This restaurant-machine fusion is one small step for vending, one giant leap for vending-machine-kind.

There are approximately 2.5 million vending machines in Japan and each one has a story, but none so enticing as a machine rumored to vend handmade gyoza 24 hours a day, seven days a week, rain or shine. Our reporter Masanuki caught wind of this legend and set out to the dark corners of Yokohama – where the wild Pikachu roam – in order to find it.

It actually turned out not to be in the dark corners, but about five minutes from Center Minami Station on foot. Nevertheless, danger was afoot as Masanuki didn't know the exact location of the machine and would have to scour the... Oh, there it is!

Painted bright yellow, it certainly did have a unique appearance worthy of its reputation. Hearing of a machine that dished out gyoza, Masanuki was half-expecting one of those old-timey machines with questionable tuna sandwiches inside, but this one was very clean and modern looking. He had no qualms about buying perishable food from it.

The machine was located outside of the Lonsanbo Chinesee small plate restaurant and boasted several of its items such as Handmade Gyoza (13 for 1,000 yen), Meat Gyoza (12 for 1,000 yen), Mizu Gyoza (8 for 880 yen), along with soup dumplings and shumai to choose from. All items were made by the Lonsanbo staff themselves.