Tokyo's strangest vending machines: Next Generation

JR stations: Next Generation vending machines

JR East have started to introduce what they are calling ‘Next Generation’ vending machines into some of their stations. These imposing monoliths come with a large touch panel screen that displays all of the items available. Not only that: they also have a sensor to determine the age and gender of the customer, which is used together with other information, such as the temperature or time, to target recommendations to each particular person. If you didn't know what you wanted to drink, you will now. The first of these high-tech vending machines was installed in Shinagawa Station, and JR are currently in the process of putting them into all of their railway terminals.

Location: Shinagawa Station, on the concourse within the central ticket gate; Tokyo Station, in the Dorin no Hiroba public space outside the Underground Marunouchi North ticket gate; Shibuya Station, platform 2 (Yamanote line), Ebisu side; Ikebukuro Station, platforms 7 and 8 (Yamanote line, outer tracks). Other stations include Akihabara, Yokohama, Omiya, Chiba and Hachioji

Kasumigaseki

Apple packs

Shibuya

Bananas

Shinbashi

Taiyaki

Ikejiri-Ohashi

Natto

Ginza

Toys

JR stations

Next Generation vending machines

Harajuku

Hair care

Shimokitazawa

T-Shirts

Akihabara

Oden

Horikiri

Hamburgers