Vending

Soft-drink vending machines in Japan hit 3-decade low

Adobe Stock

April 7, 2026

Summarize withChatGPTGrokPerplexityClaude

The number of soft drink vending machines in Japan fell to 1.95 million in 2025, dropping below 2 million for the first time in roughly three decades, according to preliminary data published in a report in the Asahi Shimbun.

The total declined by about 90,000 units from the previous year, marking the largest annual decrease since records began in 1995. The figure also represents a roughly 20% drop from the market's peak in 2014.

Industry analysts attribute the decline to a combination of rising prices and shifting consumer behavior. As beverages sold through machines have become more expensive, many consumers have turned to supermarkets and drugstores offering discounted options. At the same time, higher labor and distribution costs have made it more difficult for operators to maintain profitability, prompting beverage companies to scale back deployments and restructure their vending operations.

Major operators, including Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc. and DyDo Group Holdings Inc., have reduced their machine footprints amid weaker financial performance. Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan has cut its network to about 650,000 units from roughly 700,000, while DyDo plans further reductions. Despite the contraction, vending machines remain a defining feature of Japan's retail landscape and continue to attract foreign tourists, aided by the country's low rates of vandalism and theft.