[iand675]

It's really like that. In the countryside, you'll occasionally see rice fields with small walkways in between them in a + configuration with a vending machine hanging out in the middle. Presumably for the farmers to get something to drink...

[StavrosK]

Oh wow, that's crazy. I've only been to Tokyo, where they weren't out of place, but out in the fields? Sounds like quite the sight.

[xelxebar]

Yeah. Every now and again you'll also come across some 50-year old looking mechanical rice vending machine, selling 5, 10 and 15 kg bags of rice.

[squimmy]

The photo 5th from the bottom actually appears to be of a coin-operated rice mill!

[hkmurakami]

those, you bring your own rice though, so a bit different. (they're pretty common in the countryside!)

The first time I saw one, I was probably ~6 years old and my grandfather stopped by on our way home to mill some of the rice he had grown. I was confused since growing up in the States, I had never seen non-white rice until that point.

[rangibaby]

Rice vending machines are actually pretty common in the countryside where there may not be staffed rice shops or supermarkets

[bemmu]

Our use-case is that my wife will receive gifts of unpolished rice from relatives, which we then need to haul to the vending machine to polish.

It's actually quite enjoyable, as you get to run your fingers through warm rice pouring out from the machine.

[Iv]

Can confirm. I live in the countryside. There are vending machines down some roads with ricefields on both sides.

[new299]

I've not seen that where I live (Kamogawa), but I want to now. Guess I need to search around the rice fields more. :)

haha, I've just realized I know you. Will have to ask you where it is sometime. Small World.

[Iv]

Hehe, I got found out :-)

Close to where we used to live, by the bus stop in Hiratsuka, when I used to come back at night, the vending machine was brighter than the public lights.

[hkmurakami]

Down the roads I've definitely seen. On the internal dirt paths was new to me (would love to see a photo!)

[Iv]

On dirt paths I have not seen yet. I am thinking about countryside roads with fields on both sides.