On March 14, 2020 (Saturday), JR East's long-awaited new station "Takanawa Gateway Station" opened, so I decided to pay a visit! It's my first time in Tokyo since the coronavirus outbreak. The new station is quite empty compared to other Yamanote Line stations, which was a bit surprising. The newly opened unmanned AI payment store "TOUCH TO GO" caught my attention, so I decided to check it out. The store doesn't have any staff, but it's equipped with about 50 AI cameras. It's like a mini kiosk inside the station with a limited selection of products. I picked up the "Takanawa Gateway Scented Bath Salts" (385 yen) and "EKI Rich Cheese Cod" (198 yen). At the checkout terminal, the selected items were displayed without scanning the barcode, making it a self-checkout experience. I paid with my Suica card, and the gate opened for me to exit. Overall, the cheese cod was rich and flavorful.

In April, I visited the new station "Takanawa Gateway Station" on the Yamanote Line in Tokyo for the first time. I stopped by the popular shop in the station called TOUCH TO GO @ Takanawa Gateway Station. It is an unmanned store with a glass exterior. Upon entering and passing through the gate, you will see numerous cameras on the ceiling, giving the store a futuristic feel. The AI cameras take pictures of what customers pick up, and when you proceed to the checkout, they ask, "Are these the items you want to purchase?" If correct, you can proceed with the payment. I bought some alcohol, and they even asked, "Are you over 20 years old?" Impressive attention to detail. Payment can be made with cash, transportation IC cards, or credit cards, which seems like a good selection. I enjoyed a Tokyo Highball for 160 yen on a bench in the high-ceilinged station concourse, trying to avoid attracting attention (laughs). It was a highball with a hint of plum flavor. It was delicious, and I moved on. In the future, I think we will see more of these "unmanned stores." With so many cameras on the ceiling, I wonder how much initial cost is needed, and it makes me curious about the operating costs (laughs). I will keep an eye on the trends. Thank you for the meal.

I entered a new station and timidly went into a shop. It was my second time at the Takanawa Gateway Station. I was curious about this shop when I came here before. It's a store inside the station, but there was no one at the register or any staff around... There were gates at the entrance and exit of the shop, and I was worried about being locked in. But this time, I was thirsty and determined to buy a drink, so I nervously went in. As I entered through the gate at the entrance, I saw a corner with snacks. Further inside, there were exclusive snacks and goods displayed. Going even further, there were alcohol, drinks, bento boxes, bread, instant food, and daily necessities. Since I wanted a drink, I picked up a PB Rooibos tea (\100 including tax) at NEWDAYS and headed towards the exit. At the self-checkout in front of the gate, I scanned the barcode, operated the touch panel, paid with my Suica, and the gate opened for me to exit. You can make regular coffee outside the gate, which is common in recent convenience stores. I have written nearly 500 words reviewing the shop's system and atmosphere, and now I will briefly review the Rooibos tea. It had a unique Rooibos aroma and tasted light (summed up in one sentence). This was my first experience at an unmanned convenience store. Once you get used to it, there doesn't seem to be any special issues. Thank you for the meal.

On April 14, 2021, I had lunch in Shinbashi and then planned to move to Shin-Okubo for a gathering with four people. We decided to start our meal at 2:00 pm, which is a bit of an odd time compared to the usual lunch or dinner hours, due to the current situation. Since we had some time to spare, we decided to stop by the new station "Takanawa Gateway" on the Yamanote Line to take a look. Upon arriving at the station, we were impressed by its modern design. Inside, we found a touch-and-go unmanned convenience store, where we purchased some Peach Parfait Kit Kats and spicy rice crackers. The spiciness of the crackers was intense, making us break out in a sweat, but we couldn't resist finishing them. It seems that self-checkout systems are becoming more common in supermarkets, business hotels, and even convenience stores, but for longer dining experiences, a bit of human interaction would be appreciated.

