Vending

Noodle vending machine in Japan offers soft-serve ice cream

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June 23, 2022

A noodle vending machine at the Michi no Eki ("Roadside Station") located at Akitako Port Tower Selion in Akita Prefecture in Japan now offers soft-serve ice cream in addition to hot noodles, according to a soranews24.com report.

The new dessert is called Tsuyu Aji Soft ("Noodle Broth Flavour Soft Serve"). The ice cream costs 380 yen ($2.94) or 430 yen ($3.34) with toppings.

Vending machines with "soba" and "udon" written in Japanese were popular in the 1960s and can still be found in tourist and highway rest areas. The machines are placed in clusters with other machines, called "auto restaurants."

Convenience stores in the late 1960s replaced the "auto restaurants."