Vending machines

I saw one of those lists that float around the internet the other day about the things foreigners miss most about Japan once they leave. Vending machines were pretty high on the list. I definitely feel at a loss when I go to other countries and I can't find a cool beverage around every corner.

The creature climbing out of this machine is Kumamon, the mascot character o Kumamoto prefecture who has taken the country by storm since he won the national mascot contest three years ago. He's EVERYWHERE.