Anywhere Footprint Squad - Forbidden Convenience Store Gourmet (no longer forbidden, more like a habit now) Hello, this is reviewer mugē from the "Other" category! (*´ー`)ﾉ　Nice to meet you! Between Tamachi Station and Shinagawa Station on the Yamanote Line, the interim high-speed gateway station opened in March 2020. At the ticket gate, the unmanned AI payment store "TOUCH TO GO" has opened. It is the first store operated by TOUCH TO GO, established in July 2019. In February 2021, they formed a capital business alliance with FamilyMart. There is a video showing women purchasing items, so I watched that first before heading into the store. I was hoping to find some unique products related to the high-speed gateway, but it mainly had items from Kinokuniya, things you could find anywhere. I picked up a Kinokuniya lemon bread (180 yen + tax) and used TOUCH TO GO to pay. There was one staff member there to assist, so it wasn't completely unmanned, which was disappointing. I brought it home and had it as a snack. It's a lemon bread, not a melon bread, in a cute shape like an omelette rice. I ate it without ketchup. The sugar on the surface gives a nice crunchy texture. The outer part is a cookie dough with a subtle lemon scent, and the inside is like a brioche bread. It seems like you can also get your vitamin C intake with this treat. Lemon bread for a 3 o'clock snack!

After leaving a client in Mita, I wanted to go home early to continue working, but I needed to have a web meeting on the way. I couldn't find a suitable place for the meeting. The mobile office required going to Shinagawa and there were no private rooms available. Then I suddenly thought of the bench at Takanawa Gateway Station. There was some noise from the station, but there were few people, so I decided to have the meeting there. As expected, there were few people. It seemed doable. Since I still had time before the meeting, I decided to check out the unmanned kiosk that had caused a buzz when it first opened. Upon entering, there was a gate. The store had a set route, with only food and drinks available. However, there were many original items in this store. I first picked up a TTGN (TOUCH TO GO NUTS) for 540 yen, despite thinking it was expensive. Next, I found a can of Ebisu beer with the Takanawa Gateway design for 327 yen. The snacks were interesting too, possibly in partnership with Kinokuniya. I spotted a delicious-looking chocolate macadamia muffin for 286 yen, which I bought as a souvenir for my wife. I placed the three items in front of the register, and in an instant, the total amount was displayed! Even though the barcode hadn't been scanned yet... (like Amuro being punched by Bright). While amazed, I touched my Suica-enabled JRE card, and the payment was made, and the gate opened. Perfect. It's really well done. I only bought three items, but it ended up costing over 1000 yen... I felt a bit taken advantage of. My wife ate the muffin, so I don't know the taste. It was probably delicious. The Ebisu beer had a good aroma when I drank it after a long time. The nuts were salt-free and oil-free, with a nice crispy texture. Now, what about the service? How should we evaluate such well-made automation? Should we base our service evaluations on the advancement of unmanned systems? The day when "System" is added as a category in food review sites like Tabelog is coming soon.

High above the 30th station on the Yamanote Line, the newly opened Takanawa Gateway Station houses Japan's first completely unmanned cashless convenience store. In this post-COVID era, this store offers a glimpse into the future of retail spaces, where customers can simply pick up items, proceed to the payment zone, and complete the transaction using electronic money. With cameras and sensors monitoring movements, the store is both convenient and safe. However, questions arise about restocking, maintenance, selling fresh produce, and initial investment. Despite these concerns, the experience of shopping at this innovative store is intriguing, offering a taste of the easy and secure times ahead.

