CAR & BIKE

2026.03.28

[Vending Machine Drive-In] I went on a drive to the Nakayoshi Vending Machine Corner in Nakagawa Town, Tochigi Prefecture.

The sacred place of the vending machine drive-in, stepping out of Gunma and heading to Tochigi's "Nakayoshi Vending Machine Corner." The spot along the serene road is home to a variety of unusual vending machines, creating a healing space where everyone can smile.

The drive-in "Nakayoshi Vending Machine Corner" located in Nakagawa Town, Tochigi Prefecture

is positioned along a side road off National Route 293 when heading from Tokyo. I have been traveling mainly around Gunma, but this was my first visit to Nakagawa Town in Tochigi Prefecture.

It is a retro space where food vending machines and tabletop game machines are also operational

with a large number of vending machines installed, including a shaved ice vending machine. According to information, it seemed to still be in operation, but on this day, perhaps due to the season, the light was not on.

The retro arcade games were also actively running, and I spotted a Raiden machine, which I had seen at the local bowling alley when I was a child. The author doesn't have any particular attachment to the game itself, but seeing the screen brings back the unique smell that mixed with tobacco smoke in that space of the facility, flooding my nostrils.

The toast sandwich is sold out. There seem to be two types, but the green button's egg chicken tartar toast looks very delicious... For tartar lovers, this is irresistible. At that time, there were other customers, and I heard them talking, "The popular items are, after all, sold out," so the toast sandwich might be a popular product.

I discovered a rare cotton candy vending machine

There was a cotton candy vending machine that I had never seen before. It's somewhat aged, but it's still operating well and looks lively even now. Since it was a holiday, there were many families visiting. It looked like the kids were having fun making it, which sparked conversations.

I tried tonkotsu ramen from the classic ramen vending machine

There were also vending machines for udon, soba, and ramen. Among what I had seen so far, soy sauce ramen was the standard, but since there was tonkotsu ramen here, I put in a coin without hesitation. I can hear the sound of the internal mechanism starting to move.

The nixie tube indicating the completion time is still in service, and this counter really has a good atmosphere. The ramen costs 480 yen. Since there was no change machine in sight, it would be good to prepare some coins or get change from the drink vending machine.

I’ll enjoy it at the sunlit terrace seat. When I purchased it, I could only see the cloudy tonkotsu soup and noodles.

The ingredients I discovered after flipping it over were chashu, narutomaki, and it was a hearty, simple tonkotsu ramen with mountain vegetables. The thick noodles have a smooth texture and a light taste, making it easy to eat. I bought it as a snack, but it's filled to the brim in the bowl, providing more volume than it looks. Thank you for the meal.

The disposal area for leftover soup has a systematic structure that catches the eye. It has a handmade feel, but it appears to be well-established and functioning properly. Since it's operated without staff, cleaning up the trash might be a bit of a hassle, but this way, waste can be collected automatically, and it seems very useful for operations.

People gather in the tranquil vending machine corner, creating a pleasant space.

The hamburger vending machine not only includes the latest model but also features older types, like the one in the image above. The lace mat depicted in the panel evokes a sense of the Showa era. I wonder why there was so much lace fabric during that time. Speaking of which, I remember it being used even in household furniture and car seats.

The Nakayoshi vending machine corner was visited by many customers, and there were many smiles around. It really feels like a peaceful space where conversations could easily arise even between strangers, living up to its name. I also want to drive towards the next vending machine drive-in in search of new experiences.

Facility name: Nakayoshi Vending Machine Corner
Location: 1073 Miwa, Nakagawa Town, Nasu County, Tochigi Prefecture

Reporting & Text: Kazuma Tanaka

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