【Exploring Retro Vending Machines】At "Akutsu Vending Service" in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, Delicious Hot Toast Sandwiches

A journey to explore drive-ins in Gunma where you can enjoy game corners as well as udon, soba, and ramen from vending machines. This time, we visited "Akutsu Vending Service" in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture. We tried the toast sandwich available from the retro vending machine.

There are many drive-ins in Gunma Prefecture that have a lot of vending machines and game machines

This is the second installment of my journey exploring vending machine drive-ins. For me, drive-ins that have vending machines where you can buy warm meals and game corners are the focus, and I will investigate the attractions by actually visiting them.

This time, I aimed for the Akutsu Vending Service in Isesaki City

I came to the Akutsu Vending Service located in Isesaki City. It seems that wheat cultivation is thriving in the area around Isesaki City, and a peaceful rural landscape stretches out. The wheat harvest is in early June, and I was able to see the vast fields of golden wheat. It’s a bit surprising that such places exist in the Kanto region.

A pachinko machine that can be played as a game. When a certain number of balls is reached, prizes are given out, but it’s quite fun and has a different charm compared to pachinko at pachinko parlors.

Upon entering the store, numerous pachinko and pachislot machines were lined up, and despite it being a weekday morning, nearly ten customers were engrossed in pachinko. Retro game machines were also on display, but it seemed they had not yet made an appearance that day.

The busiest area was the newer pachinko corner. The atmosphere was filled with a level of excitement that one wouldn't expect from a vending machine drive-in.

I discovered the toast sandwich vending machine I was looking for. Of course, it was operational, and there was even a renewal notice indicating it was very much in active service.

Aside from toast sandwiches, the lineup included cup noodles and drinks. There appeared to be various flavors of toast, and it seems there are limited-time offers as well. Since it was my first time, I decided to buy the "ham and cheese," which was likely a basic menu item.

The retro "toast middle lamp" lit up, and I waited excitedly for it to finish. Such charming lamp displays are quite rare to find outside of retro vending machines.

After a while, a product wrapped in aluminum foil appeared. When opened, a nicely toasted and steaming hot toast looked delicious.

It was so hot that it was difficult to hold with bare hands, so I hurriedly placed it on the table right behind me to check the inside. The aroma of the toasted bread spread, and there were ingredients sandwiched inside. It was simple but very tasty with melted cheese and a hint of pepper.

The dining space has a homey and relaxing atmosphere, making one feel very comfortable. I wonder if the customers who are engrossed in games and pachinko will gather here later.

Inside the retro shop, fluorescent lights line the ceiling, and two tables are set apart. Besides the seats in front of the vending machine, there are also window-side seats in the corner of the shop. There are trash bins and tissues available, allowing customers to eat slowly. The calming atmosphere makes it easy to linger, which explains why this place has become a retreat for locals.

This was the second store following Drive-In Nanakoshi, but I found that there were differences in the line-up of vending machines and game machines, and each had its own unique features. However, it seems that being loved mainly by local customers is common to both. I will continue to visit more vending machine drive-ins, so stay tuned.

Interview/Article by Kazuma Tanaka