Japanese Vending Machines in Tokyo's Airport
Japanese Vending Machines in Tokyo's Airport
Overview
In this episode, John Daub explores the unique domestic terminal at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, focusing on a fascinating row of vending machines that represent different prefectures from across Japan. Rather than wasting time before his flight to Tottori, John turns the airport into a shopping destination, showcasing how travelers can sample regional specialties without leaving the terminal. From Fukuoka's spicy cod roe to Yamagata's pear milk, the video highlights the diversity of Japanese regional products available at the push of a button.
John navigates the limitations of these machines, noting that many do not accept IC cards like Suica, requiring hard cash. He purchases a variety of items, including snacks, instant ramen, mascots, and drinks, providing commentary on the flavors and cultural significance of each. The video also touches on the experience of domestic flying in Japan, the baggage check-in process, and the hospitality exemplified by airport staff bowing to departing planes.
Beyond the vending machines, John visits the observation deck for views of the Tokyo Skytree and the man-made island of Haneda. He also explores gachapon (capsule toy) machines and standard airport souvenir shops, offering tips on what to buy for loved ones back home. The episode serves as both a travel guide and a cultural snapshot of regional pride in Japan, demonstrating how even transit hubs are designed to promote local tourism and products.
Highlights
- 00:02:30 John introduces the prefecture-specific vending machines at Haneda Domestic Terminal.
- 00:06:02 Discovery that many machines do not accept Suica, requiring cash.
- 00:07:34 Overview of Kumamoto's Kumamon mascot goods and royalty-free usage.
- 00:08:52 Soja City's famous school curry vending machine explained.
- 00:13:42 John tries Yamagata's La France pear milk and matcha tea.
- 00:20:43 Examination of Zombie Ramen and Akita Inu plushies.
- 00:27:21 John selects a Hachiko dog plush for Kanae Daub.
- 00:36:00 Tour of drink vending machines featuring hot dashi and craft lemonade.
- 00:43:06 Visit to the observation deck with views of Tokyo Skytree.
- 00:50:02 Gachapon capsule toys including a mini kotatsu.
- 00:56:17 Observation of airport staff bowing to departing planes.
Timeline / Chapters
- 00:02:30 Introduction to Haneda Domestic Terminal vending machines.
- 00:04:47 Overview of prefecture machines (Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Okayama, etc.).
- 00:06:02 Fukuoka machine: Mentaiko products and payment issues.
- 00:07:34 Kumamoto machine: Kumamon mascot goods.
- 00:08:52 Okayama (Soja City) machine: School curry.
- 00:10:21 Toyama machine: White shrimp and rice.
- 00:11:38 Fukushima machine: Ramen and masks.
- 00:13:42 Yamagata machine: La France milk and tea.
- 00:20:43 Akita machine: Zombie ramen and dog plushies.
- 00:27:21 Selecting gifts for Kanae and Toby.
- 00:36:00 Drink vending machines and terminal access notes.
- 00:39:23 Standard souvenir shop: Tokyo Bananas and wagyu onigiri.
- 00:43:06 Observation deck visit and views.
- 00:50:02 Gachapon capsule toys.
- 00:56:17 Airport staff hospitality and closing remarks.
Japan Travel Tips
- Cash is King: Many regional vending machines in airports do not accept IC cards like Suica; bring 1000 yen bills.
- Domestic Terminal Access: The domestic terminal has unique regional vending machines not found in the international terminal.
- Shipping Items: If you buy liquids or prohibited items, plan to put them in checked baggage or ship them home.
- Domestic Flights: Consider flying domestically for long distances (e.g., to Kagoshima) to save time compared to rail passes.
- Baggage Check: Haneda features automated baggage drop systems that are efficient and modern.
- Observation Deck: Haneda has an accessible observation deck great for plane spotting and views of Tokyo Skytree.
- Regional Sampling: Use airport vending machines to sample regional specialties (omiyage) without traveling to each prefecture.
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- Omiyage (Souvenirs): The culture of bringing back gifts from travels is strong in Japan; airport machines facilitate this.
- Kumamon: A famous mascot created in 2011 to promote the Shinkansen; his image is royalty-free for Kumamoto products.
- La France: A variety of pear popular in Yamagata; often used in juices and desserts.
- Mentaiko: Spicy cod roe, a specialty of Fukuoka, often used in pasta, rice, or crackers.
- Suica: A rechargeable contactless smart card used for transport and purchases, though not accepted everywhere.
- Shinkansen: Japan's bullet train network; mentioned in context of domestic travel alternatives.
- Hospitality: Airport staff bowing to departing planes exemplifies omotenashi (Japanese hospitality).
Food & Drink Guide
- Tokyo Banana 00:02:30: Classic airport cake souvenir.
- Mentaiko Senbei 00:06:02: Rice crackers with spicy cod roe flavor from Fukuoka.
- Yuzu Kosho 00:07:34: Yuzu pepper paste from Kumamoto, John's favorite condiment.
