In Sagamihara, Tatsuhiro’s Saito’s collection of 1980s Japanese vending machines have become a local tourist attraction.
There’s a reason Sagamihara, Japan, isn’t in travel guides. It’s a sprawling commuter city for nearby Yokohama and Tokyo; a mix of main roads, light industrial estates and quiet towns people go through rather than stop.
However, a 30-minute bus ride from Sagami-Ono station and tucked behind a main road lies Tatsuhiro Saito’s used tire shop, an unexpected and remarkable destination for those looking for a taste of Japan’s recent past — dispensed from around 70 restored and working food vending machines from the Showa era (1926–1989).
Japan has long had a thing for vending machines, with more per capita than any other country. While some rare examples in parts of Tokyo dispense curios like jewelry and collectible toys, most (more than half of the four million machines currently working in Japan) dispense drinks.
Saito’s collection of vintage machines — commonly referred to in Japanese as „natsukashii,“ or nostalgic — are a rare treat.
The majority displayed along two covered walkways next to the dusty parking lot date from the 1970s and ’80s. Sweets and snacks that were common decades ago are available and often greeted with coos of delight from visitors. If that doesn’t spark a fond nostalgic feeling, there are retro toys, Kodak camera film, AA batteries and even some arcade machines.
It’s the models serving hot food that attract hundreds of people each weekend.
For just 280 yen ($2), hamburgers — classic or teriyaki flavor — pop out of machines that date from the mid-’80s in cheery, bright yellow boxes.
