Look for hot and cold labels before choosing a drink.
Insert coins or bills, or tap an IC card where supported. Press the lit button for the item you want.
How to use vending machines
Choose the drink first, then pay with coins, bills, or IC card; check hot/cold labels before pressing the button.
Fast decision card
Use this before reading the full guide.
Buying a hot drink by mistake in winter or a cold one by mistake in summer.
Assuming every machine accepts cards or mobile wallets. Leaving change in the tray.
Language Phrases
Useful for ordinary drink vending machines. Payment options and recycling rules vary by machine and location.
Steps
- Look for hot and cold labels before choosing a drink.
- Insert coins or bills, or tap an IC card where supported.
- Press the lit button for the item you want.
- Take the drink, collect change, and use the nearby recycling bin if one is provided.
Common mistakes
- Buying a hot drink by mistake in winter or a cold one by mistake in summer.
- Assuming every machine accepts cards or mobile wallets.
- Leaving change in the tray.
- Putting food trash into a bottle/can recycling slot.
Next branch
Use the quick steps above first. Open the full detail only when you need examples, edge cases, or the next task.
Detailed guide Full notes, examples, and recovery steps
The fast rule
Most drink machines are simple: choose, pay, press, collect. The real visitor mistake is pressing before checking whether the item is hot, cold, alcoholic, or the wrong flavor.
How to read the machine quickly
- Blue or cool-looking labels usually mean cold.
- Red or warm-looking labels usually mean hot.
- Lit buttons usually mean available.
- A blank or unlit button may mean sold out.
- Machines near stations often support IC cards, but small machines may be cash only.
Payment
Coins are the lowest-risk option. Many machines accept bills, but not every bill denomination. If using an IC card, tap where the card symbol is shown and wait for confirmation before pressing the button.
After buying
Collect the bottle or can, then check the change return. If there is a recycling bin beside the machine, use the correct slot for bottles, cans, or PET bottles. If there is no bin, carry the container until you find one.
Useful traveler trick
When you are tired, thirsty, and cannot read the label, use image recognition or choose a clearly branded water / tea item. Do not experiment right before a train if you need something predictable.