A souvenir vending machine that handles the tax-free procedures for foreign tourists without a human has been installed on a trial basis at Nijo Castle in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City. Using AI (artificial intelligence), it can support 64 languages ​​and also uses facial recognition to verify the purchaser. It is likely to attract attention as a measure to address the labor shortage in the tourism industry and as a way to sell high-priced items.

An automated vending machine that processes tax-free orders for foreign tourists (Nijo Castle Shop, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City)

The AI ​​tax-free vending machine is operated by touching the large screen. After selecting a language such as Spanish or Mexican and holding your passport over the reader, the camera automatically checks whether the purchaser is the same person as the photo on the passport and the expiration date of the landing permission stamp. The displayed item can be purchased at a price that does not include consumption tax.

The product selection screen for an unmanned vending machine that processes tax-free items for foreign tourists. Fans, brooches, pen cases and other items are on display (Nijo Castle shop, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City)

There are 15 types of items for sale, ranging from a Karakami experience set for about 5,000 yen, where patterns are printed using woodblocks, to a pearl bracelet for about 220,000 yen. There are also earrings and money clips that utilize traditional industrial techniques such as Kyoto Shippo, hand-painted Yuzen, and decorative metal fittings.

The actual product is on display next to the vending machine.

The vending machine has been designated by the government to handle tax-free procedures. The machine will be installed experimentally from late January to the end of February at the Kyoto City Tourist Association's shop inside Nijo Castle. Its eye-catching golden exterior constantly shows footage of the "hikihaku" process, a decorative technique used in Nishijin weaving, on a large screen.

President Koinuma Yoshiaki of Preno (Tokyo), a company involved in the manufacturing and sale of the next-generation vending machine that was developed, commented, "We're surprised that even the more expensive items have sold so well," and said they are considering further improvements such as improving the product descriptions. They have already received inquiries from airports and other places, and said, "We hope that through the vending machine, we can provide an opportunity for foreign visitors to create fond memories."