From the archive
The Stores Without Staff
You can find these even in Tokyo.
Overseas visitors to Japan are often surprised by the sheer number and variety of vending machines in the country. But there's something which might just surprise them even more: Unmanned stores (mujin hanbai).
Discussion
That's a nifty system they got over there to prevent robberies! I would visit them just out of curiosity, but I usually like stores where I'm greeted at the entrance and I can chat a bit too ;)