Surprisingly, it is drink machines. Hey, don't laugh until you've experienced it. Drink machines are all over and I mean all over. There is even one in front of the apartment building a few houses down from us and of course they are on each train platform as well as almost every semi-busy street corner. At about $1.50 a pop (ha ha, no pun intended) multiplied by 5 thirsty mouths, it adds up quick.
Since we travel by foot, bike, bus and train everywhere it is really hard to pass by those machine leering your money in, especially in the hot summer. You often see Japanese buying drinks and Tim just commented the other day at the amount of money put out and the amount of bottled drinks put in by the Japanese. (They're recyled!) These machines offer everything from water to Pepsi to green tea. Other choices include coffee, milk tea, sports drink, fruit juice and barley tea. Most are refrigerated, but some are offered hot to help warm you on a cool, rainy day.
We don't succumb to this temptation too many times (our wallets won't let us!) and it is a real treat for the boys to buy a drink. To combat buying these enticing drinks, we usually carry around water bottles. Since it always tastes better cold we usually freeze partially filled plastic water bottles. Then we fill it the rest of the way with water and have a cool drink for several hours while we are out and about. We can use these over and over and it isn't too much of a loss if they don't find their way back home, compared to expensive containers. I love these carrying bags for drinks. (Japan is the land of cute bags!) 
So here is the give away part...leave a comment on this blog post by July 4 for a chance to win one of these drink tote bags, either pink floral print or black with green plaid trim. "Anonymous" comments are OK too, just make sure and leave your first name or initials. I will draw a name and then announce the winner on this blog a few days after the 4th. The lucky blog reader will win a little gift from Japan. (Overseas readers are OK too!)
