Hong Kong ( CNN ) -- The round , red objects that Tokyo 's runners have been encountering lately are not the exhausted faces of fellow joggers , but rather a healthy snack at the end of their run . The agricultural giant Kagome told CNN it has placed a tomato vending machine in a station providing lockers and shower facilities for joggers near a popular running route close to the city 's Imperial Palace . The bright red vending machine , which has the slogan `` tomato loading '' in Japanese emblazoned on it , serves two sizes of the fruit , costing either 300 yen ( $ 3 ) or 400 yen ( $ 4 ) per piece . Kagome is pushing tomatoes as a healthy , rehydrating and nutrient-replenishing option for runners and will keep the vending machine in place until after the Tokyo Marathon on February 23 . Japan is the spiritual home of vending machines , with jido-hanbaiki , as they are known in Japanese , dispensing everything from soft drinks to toothbrushes , and even emergency underwear . There are currently around 5.5 million vending machines in Japan , or one for every 23 people in the country , according to the Japan National Tourism Organization . While vending machines dispensing apples and bananas are not unheard of , tomatoes are a new concept . They are replaced every other day , according to reports , to ensure freshness and the Nagoya-based company , which has a large share of Japan 's tomato market , says that they can help combat fatigue . `` I recommend runners have one after jogging to supply nutrition , '' a Kagome executive was quoted as saying in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper . Kagome has previously distributed tomatoes to marathon participants , handing out thousands of them at last year 's Tokyo event .
A vending machine near Hong Kong 's Kagome dispenses tomatoes . jido-hanbaiki is promoting the fruit as a healthy alternative to energy drinks and bars . Tomatoes are among a long list of weird things that Japanese can buy from vending machines . The country has 5.5 million vending machines , or 5.5 million for every 23 people in the country .