A vending machine revives a favorite in Tokyo
Cold Stone Creamery is no longer scooping behind counters in Tokyo, yet the brand has found an unexpected way back into daily life in the capital. A dedicated vending machine at Meidaimae Station on the Keio Inokashira Line now dispenses branded frozen desserts, giving commuters and curious sweet seekers a fast, simple way to taste a name many associated with lively shops and rich mix ins. It sits inside the ticket gates on the platform, about a 10 minute ride from Shibuya, positioned for people on the move rather than cafe lingerers. Prices run in the 500 to 600 yen range and the menu features four fixed items that channel the chain’s blend of cake, fruit, cream, and candy.
The machine arrives after a sharp contraction for the American chain in Japan. The final Tokyo store, a short lived site in Harajuku, closed in late April 2025, and the Tochigi outlet shut soon after. That left one surviving branch at Mitsui Outlet Park Jazz Dream Nagashima in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture. For Tokyo residents, a trip there is not practical. The vending machine fills that gap, even if the experience is not the same as a hand mixed scoop on a granite slab. Portions come in cups, not cones, and there is no spoon included. Stock can sell out during busy periods, which adds a bit of a treasure hunt feel. The appeal is simple, though. Tap, pay, grab a chilled cup, and you have a playful dessert with familiar Cold Stone names, on a busy platform where every minute counts.
Where to find it and what it sells
The Cold Stone vending machine stands on the Inokashira Line platform at Meidaimae Station, within the paid area. That location matters. You need a valid ticket or commuter pass to reach it, and it is geared to people who are already traveling between Shibuya and Kichijoji. For many, it is a convenient detour on the way home or a quick treat before a transfer. The machine’s screens are straightforward, the branding is obvious, and the selections emphasize dessert combinations that echo the chain’s classic style.
On offer are four options, each pre assembled and frozen:
- Strawberry Pinky Cake, a strawberry and sponge cake themed cup that channels the classic shortcake idea
- Warabimochi Wa La Mode, a Japan inspired mix with warabimochi, a jelly like confection made from bracken starch that is often paired with kinako or syrup
- Chocolate Mint Lovers, a bright mint and chocolate combination for those who like a cooling hit with cocoa pieces
- Asai Bowl Ice (labeled that way on the machine), a fruit forward bowl that skews lighter and refreshing
Prices range from 500 to 600 yen. Early visits have shown that popular flavors can sell out. One day only the fruit bowl remained, on a return the strawberry cup was back in stock. The rotation is fixed, so the main variable is availability at the moment you arrive.
How the cups compare with store scoops
Cold Stone built its identity on a theatrical, mix on the stone style in a waffle cone, complete with singing staff. A vending machine cannot replicate that rhythm. The cups are smaller than a typical in store serving, they do not come with a cone, and there is no spoon inside the sleeve. Think of them as compact desserts designed for a quick break on the platform rather than a showpiece sundae. That does not mean the taste is an afterthought. The flavors layer fruit, cake, cream, and ice cream in a tidy stack that holds together as it warms slightly in your hand.
Taste and texture
The Strawberry Pinky Cake gives the clearest idea of what to expect. Frozen strawberry slices scatter on top, a base of soft sponge cake anchors the cup, and in between sits whipped cream and strawberry ice cream. The texture leans light and airy, closer to a mousse than a dense scoop. That suits people who find heavy dairy hard to finish on the go. Sweetness is present, yet the fruit and cream stay balanced, and the cake adds a gentle structure. It is pleasing, if different from the richer, mix heavy scoops many remember from the shop era. If you crave the glow of a fresh waffle cone and the sound of mix ins clinking on stone, the last remaining store in Mie is the only place to find it. On a weekday evening in Tokyo, though, this cup scratches the itch without leaving the station.
Why Cold Stone faded in Japan
Cold Stone’s arc in Japan shows how dessert culture and store format shape long term success. The first branch opened in Tokyo in 2005 and crowds flocked to lines where cheerful staff sang while blending mix ins into rich ice cream. At its peak the chain had more than two dozen locations around the country. The pandemic period strained that footprint, and by early 2023 only a couple of shops remained. The brand’s operator in Japan, Hotland, tried to rebuild with new sites in Machida and Harajuku and with menus tailored to local tastes, including flavors built around matcha and roasted sweet potato. The bounce did not last. The Harajuku shop closed on April 28, 2025 and the Tochigi outlet closed in May, leaving the Mie outlet as the last store.
