Cash is still the most basic way to pay at vending machines in Japan. However, more machines now accept transit IC cards, electronic money, and QR code payments. Not every vending machine accepts the same methods. The options depend on the type of machine and where it is located, so the most reliable approach is to check the payment symbols before making a purchase.
Most standard drink vending machines accept 10-yen, 50-yen, 100-yen, and 500-yen coins, as well as 1,000-yen notes. They generally do not accept 1-yen or 5-yen coins, or 5,000-yen and 10,000-yen notes. If you only have a large note, you will need to get change somewhere else or use a cashless payment method if the machine accepts one.
At train stations and in major cities, it is common to see machines that accept transit IC cards such as Suica and ICOCA. By contrast, cash-only machines are still common at roadside locations, in residential areas, and in rural parts of Japan. QR code payments are becoming more widely available, but they cannot yet be used at every vending machine. Contactless credit card payments are even less common, especially outside large cities.
Japanese people do not necessarily search for a vending machine that accepts their preferred payment method. More often, they simply use whichever method is available on the machine in front of them. Even when cashless payment is available, some people deliberately use coins to reduce the amount of small change in their wallets. Cash remains common not simply because some machines are old, but because it is still practical and convenient.
The payment methods accepted by each machine are usually shown clearly on the front with logos and symbols. It is generally easy to tell whether a machine is cash-only or accepts transit IC cards, electronic money, or QR code payments. Japan has an enormous number of vending machines, but the payment methods they accept are not standardized nationwide.
Foreign visitors should first check the symbols on the machine to see which methods are available. Cashless payment is becoming more common, but anyone who wants to use vending machines without difficulty should still carry a few 100-yen coins and a 1,000-yen note.