Proactiv Vending Machine?

In Japan, they sell more than just drinks in vending machines. Some odd machines are known for selling jeans and used underwear, but these are not the norm. However, specialized vending machines are common, as you will soon see with my upcoming posts. Unlike N.America, where machines across the continent basically sell the exact same thing and look pretty much exactly the same, in Japan, there are one-off machines selling just one type of thing.

This huge monster was dedicated to selling Proactiv skin care products….. I found it at the Tokyo Dome City shopping centre (I don’t think that’s the official name, but you can’t miss it…. it has a huge roller-coaster wrapped around the parameter of the complex!!). I know these machines are not only in Japan, but most places have them at airports and other busy transportation hubs where people are travelling and can buy the products 24hrs a day, no salesperson needed. This was at a theme park shopping centre where they could have just put up a Proactiv Kiosk with an actual salesperson… it was kind of out of place for me……

15 Vending Machines in a Row?

It’s not uncommon to see 4-5 machines lined up in a row in Japan. I don’t know the logic of it, except that maybe when there’s more machines, there’s more choice, so more people tend to gravitate towards it, versus having a solitary machine by itself offering less choice?

Anyway, in Sunshine City, there’s this alley that has 15 vending machines in a row. There are so many that I can’t really take a singular shot of it, but here’s the link on Google Maps. Just scroll across and see all the machines!! Insane or what?

You can see also that most vending machines have their own recycling units, so you don’t have pop cans littered everywhere. Also, in Japan, it’s considered rude to eat and drink in public, especially if you’re walking, so many will buy a drink in front of a machine, drink quickly, and then immediately recycle the can……. very honourable…… but 15 machines in a row? Really?