On this day of the weekend, I went shopping in Azabu area. To combat my quarantine weight gain, I decided to walk from Tamachi Station to Azabu-Juban. Before exiting the ticket gate at Tamachi Station, I stopped by this unmanned AI payment convenience store. This was my third visit, following my previous visits in March and May. My main purpose of visiting was to check the practical application of this new technology. However, what I discovered on this day was deep-fried rice crackers from Kaga and Hokuriku called "Beaver," recommended by basketball player Rui Hachimura. I first bought it at a convenience store in Kanazawa Station and have been buying it whenever I visit the Hokuriku region, but it's rare to find it in the Tokyo area, even at antenna shops. I happened to find it being sold at a Hokuriku specialty shop in Atre Kawasaki recently, but it was priced at 350 yen per bag, whereas this store was selling it for 220 yen, almost the same as the local price. I quickly picked it up and headed to the register. The display recognized my movement of taking the product from the shelf and showed two items, with one being incorrectly recognized this time. I manually corrected it and successfully completed the purchase of just the Beaver. By the way, this store still provides free plastic bags. The Beaver I ate at home was indeed delicious. Its light, crispy texture, the savory fragrance of fried rice crackers, and the umami of seaweed combined to create an exquisite taste. The product supply for this unmanned convenience store is handled by Kinokuniya, a subsidiary of JR East Japan. So I thought they might have Beaver at Kinokuniya, and later I searched various locations including the Aoyama International store, but the stores that carry it are few, such as the Shibuya Scramble Square store. If you come across it, it might be wise to stock up.

On September 12, 2020 (Saturday), a new station was born on the Yamanote Line, and I finally got to visit it. I had seen the station under construction from the train many times, but today was my first actual visit. When I got off the train on the Yamanote Line, as I had imagined, it was quiet and deserted. There were hardly any people on the platform, but as I rode the escalator up to the second floor concourse, I saw a few enthusiasts and families with children here and there. I decided to look for a canned beer to enjoy, and found a store near the entrance with an unmanned register. There was a staff member nearby to assist. I entered the store and found automatic doors inside that opened and closed in sequence. I grabbed a canned beer, scanned it at the automatic register, and paid with my PASMO card. It was my first experience with a touch-and-go payment, but I quickly got used to it. I enjoyed my canned beer while looking at the view outside.

On 20.9.06, I went to the unmanned convenience store Touch to Go located inside Shinagawa Gateway Station after Starbucks. All I had to do was pick up the items and go to the cashier, where the total amount was displayed on a camera without any further action required. This time, I purchased the original product "Deco Chocolate Yamanote Line Inner Loop (Renewal)" for 780 yen including tax. It is a set of 9 Tirol chocolates with cream inside, featuring illustrations of Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Shinagawa, the front of the Yamanote Line leading car, the TRAINART logo, Shinagawa Gateway, Shinbashi, and Yurakucho. The price of 780 yen for 9 Tirol chocolates may seem expensive compared to the usual convenience store price of 20 yen per piece, but it is a must-have item for railway enthusiasts. Other regular items had a reasonable price. Thank you for the meal.

I rode the Yamanote Line for the first time in a long time. In the past, I used to mainly rely on the Yamanote Line for getting around Tokyo, but recently, I feel like the subway is more convenient. One of my destinations today was the Saikyo Line platform at Shibuya Station. After checking out the platform, I transferred to the Yamanote Line and visited my next destination, Takanawa Gateway Station. It's a new Yamanote Line station, the first one since Nishi-Nippori 49 years ago. Similar to Shibuya Station, the area around the station is undergoing redevelopment. What's different, of course, is that it's a brand new, sparkling clean station. I visited the unmanned kiosk that I had seen on the news. When you enter through the automatic door, there is an entrance gate. Passing through that, you'll see shelves of products. Choose your items, then there's an automatic checkout in the direction of the exit. Pass your selected items through the sensor to confirm if everything is correct. Then, touch your transportation IC card for payment. Finally, exit through the gate. Surprisingly easy. They must have created a system that even a first-time old man like me wouldn't get lost in, haha. Well done. They also had reusable bags available, which is great. I don't mind paying 5 yen for that (bitter smile). It was a hot day, so I replenished my fluids with a bottle of Ocha no Kanja healthy tea!

