America's love affair with vending machines goes back generations. There are about 7 million vending machines in the country, selling Americans sodas, snacks and sundries — and bringing in nearly $22 ...

I love Japan. I think this is well established. But have I ever shared my obsession with Japanese vending machines? Well now it's time. I absolutely love the Japanese vending ecosystem. The vending ...

TOKYO (dpa) – On the streets of Japanese big cities they dispense hot drinks, steaming noodles, bunches of flowers, sacks of rice and even ladies’ underwear. Self-service vending machines cater for ...

An error has occurred. Please try again. With a The Portland Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. It looks like you do not have any active ...

Vending machines are a cornerstone of Japanese culture, dispensing items from food to T-shirts to Pokémon cards. During the pandemic and the Olympics, these machines take on an even greater importance ...

There’s a reason Sagamihara, Japan, isn’t in travel guides. It’s a sprawling commuter city for nearby Yokohama and Tokyo; a mix of main roads, light industrial estates and quiet towns people go ...

Back in 2023, artist Ana Inciardi made an Instagram reel that got over 17 million views. In the short video, you see a bright red box with coin chutes reminiscent of a bubble gum machine. A colorful ...