh press orange juice machines are starting to pop up just about everywhere, you can find Tokyo's in Yurakucho on Lumine Street, right across from Tully's Coffee under the bridge. Grab your own cup of vitamin C for just 500 yen!

Milks (150 yen), Cream Corn Soup (130 yen), Curry Bread (180 yen), Soyjoy Bar (140 yen) Vending Machines - the Sobu Line Platforms at Akihabara Station have a huge collection of vending machines (including the ice cream machine we found below), and while challenging ourselves to eat out of only vending machines for 24 hours in Tokyo, this was the perfect spot for lunch!

Weird Vending Machine Corner - located a few blocks from Akihabara Station, you can find an array of very random items here (think fortunes and large beetles), we settled for freshly popped popcorn (220 yen) and a peach juice (120 yen). Although weird, this corner is also quite creepy, with hidden rooms and vending machines covered in garbage.

Mog Bug Vending Machine - for crickets and other crawly critters, head to Takodanobaba Station, and down an outside alleyway towards Rice & Circus, hidden behind some buildings you can find a whole array of snacks, from crickets to scorpions to beetles (our crickets were 600 yen).

Ramen Vending Machine - found in Ueno Station, behind Shinkansen Ticket Gates - you'll need to purchase a "ticket" to go inside the gates without a real ticket to take the Shinkansen trains, this cost us 150 yen - you'll also need an IC/Suica card to purchase the ramen for 790 yen each.

Ice Cream Vending Machine - found throughout the city, these ice cream vending machines are the perfect snack to stay cool, we found ours at Akihabara Station on the Sobu Line Platforms, costing 160 yen each!

Any other vending machines we need to add to our list?! Let us know in the comments!

Watch our Adventures in Tokyo here!