Why Are There Photo Booths in Supermarket Parking Lots? (The “Shoumei-Shashin” Mystery)

Last updated: March 20, 2026

Not for Fun
If you walk around Japan, you will see box-like machines outside train stations, bookstores, and even convenience stores in the countryside. Are they “Purikura” (fun sticker photo booths)? No. They have a blue curtain and a stool inside. They are “Shoumei-Shashin” (ID Photo) machines.

A Paper-Heavy Society
In the US, you take your passport photo at a post office or pharmacy. In Japan, you need physical ID photos constantly. You need them for resumes (job hunting), driver’s licenses, university applications, and visa renewals. Because the demand is so high, these machines are everywhere.

The Ultimate Proof of Safety
Think about it. These machines are packed with expensive DSLR cameras, flashes, photo printers, and cash. Yet, they stand completely unattended on dark streets 24/7. They are never broken into, and the screens are never smashed. These humble boxes are the ultimate proof of Japan’s incredible public safety.

High-Tech Filters
They look boring on the outside, but the technology inside is amazing. For about $6 to $8, you get a sheet of official photos. They even feature “Beautiful Skin” modes! The machine automatically adjusts the lighting, removes your blemishes, and makes you look fresh and professional for your job interview.

A Last-Minute Lifesaver
Imagine you have a job interview in 30 minutes, and you forgot to attach a photo to your resume. In any other country, you would panic. In Japan, you just run to the nearest station, pop into the blue curtain, and 3 minutes later, you are saved!

The Unattended Street Machines (Related Articles)
ID photo booths aren’t the only strange machines you will find outside in Japan. Thanks to the high level of public safety, the streets and parking lots are filled with unattended robots and sheds!

1. The Noisy Wooden Sheds In supermarket parking lots, you might see small, loud wooden cabins. These are “Coin Seimai” stations, where people bring brown rice to polish it into white rice for maximum freshness.
👉 Why polish it yourself? Check out: “Why Are There Noisy Sheds in Supermarket Parking Lots? (The ‘Coin Seimai’ Mystery)”

Why Are There Noisy Sheds in Supermarket Parking Lots? (The “Coin Seimai” Mystery)

2. The Street Soup Stock Japan has over 4 million vending machines, and some of them sell “Fish Stock” with a whole flying fish floating inside! You can also find machines dispensing hot udon, frozen wagyu beef, and even sashimi in the middle of the night.
👉 Why sell soup on the street? Check out: “Why Can You Buy Soup Stock on the Street? (The Vending Machine Madness)”