
Pick a button, any button!
Vending machines are everywhere in Japan, offering all of life’s essentials such as bottles of Sriracha hot sauce and fresh, crunchy bugs.
In the winter though, they can be hard to trek to when snow piles up around them, since unlike regular stores they don’t have people shoveling or plowing the spaces around them.
But at least once you’ve finally walked out the vending machine in your boots and jacket, ready to get your hot drink, you should be all set… right?
That’s what we thought, until Japanese Twitter user @hotateyasan shared this photo:
▼ “Vending machine gacha.”
自販機ガチャ pic.twitter.com/mt7aLHj24M
— アヴェマナヴ (@hotateyasan) January 19, 2022
Gacha games are ones where you put in money and you’re given a random prize, so you’re never quite certain what you’ll get. And that basically sums up what’s going on here!
Thanks to the frost, it’s impossible to tell which drinks are which in the vending machine. Despite that though, it’s still working as you can see with the green text on the small display screen. So you’re welcome to insert a random amount of money, press a random button, and see what surprise comes out!
Some might claim that you could just wipe the snow off, but depending on how icy it is, brushing away the frost might not be possible. If it’s solidified, than nothing less than an ice scraper and a lot of elbow grease will let you see what prizes lie inside. And why go through all that effort just to have all the fun sucked away anyway?
Japanese netizens mostly delighted in seeing the real-life gacha game:
“I would trust my instincts and drink whatever came out.”
“How is it even still running? lol”
“If it’s one you’ve used often, you could just remember which button to press.”
“Hopefully the drink isn’t too cold, haha.”
“Looks like fun!”
“What a hardworking Vending Machine-Kun, persevering despite the cold!”
▼ Of course all of this depends on whether or not the money slot is even working.
Lol pic.twitter.com/WrDxDaAYWT
— error._..b0y (@Devildarkbi) January 19, 2022
I don’t know about you, but I think the only item worth getting out of a frozen machine like that would be a piping hot roasted sweet potato.
Either way, we just hope that this is a regular, automatic vending machine and not one with a freezing cold old woman inside of it, operating it manually with her puppet.
Source: Twitter/@hotateyasan via My Game News Flash
Top image: Twitter/@hotateyasan
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Wagyu beef gacha vending machine dispenses meat at random in Japan
We buy random-destination airplane ticket discounts from a Japanese gacha capsule vending machine
Random beef tongue vending machine in Tokyo lets us test our luck, fill our bellies【Taste test】
Japanese capsule toy vending machines now selling working capsule toy vending machines
Japan has a random hotel room gacha capsule vending machine
Studio Ghibli adds new Jiji’s baby plush toy to its anime merchandise range in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases new Kiki’s Delivery Service Jiji music box for anime fans
Over 1,400 cities in Japan see foreign population rise, total populations drop in new statistics
Stray cats almost became classified as an invasive species in Japan but the change was overturned
Wagyu ramen for foreign tourists appears in Kabukicho, with a very high price tag
7-Eleven Japan adds new doughnut-like tonkotsu ramen fried chicken to its hot food section
Japan’s new beer glass is designed to force you to drink…water [Video]
Starbucks Japan unveils new Kyoho grape drinks for a taste that’s quintessentially Japanese
This beautiful rural Japan river is a great alternative to touristy summer retreats [Photos]
Did you know? Only one Beard Papa’s in all of eastern Japan sells soft serve in a cream puff
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store drinks with new Grilled Corn Chilled Soup Smoothie
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japanese gacha capsule vending machines now sell random-destination airplane ticket discounts
Weird Japanese gacha lucky dip vending machine gives us more than we bargained for
Taste-testing Japan’s beef tongue/gacha beef vending machine in Sendai【Taste test】
Here’s where to find possibly Japan’s cheapest, most mysterious vending machine
We get lucky with a Wagyu beef gacha vending machine at 3,000 yen a pop
Tokyo restaurant with two-year wait now offers random meat packs from vending machine【Taste test】
Creative Japanese office installs awesome full-size vending machine made out of cardboard【Video】
Japanese drink vending machine capsule toys: A must-have for recreating Japan in miniature
We make a Japanese ice cream vending machine
In Search of Osaka’s 11 Cent Vending Machine
The cold getting to you? Have a warm drink — from a vending machine!
Japan’s Flat Gasha Pon takes gacha capsule toy machines to a whole new level
“Have fun seeing what comes out” gacha machine is a mystery in more ways than one
Gacha machine backpack is Japan’s hottest new fashion statement
Japanese airline now has an onboard gacha capsule toy machine