Hello,
We are excited to share something awesome with you! My parents’ neighbourhood in Japan actually is a super cool spot where everyone has been talking about it for years. You may already know that there are many vending machines in Japan. There are many kinds of vending machines that you can buy almost anything. They have been around quite long time as you can imagine. Anyhow this used tire shop in Japan has been collecting old vending machines. It is almost like tourist spot.
Sound track for this blog:
You may be hard to imagine that there was no convenient stores in Japan back in the days. Vending machines were placed to provide some drinks, snacks and foods 24/7. In their heyday, truckers munched burgers from the vending machine, kids ran to get a pack of cigaret and beer from the vending machines for their parents or stay warm outside by drinking hot canned coffee in winter. I remember that eating a burger from the vending machine late night, brought so much joy as a child, when we were on the road trip. So we popped in some times as its not too far from my parents house. Obviously I tried the burger vending machine first. And it tasted like nostalgia. By the way, they have soba, udon and ramen noodle vending machines. In case you are wondering, they restock everything, and foods like burgers, toasties, noodles and bentos are cooked, refilled and stocked every day.
Where is this awesome place?
Google “Used Tire Mart Sagamihara Store Food Vending Machine Corner” or “中古タイヤ市場 自販機コーナー” for the location.
Address: 2661-1 Shimomizo, Minami Ward, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-0335, Japan (〒252-0335 神奈川県相模原市南区下溝2661-1)
How can I go?
It’s bit tricky if you don’t speak or read Japanese. As you can see on the map, it’s not close to anything, and quite far from central Tokyo. But you are reading this and really want to go. Okay, I’ll try to explain how to go. I just assume anyone wants to go is from Tokyo.
Place to stay in Tokyo? Booking.com
From Shinjuku Station, you need to take Odakyu Line to Sagami-Ono Station (相模大野駅).
Then you go out the station and find bus stop number 1 North Exit. Bus 相25, Sagamihara Station North Exit (相模原駅南口行) bound. You can hop off at Sagamihara Josuijo (相模原浄水場). And this is not the end. You still need to walk to the vending machine place.
By the way, believe or not, you can go to Sagami-Ono Station from Haneda Airport directly! Anyone who wants to go there directly as soon as landed, this may be your option.
Otherwise you take taxi from Sagami – Ono Station. But still you need to take bus on your way back as there is no taxi around unfortunately.
Reminders
Just to remember that you can only use 100 yen coins due to old machines. Even though there is the coin machine, better to take some extra 100 yen coins. Popular vending machines can be queued and sold out quickly. The owner has been taking care of the vending machines with love, don’t break them. It was on the news that someone broke some parts of the vending machine. He could not find the parts to repair as it was old.
If anyone tried, please let me know what you ate, how was your experience?
Ska Overlander 