The Wonder of Japanese Vending Machines (and other silly observations)

---

Vending Machines

What’s the first thing you think of when I say Japan? Is it sushi? Mount Fuji? Anime? Cherry Blossoms? I will take a gamble here and say it probably isn’t vending machines.

They seem like the most culturally insignificant thing about a country that is bursting at the seams with historical gems, beautiful landscapes, and arguably the best food on planet Earth.  

But these curious metal containers are something of a mystery to me…

I’ve never seen anyone refilling them, and yet they’re always packed with an assortment of fresh drinks, both hot and cold.

Plus, they just pop up in the most random of places, like on the edge of a rice field in the middle of nowhere.

I’m not sure what vending machines are like in other places around the world, but in the UK, they’re usually found tucked in dark, dusty corners, and the most exciting thing you can find is probably a packet of Quavers or a questionably fluorescent sports drink.

Essentially, they’re a last resort for a quick snack or drink if you’re willing to pay double the price for what you could quite easily get in a supermarket.

In Japan, vending machines are everywhere: at train stations, outside shops, on the side of random roads, in the park, on a mountain (I’m not kidding), and the list goes on.

Whilst they’re usually filled with drinks, I have come across a couple of gyoza vending machines (and even a sriracha one).

I’m not sure how I feel about the latter, but clearly it’s a common necessity in Japan to always have sriracha handy.

My point in all this is that you don’t realise quite how useful these vending machines are until you spot their ambient glow off in the distance.

Have you forgotten to bring water for your walk? No problem, there’s a vending machine for that.

Do you have a yearning for a hot cup of caramel coffee? Well, just look over here.

Is there a 100 yen coin burning a hole in your wallet? You’ve come to the right place.

If it wasn’t already apparent, I’m a big fan of the Japanese vending machines.

I’m sure some arguments could be made about their appearance being unsightly in an otherwise picturesque area, or a comment on how the prices are typically a little more expensive than a local konbini, and sure, there’s substantial evidence to back both of those points, but that would be ignoring the convenience and relief of seeing one of these boxes of treats glowing far off in the distance.

It truly is magical.

Hamburgers

Oh boy, do Japanese people love their hamburgers (but just the meat part).

I’ll admit that before I got here, the idea of a burger patty sitting on a bed of rice wouldn’t sound the most appealing, but it’s now a menu item that I actively look out for.

Japanese hamburg steaks are relatively thick burger-esque slabs of pork or beef.

The reason I wouldn’t definitively call them hamburgers is that the meat is much softer and less gritty, and I just think they taste better overall in comparison to what you can get back in the UK (sorry!)

There’s even an option for hamburg sushi at あきんどスシロー (Akindo Sushiro), and it is quite simply exquisite. Imagine the cutest little rice ball topped with a tiny beef patty; adorable.

At pretty much all the major chain restaurants in my area, you can bet on finding a dish of hamburg and rice. When I return to the UK, it’ll definitely be a recipe I’ll bring back with me, and I’ll accept any of the sideways glances it attracts.

Give it a go someday, trust me.

Box cars

When I was initially told that I would be driving to my workplace in Japan, my heart sank.

I wouldn’t consider myself a nervous driver per se, but the thought of having to navigate winding roads and other drivers in a foreign country had me a bit worried.

As it turns out, it hasn’t been too bad. I absolutely adore my little box car; every day, it feels like I’m driving a little go-kart to work.

There are a few key differences that I can immediately think of to differentiate driving in Japan and the UK, the first one being that Japanese speed limits are abysmally slow.

The standard road in my area has a max speed limit of 50 km/h, which is roughly 31 mph. On the highway, you’re unlikely to see signs for anything faster than 80 km/h (roughly 50 mph).

I’ve been glad for the slower speed limits here as it has allowed me some time to adjust to the traffic. Saying that, Japanese drivers DO NOT stick to this speed limit. Rather, they see it as a base speed to try and beat.

I’ve seen some local residents in my area pushing 70 km/h on a 40 km/h road; there’s nothing quite like being tailgated by an 80-year-old on your way to elementary school.

Japanese roads tend to be quite straight, unless, like me, you live in the countryside and have to navigate about 20 rice fields on your way into work.

At times, I find it quite scary, as the rain drains on either side of the road are essentially just wide, empty pits you could get your tire stuck in. I also imagine it would be pretty easy to veer off into a rice field if you lost control of the wheel, and I don’t really fancy an impromptu swim anytime soon.

Unlike my fellow American ALTs, I have been blessed with not having to learn to drive on the opposite side of the road and car. If that were the case, I dread to think of what I would be writing here now.

On that note, let's all take a moment to appreciate left-hand side drivers (the superior population).