There was a special toy vending machine in the train waiting area at one of the stations in tokyo. I am looking for the location of that vending machine as I do not recall which station it was in. I have attached a photo of the machine from 2017.
Kind of unlikely to get any results from a vending machine from four years ago in my experience, but best of luck. I don't think these are all that super rare though, was there something specific about this one you were asking, or which set it apart from others?
That looks to be filled with regular gachapon fodder, which would've been swapped out a million times since 2017. Or did you stick your chewing gum under this actual unit and want it back?
Shibuya station has been completely remodeled for the phantom Olympics. All my favorite vending is gone.
That the one where you can select Potato Salads from display cases like fine jewelry? That place effin' rocks.
I did see this machine twice - in 2013 and then again in 2017 - when I happened to be at the same waiting area at the same station. I just don't remember which station. I have never seen this type of machine anyplace else. And it's the only machine that had these weird head things.
If it helps, the weird head gachapon are called "Parasite Creature". Here is a link with more detail, somewhat interesting read https://www.lbbonline.com/news/why-japans-capsule-toys-are-such-a-hit-with-foreign-tourists Also, it literally says all over that machine that the stock rotates. I've seen a video on YouTube that featured a similar machine but with Disney gacha. They seem to be called "Box Gacha" and you get your toy in a lil cardboard box instead of a capsule!
Excellent article! Thanks. I like that they do original toys with a "silly" bent. Looks like this is the web page with the toys: https://www.takaratomy-arts.co.jp/specials/pandanoana/ I contacted them through their facebook page. Hopefully they will respond. Perhaps this "Box Gacha" machine is more common than I think it is, but I have only seen the one.
Here is a newer version of the Pandanoana machine from my last trip to Japan (2019). Pretty sure this was near an exit of the Nakano station. These are more common now in stations and airport terminals than years past. There was nothing special in these that couldn’t also be found in your standard Gacha machines. Just a different presentation and delivery system.