- School Curry 00:08:52: Curry boxes from elementary schools in Soja City, Okayama.
- White Shrimp Chips 00:10:21: Snack from Toyama, famous for white shrimp tempura.
- Kitakata Ramen 00:11:38: Famous wavy noodles from Fukushima.
- La France Pear Milk 00:13:42: Hardened milk candy with pear flavor from Yamagata.
- Matcha Tea 00:16:54: Bottle with tea powder in cap to mix fresh.
- Zombie Ramen 00:20:43: Novelty ramen with blue soup and floating eyeballs.
- Wagyu Onigiri 00:39:23: Rice ball with Matsuzaka beef, approx 500 yen.
- Pon Juice 00:36:00: Sweet canned mikan orange juice.
People
- John Daub: Host and narrator. He guides viewers through the airport, sharing his curiosity about regional products and travel tips.
- Kanae Daub: John's wife. She is the primary recipient of the souvenirs John purchases, including the Hachiko plush and snacks.
- Toby (crow): John's named crow friend. Mentioned jokingly in relation to buying a "puppy" accomplice.
Key Takeaways
- Haneda's domestic terminal offers a unique collection of vending machines representing specific Japanese prefectures.
- Regional specialties like Fukuoka's mentaiko and Yamagata's pears are accessible to travelers without leaving the airport.
- Cash is still necessary for many vending machines despite the prevalence of IC cards in Japan.
- Domestic flights can be a time-saving alternative to trains for long-distance travel within Japan.
- Airport staff hospitality, such as bowing to planes, reflects the high service standards in Japan.
Notable Quotes
- 00:02:30 "Never waste a day. Take advantage of your time at the airport—go shopping."
- 00:03:26 "If you've never flown domestic in Japan, that in itself is quite an experience."
- 00:06:02 "Come loaded with them, like you're going to a strip club. Don't go to a strip club—use your money here."
- 00:07:34 "Kumamon was invented in 2011 to promote the Shinkansen—he did the Shinkansen shuffle."
- 00:13:42 "French are like, 'It's not just a pear.'"
- 00:27:21 "Saved your life, Hachiko—into suitcase, no dogs at airport."
- 00:36:00 "Funny—no drinks in them, just food."
- 00:56:17 "Staff bow low to departing planes, exemplifies Japan service."
Related Topics
- Domestic Travel in Japan
- Japanese Vending Machine Culture
- Regional Omiyage (Souvenirs)
- Haneda Airport Guide
- Japanese Mascot Characters (Yuru-kyara)
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #tokyo #haneda-airport #vending-machines #japan-travel #domestic-flight #regional-food #omiyage #kumamon #akita-inu #ramen #japanese-culture #john-daub
Full Transcript
00:02:30 John Daub: That's right, my flight to Tottori is tomorrow, but as I said, never waste a day. Take advantage of your time at the airport—go shopping. We're going to be shopping at a vending machine. I'm not leaving here until I get something for Kanae Daub. These are run-of-the-mill vending machines, nothing special except for ice cream and drinks, which is actually special. I know a lot of you can't travel—many are watching election returns right now. Let's take our mind off politics for a moment and look at some Tokyo Bananas. Yum yum, give me some. This is the airport Tokyo Bananas too, special just for Tokyo.
00:03:26 John Daub: Here they are, the unique vending machines representing different prefectures of the entire country, including Akita where I just was. How cool is this? If you've never flown domestic in Japan, that in itself is quite an experience. It might be worth putting down your rail pass for a flight to save time if you're going somewhere like Kagoshima. They have these really weird baggage check-in things—some are pretty cool. Like something from Star Wars: you self-put your bag in and it dumps it onto a belt. So cool.
00:04:47 John Daub: These vending machines to my left represent local and regional areas of Japan. This is the domestic terminal, where you go from one prefecture to another, not international. A lot of places have put in a vending machine. Space is limited here, and this corner has been on the news quite a bit. Right in front of us: Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Soja City in Okayama, Toyama on the Sea of Japan, Fukushima, Yamagata—all Tohoku. This is Akita—Akita Inu like Hachiko—and Japan Zenkoku. This is an instant ramen vending machine.
00:06:02 John Daub: Inconveniently, they don't take Suica, so I have to use hard cash—thousand yen bills. Come loaded with them, like you're going to a strip club. Don't go to a strip club—use your money here. First up, Fukuoka machine. Fukuoka is down in Kyushu, one of Japan's big cities, famous for mentaiko (spicy cod roe). It's like a fish sack of eggs we put on rice—unusual in a vending machine. Mentaiko-flavored senbei (rice crackers), crunchy with a bit of spice—not as bad as you think, actually interesting. Mentai peperoncino pasta sauce, dry mentaiko, ramen. I like mentaiko, but it's not my cup of tea.
00:07:34 John Daub: Kumamoto, on the other hand—the mascot Kumamon has dolls, a pouch, even a little Kumamon taxi. Kumamon socks, soy sauce, yuzu kosho (yuzu pepper paste)—my favorite condiment. Kumamoto says use Kumamon royalty-free, so no charge—that's led to huge popularity. Kumamon was invented in 2011 to promote the Shinkansen—he did the Shinkansen shuffle.
