Perhaps due to the lack of space in Japan and the high cost of shop floors, orperhaps due to their 24 hour availability, vending machines provide an invaluable service. There is no need to queue and, particularly with items such as contraceptives and sanitary items, there is no need to confront a human face, rather you can be anonymous to the machine. The sheer convenience of knowing where your favourite items are and that they are accessible at any time and most locations, makes this form of buying ideal for the busy Japanese.

As Japan moves into the 21st century, the variety and efficiency of these jidoohanbaiki continues to grow and, while furniture and other larger items are not yet available through automatic dispensers, who knows what the future will hold!

Credits: http://co.essortment.com/japanvendingma_rkhw.htm
Written By Tracey Jones