Japan is the country with the second largest number of vending machines and the highest density of vending machines in the world. Vending machines are present in most neighborhoods, alleys, convenience stores, residential areas and commercial centers. Why this model became so popular and why Japanese love vending machines so much, let's find out through the article below!
Vending machines in Japan
Japan has the largest density of vending machines in the world with more than 5 million machines nationwide. According to statistics from the Association of Machine Manufacturers, there will be 1 vending machine for every 23 people.
Vending machines in Japan feature a variety of unique machines. In addition to the food and beverage vending machines that we often see, there are also a variety of machines such as coffee vending machines, cigarettes, alcohol, bread, personal belongings, pet food,.... in Japan
Why do Japanese people love vending machines?
Talking about vending machines is like talking about Japanese culture. They work a lot and value convenience. Vending machines were introduced to meet their needs, bringing many forms of quick and convenient purchase.
1. Reducing labor costs
According to William A. McEachern - a professor of economics at the University of Connecticut, Japan has a declining birth rate, an aging population and a lack of immigration, therefore the labor force becomes scarce. Vending machines become an optimal solution, eliminating the need to hire sales staff, reducing costs for businesses.
Robert Parry - economics lecturer at Kobe University also pointed out that high labor costs are one of the reasons why retailers prefer vending machines.
2. Reducing the premise's cost
Japan has a high population density of nearly 127 million people, especially when about 75% of Japan's land area is mountainous, causing real estate prices here to soar for decades. Because of that, the Japanese did not have many places to store consumer goods and vending machines became popular, able to replace retail stores on the street without taking up much space.
3. Japan is the birthplace of many beverage brands
Many beverage brands such as Suntory, Itoen, Kirin, Itoen, Calpis,... come from Japan. Therefore, the vending machines will help them to dispense drinks easily and conveniently.
4. Guaranted security
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, vending machines in Japan are rarely broken or stolen. Meanwhile, the US often has to worry about property damage when placing vending machines on empty streets.
Japan is known to have an exceptionally low murder rate and the lowest theft rate in the world (according to the 2010 United Nations crime report). Therefore, in Japan, roadside vending machines are the norm. There will be no problem if the machine is installed with a camera and has a line to contact the police.
5. Automation technology is gaining popularity
Japan has strong technological development, creating a culture that values and believes in automation systems. That is why they prefer the vending machine because of its automaticity and convenience.
6. Convenient payment method
Japan has a culture that relies too much on cash, with most purchases using only cash and not accepting credit cards. As a result, customers always carry a substantial amount of cash, including coins and paper bills. Therefore, vending machines were born as a convenient way to help them get rid of the change in their pocket.
7. Vending machines are earthquake resistant
Japan is a country prone to earthquakes so they always prepare by building earthquake-proof buildings, earthquake-ready bullet trains, .... One of them is a vending machine that is installed according to JIS standards, which is able to prevent the machine from falling and avoid causing accidents if an earthquake occurs.
Vending machines have become an integral part of the Japanese retail market. Everyone is used to seeing and using vending machines. The machine does not only bring many conveniences to consumers but also helps businesses distribute goods easily and minimize selling costs.
