Myth-busting the vending machines

We had read in the travel guides that vending machines are ubiquitous in Japan - this is true! At every train station, around every corner, down tiny laneways and tucked away into seemingly every nooks and crannies there will be a vending machine. 

We had also read that you can get anything from a vending machine in Japan - false! Almost all of the machines we saw dispense drinks - soft drink, water and cans of coffee. In some machines you can get hot drinks. On odd occasions we have seen machines dispensing ice creams or cigarettes. But that's about it, with the exception of an old style souvenir vending machine (for tourists) that we found in Shibuya.