Quick Vending Machine Question

[BlueThunderKuno]

Ok, I came across a video on youtube:




Just a run of the mill type video, until the guy says that you cannot drink out on the streets in Japan. My question "Is this true?"

I really don't understand why you would buy a drink in the vending machine just to drink it there by the machine. ah well if anyone can shed some light it would be appreciated.

 

[Davey]

I think it more has to do with the custom of not eating and drinking while walking, rather than not drinking on the street.

 

[BlueThunderKuno]

Ah ok thanks Dutch Baka. Makes more sense to me now.

 

[Mike Cash]

That "custom" lives on largely through foreigners repeating it to each other. It is not uncommon to see young Japanese people who pay it no mind whatsoever.

 

[BlueThunderKuno]

Thanks Mike. I'll just play it by ear, or sight.

 

[Goldiegirl]

I drink while walking around Tokyo, so does my husband and our friends. What isn't done is littering. There are plenty of bins around to recycle your cans. People eat on the trains to. They just don't make it obvious.

 

[Numark]

What isn't done is littering. There are plenty of bins around to recycle your cans.

Yeah right!

For example:
http://www.hellodamage.com/tdr/archive/garb/garb1.htm

There are plenty of places NEXT to the vending machines to recycle your cans, but NOWHERE ELSE!

 

[Goldiegirl]

I never had trouble finding a place to discard my cans....

 

[Mike Cash]

The Japanese have no aversion to littering. Quite to the contrary, many seem to have an affinity for it. You won't see much of it on city sidewalks, but that is largely because business owners keep things cleaned up pretty well. Get out in the countryside and on the roadways and you'll be thoroughly disgusted with the amount of litter to be seen in Japan.

 

[Dekamaster]

I did eat once while walking and just noticed some glances. Never knew back then that it was culturally rude to do such thing.

 

[BlueThunderKuno]

Ah well I will just try to be the best tourist I can, but I am not going to stress over this on my honeymoon.

 

[maushan3]

The Japanese have a lot of respect to their food. They are so passionate about it and think that doing anything else (except talking) during eating time is wrong. The theory, so I understand, is that the food is made for enjoying it to its fullest, so doing ohterwise would not bring the joy that foods supposed to bring. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong on this one, but this is what I understand.

And, don't worry about it. I know the Japanese, at least the older generations, think it is rude, but I do it and many other Japanese do it too, so don't sweat it much.

Just behave like you would in your home country and with some common sense and everything will be alright.

Oh, and garbage bins are so difficult to find. There are not public trash cans. Only ones in commerces, like in front of a vending machine.

Mauricio

 

[magevampjoe]

From what I have seen, eating and drinking on the street is fine. However, don't go walking around doing it. When eating or drinking, stop, sit down and eat.

Also, from what I have heard, fujisan is often full of litter.

Joe

 

[Iron Chef]

I eat and drink while I am walking to and from all the time. Probably because I am usually running late and always in a rush lol. I do tend to be self-conscious though if I see someone approaching nearby. Like I will be chomping on something at the time when I see some little old obaachan giving me the evil eye as I close the distance between us. I'll try and cover whatever I am eating up or kind of put it away from plainview off to my side lol although I make no efforts to conceal my chewing so I guess it's kind of a moot point.