My cigarette smoking friends in Australia are always amazed when I tell them how much a packet of smokes is in Japan. Generally prices are about ¥410, approximately $4. Prices in Australia are 5 times that, or more.
Cigarettes and coke please: Vending machines (HDR Photo)
There are said to be well over 5 million vending machines of all types in Japan.
The red panel with 2 green lights on the cigarette vending machine is an age verification unit. The unit is used in conjunction with Tapso 「タスポ」 which is a smart card that can also be loaded with funds for payment. The card is restricted to people 20 years of age and older.
Typical of the Japanese way of shortening English words, Tapso is a combination of tobacco passport.
These vending machines are across the road from the Hotel New Hankyu Osaka.
See more photos of vending machines in Japan.
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