From hot canned coffee and corn soup to highballs, dashi, and even gyoza, Japan’s vending machines offer a fascinating look ...

In January 2026, households in several Japanese municipalities began testing a water system that connects to no municipal pipe. The units, installed next to washing machines, filter and recirculate ...

New yen notes were introduced that won’t be compatible with many machines that businesses like ramen shops rely on. By Kiuko Notoya and John Yoon Kiuko Notoya reported from Tokyo, and John Yoon from ...

In most places, vending machines mean soda, chips, and a quick snack. In Japan, they’ve evolved into something far more unexpected. Along sidewalks and train stations, machines sell items that feel ...

If you have ever travelled through Japan, you will realise that the country has a way of solving problems you did not even know you had. Picture this for a moment: rushing between train transfers, ...

TOKYO — The vending machine at Hiroshi Nishitani’s Tokyo ramen restaurant has been reliable for a decade. Customers feed it money, and it prints out their orders while he makes fresh noodles in the ...