Searching for cool gourmet finds at the retro vending machines in Sagamihara! I had some ice chocolate banana.

The extremely hot days continue, don't they? During such times, something cold and delicious! So, what kind of perfect gourmet treats are there at the "Used Tire Market Sagamihara Store Vending Machine Corner"? I went to find out.

It seems there are cool vending machines in the used tire market

"Used Tire Market Sagamihara Store Vending Machine Corner" in Sagamihara. It has become a popular tourist spot that has attracted attention on TV programs and social media, boasting one of the highest popularity in the Sagamihara area. Despite being a weekday morning, the parking lot was almost full. Many visitors arrived by motorcycle, and at this time, it was bustling with more than 10 groups of customers.

Used Tire Market Sagamihara Store Vending Machine Corner
Location: 2661-1 Shimomizo, Minami-ku, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Hours: 24 hours
● Used Tire Market

Upon checking in advance, it seems there are vending machines for cool gourmet items like ice cream and shaved ice. Until now, we have mostly focused on the standard soba and hamburgers, but it seems we overlooked this. Let's start searching for it right away.

Start strolling to find cool vending machine gourmet.

There are areas covered by a roof, so surprisingly, even in the middle of summer, you can spend time comfortably without worrying about the sunlight. With this, you can leisurely enjoy touring retro vending machines.

Found it! I discovered a vending machine that sells ice cream. Most of the ice cream for sale is familiar, like Yukimi Daifuku, but upon closer inspection, it seems there are some "winners" as well, which is interesting. However, it looks quite old. I wonder if the vending machine is working properly...

When I put in the money and pressed the button… there was no response at all. Even pressing hard or holding down didn’t yield any response. It seems to be out of order. I was looking forward to it, so I'm a bit disappointed, but this might be part of the charm of retro vending machines.

As I continued, I found another retro Snow Brand ice cream vending machine. It seems there are more ice cream vending machines than I imagined. It might be best to take it slow and do a complete round first.

There are quite a few ice cream vending machines. Not only the classic ice creams but I also found croffles, which seem popular among young people, originating from Korea. There are so many varieties that it's overwhelming.

While continuing my stroll, thinking about "what if I could eat it all...", I discovered a kakigori vending machine! It seems to be very rare, as there are reportedly only a handful of them in Japan. Unfortunately, on the day I visited, it wasn't operational, but upon checking social media, it seems there are days when it does work.

I found an ice chocolate banana! I decided to buy it.

I was so indecisive that I ended up going around three times… However, today I decided on the ice chocolate banana! In fact, I recently overcame my dislike for bananas, so this will be my first time eating a chocolate banana. I wonder what the flavor of this memorable first chocolate banana will be.

I also got a hot 400 yen ramen.

After walking a lot, I started to get hungry. Since I’m at it, let’s enjoy some ramen, which is a representative of retro vending machine gourmet food.

The price of 400 yen feels like time has stopped.

After putting in the money and pressing the button, it was ready in no time. It came out in less than 30 seconds, and the ramen was piping hot! I'm curious about how the vending machine works.

Tasting the ice chocolate banana and ramen

In the midst of the crowd, I was lucky to grab a table. Before the noodles got too soggy, I'll start with the ramen.

The moment I took a bite, it was a nostalgic soy sauce ramen that made me feel relieved. Topped with chashu and menma, it had more ingredients than I imagined! I was surprised by the authentic taste of the chashu. It's amazing that this is just 400 yen. The noodles had stretched a bit, but that's part of the charm of a vending machine.

And now, I'm going to enjoy the ice chocolate banana that I was looking forward to. Taking a bite, I thought, "Oh!" The chocolate coating is crisp, and the banana inside is sweet. I see... So this is what a chocolate banana feels like, such a happy mood it brings. It's nicely chilled, a perfect dessert for summer.

Wrapping up my stroll with refreshing ramune

Having finished the ramen and the ice chocolate banana, I was looking for a drink to quench my thirst when I spotted a particularly retro-looking Plassy vending machine.

Upon checking it out up close, I saw it was labeled "Kotobuki Bottle Ramune," and I decided to buy it, thinking, "This is exactly what I need right now!"

The refreshing taste of the ramune is perfect to conclude my food stroll. I had an image of retro vending machines in Sagamihara serving warm foods like soba and hamburgers, but there are plenty of cool gourmet options too, making it enjoyable even in summer. I also got to experience the festive atmosphere. I plan to stop by again if the shaved ice vending machine returns.

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