00:08:52 John Daub: Soja City in Okayama is famous for curry—boxes from elementary schools (shōgakkō). Japanese schools have famous good school lunches; these are curries from local schools. Fire truck ramen, firemen curry—gotta get that. Elementary school kid curry looks good too. They don't take Suica—I just put 10,000 yen on mine. I've got four thousand yen notes—let's support the firemen and local areas.
00:10:21 John Daub: Next, Toyama prefecture on the Sea of Japan side above Kanazawa in Ishikawa. Dried fish, squid for beer; microwavable rice; Toyama rice packs—good for a small family. Kerorin strap for your phone, towel, something good for teeth—kamaboko (fish cake), white shrimp! Toyama's famous for white shrimp—awesome tempura on donburi (rice bowl).
00:11:38 John Daub: Fukushima—masks I did a video on three years ago (link in description); the guy dances. Sweet peaches, beautiful Japanese doll from kimono material, boil-a-bag chicken dish, Kitakata ramen—famous wavy noodles that catch extra broth like spoons. Ultraman grilled chocolate, bean snacks like rocks, Fukushima mascots, fruits like nashi (Japanese pear).
00:13:42 John Daub: Yamagata—dried shrimp, milk (fresh in Yamagata), pear (La France in Japanese) and cherry flavored—cherry tastes like medicine. Tea too. Love Fukushima, so supporting with tea. Execute number 14. Whoa, heavy. Got fish cake—no, milk cake. La France pear milk—it's just pear, but called La France. French are like, "It's not just a pear."
00:16:54 John Daub: Using this area as a table. This tea bottle is cool: water with tea in the cap—open, shake, fresh matcha tea. Tastes great—the water's neutral and cool. Totally worth it, but put in checked bag—security confiscates. La France milk is milk hardened like candy with vitamins—healthy, famous in Yamagata.
00:20:43 John Daub: Back for more. Yamagata has cherry curry—weird. Akita prefecture, famous for Akita Inu—gotta get Kanae a little Hachiko dog, kawaii ne (so cute). Hachiko ramen, zombie ramen from Hokkaido with floating eyeballs. Haneda airport shoyu ramen. Toyama black ramen, Aichi-ken Nyan ramen (nyan = meow, katsuodashi bonito broth). Zombie ramen now—Zombear, living dead, blue soup like guts.
00:27:21 John Daub: Zombie ramen for lunch—Kanae, got you lunch. But need real food. Takoyaki full of chemicals—not good. Always honest: cool once, but burp chemicals. Akita doll for Kanae? People vote. Hachiko choices: pink, blue, normal, orange. Votes say pink—going normal number five. Dump the dog! So cute, soft synthetic, curled tail like ramen. Saved your life, Hachiko—into suitcase, no dogs at airport.
00:32:30 John Daub: Tough choices: rock beans, white shrimp chips, fireman curry. Puppy for Toby's accomplice? Kumamon socks or towel for Kanae? White shrimp or rice? Going rock beans—not miso, but cool. Supports regions—that's why these machines are here. Number 12. Rocks! Funny—no drinks in them, just food.
00:36:00 John Daub: Drink vending machine: hot dashi, yuzu honey, Pon Juice (sweet mikan orange juice), craft lemonade (3% lemons). Weird small bottles. Saying goodbye—international terminal closed, restricts access. These in Terminal 2 support prefectures—nice sampling.
00:39:23 John Daub: Tokyo Bananas, Baumkuchen (German cake), peach, chocolate tulip, wild orange roses, Edo Tamago (flavored eggs), tiramisu cheesecake—Kanae likes cheesecake, but pricey. Matsuzaka wagyu onigiri (rice ball)—best beef, 500 yen? Ichigo daifuku (strawberry daifuku). Mask vending machine—reasonable, small size for my face.
00:43:06 John Daub: Extension unlocked! Up to observation deck—beautiful day, Tokyo Skytree view. Haneda man-made island. Best unagi (eel) here—did NHK on anago (conger eel) fishing. Close to 1000 likes.
00:50:02 John Daub: Gachapon: mini kotatsu (heated table)—details like blanket, heater, remote. Soft—making one. Nosh, yours. With Hachiko. Weird stuff, instruments.
00:56:17 John Daub: Nice day—staff bow low to departing planes, exemplifies Japan service. Shoutouts. Restaurants, dumplings. One-hour stream fun. Down to main hall—delicious food, sake.
01:00:13 John Daub: Thanks for 1000+ likes—day saved. Got Hachiko, ramen, gifts for Kanae. Back tomorrow for Tottori flight, then national parks Thu-Sat—warm 18°C. Subscribe, check Buddha Glasses on Only in Japan channel—history fascinating. Have a great day, stay safe, move on from politics, eat good food. Merry Christmas.