Vending

Japanese vending machines sell a cool time

Image: Adobe Stock

August 10, 2026

Summarize with

A mobile cooling booth known as the Do Hiemon Box is gaining attention in Japan as temperatures climb to dangerous levels, according to a FirstPost report. Introduced commercially in April by refrigeration and vending machine manufacturer SDRS Co. Ltd. and distributed by TRUSCO Nakayama Corp., the single-person unit is designed to provide rapid relief from extreme heat and help prevent heatstroke.

Demand for the booth has grown during a period of unusually severe weather. Japan recorded five consecutive days in late July with temperatures reaching at least 104 degrees Fahrenheit. In Tokyo, emergency crews reportedly transported more than 450 people to hospitals for heat-related illnesses in one day. Traditional measures such as fan-equipped jackets become less effective when high temperatures and humidity prevent sweat from evaporating properly.

Based on technology used in frozen-food vending machines, the stainless-steel booth maintains an interior temperature of about 59 degrees while vents direct colder air toward the occupant's head, neck, shoulders and upper back. The unit includes three cooling settings and an automatic 20-minute shutoff intended to reduce the risk of excessive cold exposure. It uses a standard electrical outlet and consumes about 0.51 kilowatt-hours, with an estimated operating cost of 16 yen, or about 10 cents, per hour.