2.28 million vending machines
crime rates in the entire world, continuing to fall year after year, food stalls like this still exist. What's more, the Japan National Tourism Organization says that the country's low crime rate is why there are so many vending machines in Japan—because the machines can be left outside and are rarely vandalized.
15 Ideas for Making Extra Money in Japan
- Teach Private Lessons.
- Flip Retro Games and Related Goods.
- Offer Delivery and Moving Services.
- Sell Your Junk to Secondhand Shops.
- Make Videos on YouTube.
- Do Freelance Work.
- Host Cooking Classes and Workshops.
- Take Commissions for Artwork.
While Japan's vending machines are undeniably plentiful at 4.3 million (the same population of Rome), are they actually making a profit? While some make more money than others due to product choice and machine location, it's easy to back up their success with annual sales being recorded at over ¥7 trillion.
Some interesting items can also be purchased from Japanese vending machines.
- Rice. Rice vending machines are often large.
- Sake. Many of the oldest vending machines in the country serve sake.
- Umbrellas. In Japan, it's embarrassing to be caught in the rain without an umbrella.
- Corn Soup.
- Batteries.
- Electricity.
- Beer.
- Cups.
Here are some surprising facts about the island country.
- Japan is an island nation.
- Tokyo is the most populated city in the world.
- People are hired to push people inside of trains during rush hour.
- There are more pets than children.
- There are millions of vending machines that sell anything from food to sex toys.
Here are some of the most common, accessible, and flexible side jobs for foreigners in Japan.
- English Instructor.
- Social Media.
- Game Localization Testers.
- Freelance Translator.
- Konbini Staff.
- Uber Eats Delivery Rider.
- J-Blogger or Vlogger.
- Part-Time Work.
$36.00 pack of 4
| Brand Name | Suntory |
|---|
| Size | 350ml |
| Standard Drinks | 2.49 |
| Alcohol Volume | 9% |
| Country | Japan |
Beverages in a Japanese Vending Machine
- I Lohas.
- Fanta.
- Coca-Cola.
- Dr. Pepper.
- Minute Maid Fruit Plus.
- Aquarius.
- Pocari Sweat.
- Georgia.
There is a lot of money to be made in vending, and it shows in the current state of the industry. There are around 5 million operational vending machines in the US right now and they rake in over $7 billion in annual sales for their operators.
According to Coca Cola, there are nearly four million vending machines in Japan, while the Japan National Tourism Board puts that number at 5.52 million.
House votes to allow vending machines where alcohol is served. The House overwhelmingly approved a bill Tuesday that would allow businesses authorized to sell alcohol to operate self-serve machines capable of dispensing beer, hard cider with less than 6 percent alcohol content, and wine.
There are none because they are all in Japan. The US doesn't have that culture of needing convenience at all times. And even if there were Japanese-style vending machines, they would never make their cost back because there isn't the population density to warrant having odd things in them.
Vending machine costsA new vending machine will cost anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on its size and features. Besides the machine itself, you'll also want to consider the cost of inventory to stock your machines.
Tokyo, formerly (until 1868) Edo, city and capital of Tokyo to (metropolis) and of Japan. It is located at the head of Tokyo Bay on the Pacific coast of central Honshu. It is the focus of the vast metropolitan area often called Greater Tokyo, the largest urban and industrial agglomeration in Japan.
Its ingredients include water, nonfat dry milk and lactic acid, and is produced by lactic acid fermentation. The drink is sold as a concentrate which is mixed with water or sometimes milk just before consumption.
Japan is known worldwide for its traditional arts, including tea ceremonies, calligraphy and flower arranging. The country has a legacy of distinctive gardens, sculpture and poetry. Japan is home to more than a dozen UNESCO World Heritage sites and is the birthplace of sushi, one of its most famous culinary exports.
10 Strangest Things Sold In Japanese Vending Machines
- 1Horned Beetles.
- 2A Girl's Phone Number.
- 3"Used" Panties.
- 4Lettuce.
- 5Flying Fish Soup.
- 6Live Puppies.
- 7A Full Flower Arrangement.
- 8Weird Mystery Boxes.
There are just under 5 million vending machines in Japan, according to the Japan Times, a little more than the 4.6 million estimated in the United States by Vending Marketwatch. However, since the U.S. is so spread out – nearly 4 million miles to 145,000 miles of Japan, the machines seem more widespread here.
You probably could technically place a vending machine anywhere, but it's not quite so simple. First and foremost, you cannot legally place a machine on someone else's property and use their utilities without their permission or a contract. Second, not every location is ideal for a vending machine.
13 Steps to Get You Started Off Right
- Decide what you want to sell.
- Determine the vending machine features you want.
- Determine from where you'll buy or lease your vending machines.
- Determine locations for your machines.
- Choose a business name.
- Decide on your business entity type.
- Designate a registered agent.
Self-contained vs. Modular
| Modular machines (including bin) | Self-contained machines |
|---|
| ~ $3,000-$8,000 Depending on size | ~ $1,500-$5,000 Depending on size |
How To Start Up and Operate Your Own ATM Business
- Locate good retail locations such as gas stations, convenience stores, bars, malls, and nightclubs.
- Negotiate an agreement to provide an ATM.
- Buy ATM.
- Install machine.
- Load cash in the machines.
- Share leads in your area.
You will need to fill the machine with around 400 sodas, about $100.00-$125.00 in cost, and fill the change mechanism with about $25.00 in change. Your total costs for 1 location, set up and operating, is around $750.00-$800.00. If you sell 50 sodas per day from a machine at $0.50 you will take in 25.00 a day.
6 Great Locations For Vending Machines
- Apartment Communities. Many apartment complexes have a pool or a clubhouse.
- Hotels. On average, hotels are among the most profitable vending locations and operators are always happy to have them as a customer.
- Manufacturing Facilities.
- Offices.
- Retail Stores.
- Auto Shops.
Here are the steps you can take to get your vending machine business up-and-running.
- Step 1: Identify the Kind of Vending Machine You Want.
- Step 2: Find a Great Location for Your Vending Machine.
- Step 3: Secure Financing.
- Step 4: Purchase Your First Vending Machine.
- Step 5: Secure Your Inventory.
