The vending machines in Japan

The process of ordering food via vending machines in the restaurants is very common in Japan for two reasons. It improves the ordering process much more efficiently to make the work easier for the staffs and it is also safe against the bilks who maliciously run away without paying for the food.

Many ramen, soba and udon restaurants in Japan often have vending machines where you have to buy tickets before taking seats. If you are a first timer in Japan, make sure to understand in advance how to pay and order using vending machines so that you do not have to be petrified in front of those wordless gadgets.

Six simple steps to follow at the restaurants with vending machines:

1. Before putting money into the machine, choose and decide which item you would like to order from the menu. You may be able to find the pictures and the names of the food by the vending machine which would make it easier for you to decide. However, if you are still unable to identify which one is the one you are looking for, it is best to ask the staffs than just ordering something unexpected.

2. Put in money (cash only) and select what you want to eat. Preferably, take coins and smaller bills with you as some of the places do not accept larger bills like 10,000 yen. You should also keep in mind that the credit cards are not acceptable in any restaurants where they have vending machines.

3. You can buy more than one tickets without putting your change back in to the machine each time you press the item button. After you press the item that you want to have, keep in mind that the machine will not return your change right away as the vending machines in Japan are made conveniently for the users who want to have more than one items. So as long as you put in enough cash to cover the items, the machines will be able to keep printing the tickets without returning the change each time you press the button.

4. After you are done with selecting the items, do not just stand in front of the machine to wait for the change to come back. What you must do at the end is to press the "Otsuri (おつり)" button to get your change back. Otsuri (おつり) means change in Japanese. Most of the vending machines in Japan are written only in Japanese words and it may be difficult for you to find the button to get your money back, so make sure to press the Otsuri (おつり) button after ordering. The machines usually have the lever also to get your change back.

5. After you bought your tickets and got your change back, hand the tickets to one of the staffs. They will usually read the tickets out loud to inform other staffs what you have ordered.

6. Take the seats. Just sit back and wait until the food comes.

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Comments: 14

#14
Pun biren (Sunday, 31 January 2021 00:36)

How to buy
#13
Patrick (Wednesday, 26 February 2020 19:39)

Do you export to America? How much will the most basic ticket vending machine for ramen cost?
Patrick.b.quintin@gmail.com
#12
Joy Go (Sunday, 16 February 2020 11:49)

Where can we buy ticket vendo machine? Email me at joselietgo@gmail.com
#11
Pakin (Sunday, 15 December 2019 14:53)

I wiuld like to buy a ticket vending machine. Please send me the contact or information

E-mail : ideaaddisplay@hotmail.com
#10
oli (Thursday, 24 October 2019 09:16)

Do you know where I can buy this vending machine ?

my email :
info@pardobar.com
#9
Ming (Tuesday, 24 September 2019 11:30)

I would like to buy a ticket vending machine too. If anyone has gotten the contact please share thank you very much!

jingming991231@gmail.com
#8
John (Thursday, 02 May 2019 09:27)

I would like to buy a ticket vending machine. If anyone has gotten the contact please share thank you very much!

akounanagmahal@gmail.com
#7
Tracy (Saturday, 27 April 2019 13:55)

I would like to buy a ticket vending machine like this too. If anyone has gotten the contact please share thank you very much!

zxw_4ever@hotmail.com
#6
A (Saturday, 30 March 2019 20:43)

I would like to buy this ticket vending machine, may i have contact and info please?

My email: andyli319@gmail.com
#5
yoy (Friday, 15 February 2019 19:40)

I would like to buy this type of Vending machine. Where to buy Where to contact?
#4
Jack Koh (Monday, 24 December 2018 15:02)

Do you know where I can buy this vending machine ?

my email :
jack.kohst@yahoo.com
#3
Christian (Friday, 23 November 2018 01:45)

Same question as the other, do you know where one can buy a machine that you find inside of a ramen shop?

mail to christian.bergane@gmail.com
#2
TINA (Monday, 07 May 2018 17:34)

I would like to buy this type of Vending machine. Where to buy OR Where to contact?
my email : wrs@kantareeya.com
#1
Joseph Tan (Saturday, 03 March 2018 22:13)

Do you know where I can buy this type of vending machine ?

josephkktan@yahoo.com