Hot or cold: the color system
The single most useful thing to read on the machine.
In winter the same machine sells a coffee both ways — a red あたたかい label means a hot can drops out, blue つめたい means cold. Read the colour and the word together and you'll never get a surprise.
Reading the drink names
Mostly katakana — sound them out and they're English.
Tea and water (the kanji ones)
A few characters worth knowing as symbols.
Read the next one yourself
Learn the katakana these drinks are built from, paste a tricky label into the converter, or point the app at a machine and read it live — even underground with no signal, since it works offline.
Ready when you are
Read every machine, not just this one.
Kanapow turns any Japanese word into kana with tap-to-hear pronunciation, so a vending machine, a menu, or a station sign all become readable. Free on iPhone, and the Japan Trip mode works fully offline.
Download on the App StoreVending machine FAQ
How do I tell if a drink is hot or cold?
Look for the colored label under each drink: あたたかい (atatakai, warm) sits on a red or orange tab, つめたい (tsumetai, cold) on a blue one. The same machine often sells a drink both ways, so the color and word tell you which button gives a hot can.
What does 売切 mean?
売切 (urikire) means "sold out," and lights up under an unavailable drink, often in red. 当り (atari, "win") shows on machines running a small prize game.
Are Japanese vending machines cash only?
Most take ¥100 coins and ¥1,000 notes, and many accept IC transit cards like Suica or Pasmo. The coin return is 返却 (henkyaku) and change comes out at おつり (otsuri).
Can I read the buttons without speaking Japanese?
Yes — drink names are mostly katakana loanwords (コーヒー, コーラ, ジュース) you can sound out, and the hot/cold words plus a couple of kanji (お茶, 水) cover the rest.