Ebino City, Miyazaki Prefecture, where Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan's "Ebino Plant" is located, is near the border of three prefectures of Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Kumamoto and roughly in the center of southern Kyushu, the central part of Kyushu. The city is rich in nature with the Kyushu mountain range to the north and the Kirishima mountain range to the south and has been known for rich rice-growing area.

In addition, Ebino City boasts a high-quality of spring water and has been popular for hot spring cure, such as Kyomachi Onsen, the only hot spring village in Miyazaki Prefecture, Yoshida Onsen, the prefecture's oldest hot spring, and Kakuto Onsen.

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan installed the first "Kyomachi Onsen Regional Development Vending Machine" featuring a special wrapping in cooperation with Ebino City Tourism Association in August 2019 in the hope that this becomes the cue for many people to know the charms of the hot springs in Ebino City.

When soft drinks are purchased from these vending machines, part of the sales proceeds is donated to Ebino City Tourism Association for its tourism promotion activities. Nine "Kyomachi Onsen Regional Development Vending Machines" have been installed as of the end of 2020 centering around Kyomachi Onsen Station, ryokans and hotels, and eating establishments in the hot spring towns.

The Kyomachi original wrap designs with illustrations of women wearing yukata (a casual summer kimono) that is perfect for the hot spring towns make residents and tourists feel they want to take pictures and attract attention as Instagrammable spots.

The front side of the vending machine reads, "Kyomachi Onsen Regional Development Vending Machine" and hot spring names in Ebino City such as "Kyomachi Onsen," "Yoshida Onsen," and "Kakuto Onsen."

The designs of the yukatas that the women illustrated in the front, side, and rear of the vending machine wear are actually used in the hot spring ryokans and hotels in the city.

*Designed and produced by Ms. Ai Watanabe, a DTP designer living in Miyazaki City.
Color and yukata design by Ms. Mariko Irie, a painter living in Ebino City

After curing your body and mind and feeling relaxed with the high-quality hot springs in Ebino City, please stroll around the hot spring towns and try to search for these special vending machines.