Although the U.S. may have more vending machines, Japan, with slightly over 5 million of the devices located nationwide, has the highest concentration per capita in the world. As of 2017, the country had approximately 1 vending machine per every 23 people, according to the Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers Association. Annual vending sales in the country total over $60 billion (€57.3 billion).

Travelers to Japan are often astounded to find the machines (known as jidouhanbaiki) on almost every street corner; the sheer numbers are impossible to ignore. They can be found on nearly every block in Tokyo, down alleyways, in front of convenience stores, and even in residential areas.

In addition to the more commonly-offered commodities one would generally expect to find (soft drinks, candy, chips and salty snacks, bottled water, coffee, cigarettes, sandwiches, ice, and so on) vending machines in Japan dispense everything from wigs for dogs, to edible bugs, neckties, batteries, umbrellas, toilet paper, business cards, and board games.

The machines serve a dual purpose; not only do the omnipresent devices provide consumers with various items by day, they also light up dark rest areas and smaller city streets at night.

Japanese companies prefer to stick a vending machine on a street, rather than open up a retail store, for valid reasons: the machines require relatively little labor, yet squeeze more revenue from each square meter of scarce land than a retail store ever could.

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