jidoohanbaiki : Vending Machines...

Besides the fact that on nearly every block there is a convenience store (yes, like a 7/11 or am/pm), in japan they still find it necessary to place vending machines on every other block. I'm not joking, you can probably walk less than 100 meters and run into a 24hr 'conbini' (convenience store in japanese) or a little metal box, often times selling you various drinks such as green tea or coffee...hot and cold!
Now I'm not going to say that they aren't convenient at times, because i have used them, and here, you don't have to be scared worried about your drink ever coming out or not getting your change and what not...all the machines look brand new, and everybody uses them!
Now aside from selling you drinks and snacks, newspapers or even condoms, (things that we often see in the states and in france) vending machines here will sometimes surprise you with what they can sell. It's really a phenomenon.
Here are just a few examples that I have come across...so far...


well ain't that nice: you know when it's late at night, and you need a little fix, a nice cold... beer!


this one's classic...they might of took every last one out in the states...here, they are going to add an i.d. swipe control system so minors can't buy....ok, we'll see!...


ok. A vintage battery dispenser. now this is pretty nice...how many times where you in need of triple or double A batteries...in the street? excuse me, 'maglite' anyone??