Photo by Shigeki Wakabayashi (https://unsplash.com/@kugedo6060) on Unsplash
Tokyo's Vending Machine Culture, Explained
Last updated August 28, 2026
Japan has around 4 million vending machines, one of the highest densities per capita in the world — and safety, density, and decades of retail experimentation explain why.
The rest of this story is for members.
Sign up free to read the full post, save it, and share it.
Sign up to keep readingEnjoyed this? Get the next one.
New spots, stories, and city guides in your inbox a few times a month.
More stories like this
Renting a Kimono in Kyoto: What to Know Before You Book
For one afternoon, thousands of visitors trade sneakers for geta and become part of the scenery on Kyoto's stone lanes. It photographs beautifully. It also involves more logistics, and more etiquette, than the rental shop windows let on.
Sign up to read the full story
Day Trip from Kyoto to Himeji Castle
Most of Japan's famous castles are concrete replicas rebuilt after fire, war, or demolition. Himeji is the rare original, a five-century-old fortress that walked away from earthquakes and firebombing looking almost exactly as it always did.
Sign up to read the full story
Where to Drink Matcha in Kyoto, From Ceremony to Cafe
Uji, just south of the city, has been growing tea good enough for emperors since before Europe had coffeehouses. What you do with that tea today ranges from a decades-long ceremonial art form to a parfait piled absurdly high with soft serve.
Sign up to read the full story
Ryoan-ji's Rock Garden and the Art of Zen Design
Fifteen stones, one small walled garden, and a design trick so precise that no matter where you sit, at least one stone stays hidden from view. Nobody agrees on why, and the not-knowing may be the entire point.
Sign up to read the full story