Konjac from a vending machine! 3 interesting vending machines in Asahikawa, Higashikawa.

Aren't vending machines just for buying drinks?

You don’t want to enter the crowded convenience store ? Luckily, there is a vending machine right around the corner !
You’re waiting for the train and forgot to buy something to drink ? A vending machine is right here, on the railway platform !
When it’s cold and you still have to walk for more than 20 minutes to reach home. If a vending machine is selling some hot drinks right on your way home, you’ll buy some right ?
Luckily vending machines are everywhere. Even in the most rural areas of Japan.
And unlike French vending machines, Japanese vending machines won’t scam you, and will actually give you the drink/food you paid for !
But the vending machines we are going to present you today is somewhat different!

We have found vending machines in Asahikawa and Higashikawa that will make you want to go all you way out to buy something.
Here are some of the vending machines we found in Asahikawa and Higashikawa.

A Vending machine selling handmade accessories!

Here is our first vending machine:

This lovely looking vending machine is selling...

Handmade accessories!
(The title kinda spoiled the suspense)
This vending machine is located in the front of the handmade goods shop “Li'a La” in Higashikawa-cho.

Our reporter actually bought a pair of ear piercing (500 yen) and a pair of earrings (300 yen) !
In Japan, “Ear piercings” are for pierced ears and earrings are for non-pierced ears.
Here, having pierced ears is not as usual as it is in Western countries.

On the picture above you can see the package of the goods.

It’s cute !!

A great quality for a reasonable price !!

And if you look closely at the price tag, you will notice that they are selling a 600 yen earrings for 500 yen !
Maybe our writer just got lucky, but you can actually buy a 600 yen item for only 500 yen in this vending machine!
Our reporter felt like she got a bargain!

If you are interested, why don't you stop by Higashikawa and buy some handmade accessories from the “Li'a La” vending machine?

Li'a La
Address: Higashikawachō, Higashimachi 1-chōme 17 - 5
Postal Code: 071-1423
Tel: 0166-82-3153
Opening hours: 11:00 - 17:00 (may change)
Car park: Available

The vending machine selling sweets

The next vending machine is “Patisserie Fou!”’s, located in front of the cake shop.

Quietly sitting in a corner of the car park, this vending machine is selling chocolates, cookies, and other delicacies.

The strawberry flavoured chocolate cubes (400 yen) caught our reporter’s eyes, and decided to buy some.

The little pink chocolates locked up in the cute jar looked pretty. It is this kind of items that you may find in “Alice in Wonderland.” This is kind of exciting, isn’t it ?

When our reporter finally stoped gazing at the jar, she ate her first cube.
The sweet and sour strawberries flavour was strong and our author couldn't stop herself from eating more and more little cubes.

We urge you all to try some too!

Patisserie Fou!
Address: Hokkaidō, Asahikawa-shi, Tōkō 17-jō 8-chōme 1 − 45
Tel: 0166-34-5207
Opening hours: 10:00 - 19:30
Closed irregularly
Car park: Available

Why is this for sale !? The weird vending machine

At first glance, this vending machine looks like a normal vending machine.
However, if you look closely at the items sold in the lower row...

Konjac and fried tofu !?

As our reporter was asking herself:
“Why konjac and fried tofu ?”
She was already buying them, hoping to discover something new about this mystery.

It's very unusual to be able to buy konjac and thick fried tofu from a vending machine.
Apparently an izakaya called "Syoujikiya" is handling "Miyazaki Tofu Shop”’s products. It is also them who are putting konjac and tofu in the vending machines!

When she got home, M@yuka made a stir-fry side dish with sweet miso, konjac and deep-fried tofu.

The texture of the konjac was different from the konjac you can buy in supermarkets, it was softer and plumper, like a warabi mochi. And, of course, it tasted great!
The fried tofu was also delicious and big enough to satisfy our reporter’s appetite.

We can easily recommend you the thick fried tofu and the konjac buy-able from the vending machine.

Syoujikiya
Address: 2-1-20 Toyooka 6-jo, Asahikawa-shi, Hokkaido 078-8236
Tel: 050-5280-8177
Opening hours: Lunch : from Wednesday - Thursday 11:30am - 2:00pm
Dinner : Tuesday - Sunday 18:00pm - 24:00pm (last order 1 hour before)
Closed on Mondays
Parking space available

Miyazaki Tofu Shop
Address: Hokkaidō Kamikawa-gun Higashikawa-chō Higashimachi 1-chōme 1 − 18
Postal Code: 071-1423, Japan
Tel: 0166-82-2543
Opening hours: 8:00 - 19:00
Closed on Mondays
Parking space available

Conclusion

How did you find our vending machines ?
We presented you 3 unique vending machines, but more are to be discovered !
If M@yuka finds more vending machines, she will surely make an article it.

Looking for weird vending machines may be a way to spend time if you are bored !
It’s unexpectedly fun !