Japan’s Sneaker cleaning vending machines

Buckle up, sneakerheads because Japan’s flipping the script on how we tackle grimy grails. Forget hauling out brushes, cleaners and any finishing products because now you can hit up Japan’s glowing vending machines. Drop some yen into the machine, pop in your sneakers, and strut out with soles sparkling like new. Sounds like a fever dream? Nah, it’s just the reality of 2025 vending hype, weird, convenient and straight up addictive.

Picture from bubblelaundrette

How it goes down

Picture dodging salarymen and tourists under Shibuya’s blinding neon lights, stomach full from all the ramen spots. Bam - A sleek machine is free and ready to clean your sneakers. Kick off your dirty smelly pair off and slide them into the machine and wait barefooted or in your socks for 20 to 30 minutes. Take your shoes out and put them in the dryer for a further 20 minutes and BAM! Clean shoes. Now put them back on your smelly feet and get back to your day now with a fresh pair of sneakers. Ok reality is, you will probably take them with you when doing your laundry but that’s nowhere near as fun to what I just wrote!

Here’s a quick rundown:

• Wash Cycle: 20 – 30 minutes of gentle brushes and formulas which cost 200-400 yen (£0.00 - £1.97)

• Dry it out: Pop them in the adjacent dryer for another 20-30 minutes (Same low fee)

• Fresh kicks: grab them and put them on or stash for later.

These machines are amazing. They don't judge the state of your shoes or care if you're a hypebeast poser. They just clean and deliver as expected and create an easy, convenient way to clean your sneakers. The brushes on the inside won’t damage them and the machine uses the correct formulas to ensure the best possible clean it can provide. Sure, it’s not a full cobbler miracle; ingrained mud might linger but for a quick refresh on dailies? It’s gold.

The business lowdown

On the business side of these machines, these sneaker scrubbers are riding Japan’s massive vending machine empire. The sneaker cleaning vending machines are bought for £3500 from AQUA based in Malaysia or you can buy budget ones from Alibaba for £1500 but quality dips. According to research, the average income from one of these machines is £250 - £650 per month but have been known to exceed £800 per month. Running cost 25% with a gross profit 75%.

What is your take?

Would you ditch your home kit for these? I’d hit them for dailies but continue hand-scrub my prized Jordans. These sneaker cleaning vending machines seem handy if you have a busy and chaotic lifestyle and don’t have time to clean your sneaker. Pop into your laundromat, wash clothes and kicks, then hustle off. How convenient is that?

Let me know below what your opinion is on these and if you would use it.