Several factors worked against a broad comeback. Many Japanese sweets lean subtle, with clean finishes and moderate portions. Cold Stone’s ice cream is richer and sweeter, with an identity tied to candy, cookie, nut, and fruit mix ins. That feels like two desserts at once to some fans, something special every so often rather than a casual weekly treat. The shop format in Japan also tilted toward takeout, with limited seating and small interiors. In contrast, Japan’s love of parfaits and elaborate sundaes thrives in comfortable cafes where people sit, chat, and savor. Eating a large, dense ice cream while standing or walking has less appeal. Reworking the product to be simpler would risk losing the brand’s core idea, and converting to full cafe style after years in compact locations is a major shift. Against that backdrop, putting a vending machine in a crowded station offers a lower risk path to keep the name visible while matching the speed of commuter life.
Vending machines keep brands visible in commuter life
Japan’s vending machines are a world of their own. Drink machines line quiet residential streets and bright station corridors. Many sell hot and cold options, some handle fresh foods, and a growing number showcase branded specialties. The machines are trusted, tidy, and easy to use for locals and visitors. Most station machines accept coins and bills, and many accept contactless transit cards such as Suica and Pasmo, although payment options can vary by machine. The Cold Stone unit fits this landscape neatly. It offers a compact dessert without staff or seating, and it leverages the high foot traffic of platforms where people have a few minutes to spare while waiting for a train.
The choice of Meidaimae Station is practical as well as symbolic. The Inokashira Line connects Shibuya to Kichijoji, two areas with strong cafe and shopping cultures, and Meidaimae is a transfer point that naturally gathers people. A vending machine here can reach more potential customers daily than a small side street shop, and it does so with far lower overhead. If the machine proves that there is still appetite for the brand in the city, expanding to a few more stations could follow. If sales ebb, the machine can be moved with little disruption. That flexibility is one reason more brands are testing vending routes for niche items in Japan.
How to try it without hiccups
You do not need a plan to try the Cold Stone machine, but a few simple steps will make the stop smoother. The unit is inside the paid area on the Inokashira Line platform at Meidaimae, so you must pass through the gates. Weekday evenings and weekend afternoons can be busy. Stock varies through the day. If you want a specific flavor, going earlier or later than peak commuting hours can help. The cups are smaller than a shop serving and they do not include a spoon, so bring a reusable spoon or pick up disposable cutlery at a convenience store in the station ahead of time. Expect the cups to soften slightly, which is when the texture tends to be at its best.
- Enter the station gates before heading to the platform. The machine is not in a public concourse.
- Have coins or small bills ready. Many machines accept contactless cards, but cash is a reliable backup.
- Bring a spoon. There is no cutlery in the package.
- Check the display for sold out tags. Popular items can vanish at peak times.
- Step away from the flow after you buy. Platforms get crowded, so stand to the side while opening the cup.
If you travel from Shibuya, the ride to Meidaimae is around 10 minutes. The stop is a practical add on to many travel plans across west Tokyo, and the time from purchase to first bite is usually under one minute.
For Tokyo dessert lovers, choices still exist
The vending machine is a small return for Cold Stone in Tokyo, but it lands in a city with abundant frozen sweets. Soft cream, the local term for soft serve, is everywhere, from parks and tourist spots to convenience stores. Baskin Robbins, known as Thirty one in Japan, remains the most familiar scoop shop, with flavors and seasonal collaborations that keep foot traffic steady. Convenience stores also stock premium cups and bars from national brands, a category that has grown faster as people seek quality treats at home or on the way home.
Cold Stone has experimented outside shops too. The brand has offered bundled takeout boxes with several popular flavors for at home enjoyment, and it has collaborated on packaged desserts in retail channels. These routes match a broader trend. People want flexible ways to treat themselves, not only a counter visit. The Meidaimae machine extends that idea onto a station platform. For fans who missed the singing and the stone, it may not replace the full ritual, yet it delivers familiar flavor profiles in a format that aligns with daily life in Tokyo.
The Bottom Line
- Cold Stone closed its last Tokyo shop in April 2025, and only one store remains in Mie Prefecture.
- A vending machine at Meidaimae Station on the Inokashira Line now sells four Cold Stone desserts.
- Flavors include Strawberry Pinky Cake, Warabimochi Wa La Mode, Chocolate Mint Lovers, and Asai Bowl Ice.
- Prices run from 500 to 600 yen, portions are smaller, and there is no spoon in the package.
- The machine is inside the ticket gates, so a valid ticket or pass is required to reach it.
- Stock can sell out during peak hours, making early or off peak visits a smart choice.
- The format fits Japanese commuting culture and keeps the brand visible with low overhead.
- For a full in store experience, the last remaining shop is at Mitsui Outlet Park Jazz Dream Nagashima in Mie.
