It is no secret by now that Japan’s vending machine game is on another level!
They are referred to in a few ways: the full way to say vending machine in Japanese is jidou hanbaiki (自動販売機 / じどうはんばいき), which is often shortened to jihanki (自販機 / じはんき), or hanbaiki (販売機 /はんばいき).
Vending machines are undeniably abundant in Japan, and can even be found in the most unexpected of places, including the summit of Mt. Fuji!
Not only that, they can even be filled with the most outrageous of items, from edible insect snacks to ready-to-eat ramen in a can.
These are all in good fun, but the best vending machines across Japan aren’t these crazy, unusual ones. On the contrary, it is the mundane, everyday drinks vending machines that make them so iconic and valued.
In Japan’s hot summer, where heat stroke is a real threat, these vending machines can provide a chilled, refreshing drink at any corner.
Going a step further, ice cream vending machines are also quite common, a godsend during a hot and humid day!
Conversely, in Japan’s chillier months, you can find vending machines with hot drinks and even soups!
As hot beverages are not something that other countries’ vending machines tend to stock, travellers to Japan often make the mistake of purchasing hot drinks. This is not ideal when it’s high summer and you want to cool down.
But never fear! In this post, we will walk through everything you need to know when it comes to using a Japanese vending machine so you can avoid such incidents.
How to Use a Japanese Vending Machine: step by step guide
Check out your options
Unlike many vending machines across the world, Japanese machines display a photo or kind of replica of the drink (or food item), rather than the actual product waiting behind a glass window.
These days, some vending machines have a digital screen with the selection options displayed.
In any case, once you decide what you would like, check the price tag of the item and prepare to make your payment.
Also, be sure to check the red and blue labels below each drink to work out if they are hot or cold. Some drinks, especially tea and coffee, may come in both variants! Availability and ratios of hot to cold drinks varies throughout the seasons.
See the bottom of this post for a handy vocab list of the most common drinks and vocabulary words you may need.
Make payment
Most machines accept cash — both coins and notes, though some do not accept notes over ¥1000.
Modern machines may also accept card/phone touch payments. It’s actually also super common to pay by IC card (travel cards).
Upon payment, the buttons below each product will light up, showing what is available. Usually red means sold out and blue or green indicates that the product is in stock.
Make your selection
If you notice that your product of choice actually lights up red and displays the word urikiri (売り切り / うりきり) this unfortunately means that it is ‘sold out’!
If this is the case, either make another selection, or pull the otsuri / henkyaku lever. Otsuri (お釣り / おつり) means ‘change’ and henkyaku (返却 / へんきゃく) translates as ‘repayment’. Therefore, pulling this will send your cash back out.
It’s also handy for buying multiple things, i.e. if you are inserting ¥1000 yen, you can afford to make a few selections. Pulling the lever tells the machine you are finished with your selections and releases your change.
Take your drink
Once you’ve pressed the button, your drink will drop down to the compartment below for collection. Don’t forget to take your change from the dispenser also!
Many vending machines have bins alongside them, which is handy. These are usually only for PET bottles and cans though, so you’ll have to keep carrying your other rubbish until you find a different bin!
Japanese vending machine vocabulary
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
| Vending machine | 自動販売機 | じどうはんばいき | jidou hanbaiki |
| Vending machine (abbreviated) | 自販機 | じはんき | jihanki |
| Vending machine | 販売機 | はんばいき | hanbaiki |
| Coin / bill slot | 投入口 | とうにゅうぐち | tounyuuguchi |
| Dispensing compartment | 取り出し口 | とりだしぐち | toridashiguchi |
| Change | お釣り | おつり | otsuri |
| Return of payment | 返却 | へんきゃく | henkyaku |
| Warm | 温かい | あたたかい / あったかい | atatakai |
| Cold | 冷たい | つめたい | tsumetai |
| Sold out | 売り切り | うりきり | urikiri |
Japanese vending machine words for common drinks
| English | Japanese | Hiragana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tea | お茶 | おちゃ | ocha |
| Green tea | 緑茶 | りょくちゃ | ryokucha |
| Barley tea | 麦茶 | むぎちゃ | mugicha |
| Oolong tea | 烏龍茶 | うーろんちゃ | ūroncha |
| Black tea | 紅茶 | こうちゃ | kōcha |
| Coffee | コーヒー | こーひー | kōhī |
| Café au lait | カフェオレ | かふぇおれ | kafe ore |
| Orange juice | オレンジジュース | おれんじじゅーす | orenji jūsu |
| Water | 水 | みず | mizu |
| Sparkling water | 炭酸水 | たんさんすい | tansansui |
| Pocari Sweat | ポカリスエット | ぽかりすえっと | Pokari Suetto |
| Cola | コーラ | こーら | kōra |
| Energy drink | エナジードリンク | えなじーどりんく | enajī dorinku |
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Hannah is a half Irish/half Japanese girl living in Ireland. Her love for Japan and the Japanese language led her to studying languages and translation in university where she specialised in Japanese. She spent a year studying abroad at Rikkyo University in Tokyo. In her free time, Hannah enjoys using her sewing machine to upcycle clothes and create new pieces!