Stars and Stripes – Retro vending equipment offer you tastes of yesteryear at a made use of tire shop outdoors Tokyo
A significant, steaming bowl of chashu ramen from 1 of the vintage vending devices outdoors
On a filth and gravel road exterior Tokyo, not much from the U.S. Army’s Camp Zama and Sagami Common Depot, you’ll come across a battalion of rusty vending equipment ready to dispense foodstuff and fond memories. 
Some men and women are drawn to the Utilized Tire Current market in Sagamihara for a set of retreads or discounted rims. Others appear for the very hot noodles, toasted sandwiches, glass-bottle Cokes and odd knicknacks provided by scores of vintage vending devices encompassing the store. 
“We started out this provider so that consumers who occur to the retailer to alter tires can get pleasure from the waiting around time,” says a be aware on the shop’s web-site. “May your waiting around time be loaded with nostalgia and enjoyment.”
On my 1st go to, I spotted a grinning outdated guy enthusiastically popping coins into a 1960s-period Japanese curry machine. Close by, a young pair leaned towards a wooden railing, slurping steaming ramen from the exact yellow plastic bowl. 
My fellow diners on a later on take a look at integrated a pair of Japanese superstars — a comedy duo recognized as Wagyu — filming a section for television. 
When taking in my way by way of a portion of the shop’s seemingly many choices, I was especially taken with the toasted sandwiches (300 yen or about $2.75) that, following a 60-2nd countdown, pop out tightly wrapped in piping warm aluminum foil. Tongs are accessible to retain you from burning your fingers. 
There are two sorts available, corned beef and ham and cheese. I relished the corned beef’s peppery flavor so substantially, I made a decision to have an additional. A colleague preferred the ham and cheese, describing its familiar style as “comfort food.”
Considerably less amazing, for me in any case, have been the fast noodles. You will probable uncover greater good quality at any Japanese comfort retail outlet, though these won’t arrive shut to matching the Utilized Tire Sector working experience. 
My colleague and I experimented with the udon with deep-fried tofu (350 yen) that, however, proved to be a “blah” working experience. The noodles were being soggy, the soup was bland, and I could not even bring myself to contact the tofu. A bowl of chashu ramen (also 300 yen) I shared with my 10-yr-aged son on a subsequent visit was excellent by leaps and bounds.
Talking of my son, he’s a massive admirer of the freshly popped American Popcorn (150 yen), which will come in a few flavors: salt, barbecue and chocolate. The equipment retains you entertained with an infectious ditty while you wait around for a microwave within to do its issue. The exact same equipment sells a Japanese model of Pop Rocks (30 yen) that my son likes to shake into the popcorn bag in advance of munching absent. 
Other choices include very small but meaty hamburgers served in a box, warm canines with mustard, shrimp tempura, fried rice and one thing identified as “bread in a can.” No Michelin Star candidates below, but all are low cost, fast and fun.
Hot foods is not all you will find at the made use of tire shop. There are also rusty devices marketing candy cigarettes, AA and AAA batteries, clinical masks, umbrellas, toy robots, plastic products and photos of teen singing sensations whose fame has very long pale. 
My most loved is a cardboard box that dispenses environmentally friendly apple-flavored gumballs with the press of a plastic button. If you’re blessed, you will get the a person red gumball waiting around inside. 
Require coins? You will discover a adjust equipment inside of a tiny place in close proximity to the tire shop’s office crammed with classic arcade video games. Several of the devices had been inoperable throughout my visits, although many classics ended up up and jogging, including Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Frogger.