Etsuko kitchen

At a street-corner vending machine, carefully made cakes and other Western-style sweets are lined up for the taking. Etsuko kitchen, in Nishiogu, Arakawa-ku, is a distinctive cake shop that sells baked treats from a vending machine.

The selection includes lemon cake with a moist texture and bright, refreshing sweetness, soft chiffon cake, tea cake and fragrant cookies. The selection changes with the seasons, so a new treat may be waiting whenever you pass by. Many items come in convenient sizes, making it fun to pick up a few different kinds and enjoy a little of each.

There is no face-to-face service, but each item comes with a description, giving you a sense of its flavor as you decide what to choose. Payment is cash only, and you can stop by for a quick takeaway—a handy option during a walk or when looking for a souvenir.