5 reasons why there are so many vending machines in Japan

Japan is an amazing country, and any traveler will find what he dreams of: a picturesque province, ultra-modern Tokyo, magnificent beaches, ancient monuments. After spending a little time in Japan, you can notice a curious feature — a huge number of vending machines that are simply impossible to ignore. In Tokyo, for example, they are at every turn: along alleys, in front of supermarkets, in residential and shopping areas.

So it is not surprising that Japan has the highest "density" of vending machines in the world, and there are just over five million units in the country. According to the Japanese Vending Machine Manufacturers Association, there is approximately one machine per 23 people. The machines sell coffee, tea, cigarettes, sweets, hot food and even soups, sake and beer.

In fact, such a large number of vending machines characterizes Japanese culture. Japanese people, especially residents of Tokyo, work hard and appreciate convenience and their time. Then there are a few more reasons why vending machines are so popular in Japan.

According to William A. McEachern, a professor of economics at the University of Connecticut, a declining birth rate, an aging population and insufficient immigration have simultaneously led to a rise in prices and a reduction in labor resources. And vending machines do not need to be paid, they only need to call an employee periodically to replenish stocks and pick up money.

Japan, with a population of 127 million people, is one of the most populous countries in the world. Moreover, 75 percent of the country's territory is occupied by mountains. And 93 percent of Japanese live in cities. So real estate prices are sky-high, and the Japanese themselves are huddled in incredibly small apartments.

High population density and expensive rent mean that there are not so many places to store food, because many Japanese companies prefer to put a vending machine rather than open a whole store.

Japan is famous not only for the incredibly low murder rate in the world, but also for the same small percentage of robberies. While experts are trying to answer the question why, the fact remains that cases of vandalism and crimes against property are very rare in the country. Vending machines are rarely broken or robbed, despite the fact that tens of thousands of yen are stored in them.

In addition, the machines are equipped with cameras and have a direct line to the police, in case something happens - for example, the device is opened.

In Tokyo, for example, even at railway stations or in the subway, you cannot buy a ticket with a credit card. Cash only. It's almost the same story in stores.

As a result, you have to walk with a certain amount of money, and not only in banknotes, but also in coins. And Japanese coins have high denominations — 50, 100 and 500 yen (112 yen = 1 dollar). So vending machines can be called a great way to get rid of small things.

The Japanese are literally obsessed with the automated world and robots. There is no such thing in any other country. The Japanese really trust the machines.