Vending Machine: Roasted Potatoes both hot and cold varieties Known as “yaki imo” in Japan, roasted potatoes are hearty treats that conjure up feelings of nostalgia and warmth for many. Much like an ice cream truck, the singsong call of the yaki imo trucks that slowly drive around neighbourhood streets are a familiar sound that many grew up with, and are sadly far fewer than they were back in the day. While they may not be as widely available on the back of vehicles now, the good news is they’re still conveniently sold at stores and festivals, and in the the cities of Hyuga and Nobeoka, in Miyazaki Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu, they’re available day and night at a number of specially marked vending machines. The display reveals a product lineup that consists of two varieties of sweet potato: the sticky beni haruka and the dense, moist annou imo. What was most surprising is the fact that there were temperature options for each, with the former available in hot or cold varieties, and the latter served up cold. 300 yen (US$2.69)