Visiting Japan’s 50-Year Old Roadside Vending Machine Restaurant

Visiting Japan’s 50-Year Old Roadside Vending Machine Restaurant

Now loading the video…. December 20th, 2023 Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan Here is Shinjuku Station, which is the world’s busiest train station with over 3.5 million passengers per day Today, we are visiting another vending machine place

Today’s destination is “Marumiya Vending Machine Cafeteria” located in Midori City, Gunma Prefecture, 3 hour away from Shinjuku by train We have to take multiple trains on the route We leave Shinjuku at 9:15AM Bye bye Shinjuku We go through several train races on the way

Which is exciting and tells us how Tokyo is crowded with trains Train drivers must be enjoying these train races Initial D songs are now playing in my head Through Tokyo, we have entered Saitama Prefecture After Saitama is Gunma Prefecture At Kuki Station, we change trains

Here we transfer for an express train bound for Akagi While in the layover, let’s enjoy the vending machines Japanese people are crazy about vending machines even ice creams from vending machine They even sell something like “curry” Let’s get refreshments to eat on the train Oh they sell my favorite chocolate snack! “Choco Anpan”

And a coffee INDONESIA Tigers are cute The train has arrived Ryomo 7 Limited Express It looks like a helmet Cabin is super comfortable compared to the commuter train we were on from Shinjuku to Kuki In my opinion, the best vending machine snack No words can describe how perfect this snack is

Chocolate and bread We have entered Gunma Prefecture and run through the countryside Are we really heading to a vending machine restaurant? Where are you, vending machines 11:30AM We arrived at Aioi Station Here we transfer for Watarase Keikoku Railway It’s a small private railway company line It’s a one-car train and cute

On this train, we go to Hanawa Station I hear the vending machines are within walking distance from the station Enjoy the 30 min ride to Hanawa Station Don’t miss this beautiful scenery on the way Watarase Keikoku Railway is a 44.1km/27.4mi line from Kikyu Station in Gunma Prefecture to Mato Station in Tochigi Prefecture

Trains go through the valleys of the mountains and we go deep of Gunma Is there really a vending machine?? We have reached Midori City, the city with 50,000 residents and we visit Hanawa town of the city Arrived at Hanawa Station at 12:09PM

Hanawa area of Midori City is known as a hometown of a famous children’s song writer, Ishiwara Kazusaburo who wrote several songs which are still famous in Japan such as Usagi To Kame (The Hare and the Tortoise) The station welcomes us with the iconic song of Usagi to Kame

The vending mahine corner is located 10-min walk away from the station Let’s just walk the town Seems the town has several shrines and temples It feels like a traditional Japanese town Be careful of the cars when walking this roadway On the way, I found a barking dog Oh that seems to be..

The vending machine corner! Arrived at Marumiya Vending Machine Cafeteria which opened in 1975 and is run by a local family which also runs a restaurant nearby The vending machine corner is still loved by drivers in the area and vending machine lovers from around Japan The space is small

Drink vending machines, noodles vending machines, sandwiches, and snacks Some of them have been in operation since 1975 and are so-called “retro” As it serves as a roadside restaurant, thousands of drivers has ever stopped by and left stickers on the windows The stickers are so unique and it’s fun to read them

“I eat meals in the river.” “Please sanitize your hands.” As most vending machines here take only cash and there is no money changer machine so… buy a random drink and receive small change Use the vending machine as a money changer Got 9 100JPY coins “Udon Soba” Let’s get one

“If you are ‘very lucky’, you get a shrimp tempura. If you are ‘lucky’, you get a sweet potato tempura or squash tempura.” Tempura Udon, 300JPY/2.1USD No such tempura Oh, seems we are not ‘lucky’ but okay Take chopsticks and Shichimi powder Oh we also need something to drink Coke or fanta grape, 120JPY/0.8USD

Glass-bottled coke Classic Use the built-in bottle opener Good old time feeling The udon noodles are hand-made at the nearby restaurant every morning and delivered to the vending machines So they are fresh and safe to eat! The tempura is so good Comes with some green onions The udon and soup were delicious enough

Quick delicious udon from a vending machine What an awesome rest area for drivers I was told from a random motorcyclist that the sandwich vending machine is a must-try here “Be careful as it’s very very hot!” Ham and cheese sandwich, 250JPY/1.7USD “Now being warmed” It’s ready oh no it’s really hot Help my hand

It’s a just toast sandwich Ham and cheese inside, very simple But yes, delicious enough It feels like the best thing to eat when a bit hungry Leftover to here Garbage The plates will be recycled “Ramen” SOLD OUT

“If you are ‘lucky’, you get a boiled egg. If you are not ‘lucky’, you get a quail egg.” There is one more vending machine outside The machine sells a Waffle, Pancake, Tartar burger, Pizza burger, Teriyaki burger, and Salsa burger…. Hmm, difficult to choose one I’ll get a Salsa one, 350JPY/2.4USD

Use a microwave to warm it up Let’s get a soup Canned corn soup, 120JPY/0.8USD Canned corn soup is one of the top long-selling items from Japanese vending machines Seems the hamburgers are also hand-made The soft bans sandwich the meat patty and salsa sauce Must be good Well done What a delicious hamburger

I’ll get one more of this Some stickers should be blurred haha “When crowded, please eat outside.” There is also an ice cream vending machine 100% juices They also sell some bread which look hand-made Cheese cake, donut… Eggs!? Charsiu porks, and so on…

Lastly, I’ll get a Himokawa udon which is also a must-eat here but I forgot to try it The same price as the Tempura udon It’s hot HELP The udon comes with a Kitsune(fried tofu) Himokawa Udon is an exceptionally wide noodle that is traditionally made in Kiryu area of Gunma Prefecture Popular local cuisine

The noodles are slippery and have a very good texture The soup contains some Yuzu citrus juice and a mountain vegetable I can drink up the soup Very delicious “Memories” We can read messages left by visiters ever This pile of notebooks… Everyone loves vending machines Buying one more thing

I bought a suspicious pack of black liquids what is this? It says “Mirumēku” Now I remember my parents have once told about this snack But have no idea what this would taste like what a strong taste… is this a taste of coffee? Tastes too sweet won’t buy one again

I found an abondoned doghouse I really enjoyed eating and trying different vending machines here In Gunma, there are also two more vending machine places to visit Let’s try the places in future videos I have to catch a 2:14PM train so I’ll hurry

But I still have some time left so let’s visit a temple Google Maps says Fujitakifudoson Temple is here Feels like an abondoned place and creepy though The temple looks like a bit deserted place but locals say you get something powerful from this place If you walk up more, you get to a waterfall

Along the way, you can see many iron plates with shapes of humans and swords A bit creepy though what’s this sound I feel like I sensed something behind me I reached the waterfall Google says that if you visit this temple and your wishes come true, you have to dedicate these iron plates

But who makes the iron plates? There is actually a plumber near the entrance of the temple so they will make you an iron plate Thank you Hanawa It was a good short excursion in town Where should I go next? Tell me in the comment! Thank you for watching the video Rock, Scissors, Paper….

1 2 3 “Rock” I’ll see you in the next video!

Today, we are going to a roadside vending machine corner found in Midori City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Just relax and enjoy the video.

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