Sake vending machine debuts at Japanese railway station

Tobu Railway Co., Ltd. has partnered with Kanaya Hotel Co., Ltd. to launch a self-service sake vending machine inside The Kanaya Terrace café at Tobu Nikko Station in Japan. The service, aimed at boosting tourism and supporting local breweries, will operate for a limited period until the end of August.

The innovative token-operated dispenser offers passengers the opportunity to sample four premium sake varieties from local brewers in Ōtawara, Kanuma, and Nikko, all located in Tochigi Prefecture. Customers can purchase three tokens for ¥1,200 at the café counter, each redeemable for a cup of sake from the machine. This setup encourages visitors to explore a range of regional flavours.

This initiative is part of broader efforts to enrich the travel experience on the Tobu Line, which connects Tokyo with Tochigi, Chiba, Saitama, and Gunma. It mirrors similar beverage vending trends seen in regions like Provence in France, but tailored to Japan’s deep-rooted sake culture.