German Spit Cake Sold from Vending Machine at Yokohama Station

Yokohama’s Bashamichi Station on the Minatomirai Line now offers Baumkuchen, a German spit cake, through a vending machine outside the ticket gates.

The machine, stocked by Cocotomo Farm, sells a gluten‑free version made with brown rice flour from Aichi Prefecture. According to the display, the same cake is presented as a welcome gift on the Asuka III, Japan’s largest passenger cruise ship, and is being offered at a reduced price to cut food waste.

Customers can purchase a combo pack containing a slice of the brown‑rice hard Baumkuchen and a slice of the white‑rice soft variety for 650 yen, or a pack of hard‑cake edges for 500 yen. Payments are accepted in cash or via several mobile apps.

All cakes are frozen inside the machine to preserve freshness. Reviewers noted that the soft cake was moist and tender, while the hard cake was dense, chewy and required firm biting. Packaging clearly labels the product as gluten‑free.

Background

Baumkuchen, popularly called “baum” in Japan, has become a niche snack despite its German origins. The product’s link to the Asuka III stems from the “Asuka III Meets 47 Prefectures” project, which highlights regional specialties on the cruise. The machine’s location near Yokohama’s international cruise terminals may explain its placement, though officials have not confirmed the reason.

What’s Next

Cocotomo Farm plans to continue using vending machines to distribute the cake while monitoring sales and waste reduction. The company has not announced additional locations.

Why it matters: The vending machine introduces a gluten‑free, internationally‑sourced treat to commuters and travelers in a region that serves as a gateway for cruise passengers, reflecting Japan’s growing focus on reducing food waste and promoting regional products.