The company TOUCH TO GO, a joint venture between JR East Japan Startup Co., Ltd. and Signpost Co., Ltd., is developing an unmanned AI payment system solution to solve issues such as labor shortages in retail stores and maintaining local stores. On a cloudy evening, I visited the Shinagawa Gateway Station for the first time. I noticed this unmanned convenience store and decided to try buying something. I purchased a "torayaki" (180 yen including tax) and a "mame daifuku" (also 180 yen). I paid with my Suica card. I am debating whether or not to post this on my food blog and how to rate the experience, but I will go ahead and post it. The torayaki and mame daifuku were made by Fukumo Shosuke Dango. I am satisfied. I had a good experience, so I will give it a higher rating of 3.8.

Today, I had work in Tamachi from the morning. I wanted to minimize the time spent on the train, so I decided to get off at Takanawa Gateway on the Keihin-Tohoku Line and walk to Tamachi. When I went up to the concourse level at Takanawa Gateway, I found an unmanned AI payment convenience store open. Last time I visited shortly after it opened, there were a few staff members assisting, but this time it was truly unmanned. And since it was early in the morning, around 7 o'clock, there were no customers either. This was a chance to try out the unmanned AI feature again. I decided to go in while getting breakfast. The system here uses image recognition to identify the items customers take, and when a customer stands at the register, the total amount is automatically displayed. Last time, one of the two items was not recognized and I had to scan it, but this time it worked perfectly. The onigiri was 178 yen and the bottled tea was 139 yen, displayed on the register screen, and I was able to purchase them with Suica payment. A little happy. When I tried the onigiri after arriving in Tamachi, it felt a bit hard because it had been refrigerated. The retailer is Kino Kunimura, which supplies all the products in this store, and the manufacturer is Marukou Food, part of the Chiyoda Sushi Group from Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture. While the sales process may be automated, it seems that complete automation of freshness management of products has not been achieved. I was impressed by the unmanned AI payment system, but there were still some challenges on my second visit.

On April 2020, I visited the new Takanawa Gateway station, which is the first new station on the Yamanote Line in 49 years. The station, designed by Kengo Kuma, is modern and open, with a sense of spaciousness. Although the area around the station is still under development, I visited "TOUCH TO GO" inside the ticket gates. It is a completely cashless store where customers are recognized in real-time as they enter and pick up items, and they can pay by simply confirming the displayed amount at the exit. I purchased a 650ml mineral barley tea for 140 yen. Unfortunately, the Starbucks Coffee at the station was temporarily closed due to the state of emergency, so I refreshed myself with this drink. The concept of a cashier-less store like this not only offers a sophisticated design but also provides a sense of security for both customers and staff, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On this day, I had work at a certain company in Mita in the afternoon. After finishing, I decided to walk to the newly opened station nearby. I was intrigued by the unmanned AI payment convenience store on the 2nd floor concourse inside the station. When I arrived at the station after 6 pm, I saw a crowd on the left side of the ticket gate, indicating the presence of the convenience store. Despite being unmanned, there were about 4 staff members assisting with guidance and payment. Due to the large number of customers, their faces seemed a bit tired. I joined the end of a line with about a dozen people and entered the store after waiting for about 10 minutes. The system at this store was developed by a venture company called Signpost (Chuo Ward), which recognizes people and the products they pick up using images, allowing for automatic payment when the person reaches the unmanned register. The store is operated by a joint venture between JR East Japan Startup and Signpost called TOUCH TO GO, but the products on the shelves seem to be supplied by JR East Japan's Kinokuniya. I decided to pick up some snacks, choosing "Lucky Mayo Curry" from San Shin Co., Ltd. (Chiba) for 100 yen (excluding tax) and Kinokuniya's original product "Fluffy Tearable Autumn Salmon" for 500 yen (same). When I approached the register with these items, the screen displayed "Fluffy Tearable Autumn Salmon" without me doing anything, which was quite impressive. However, the Lucky Mayo was not recognized, possibly due to it being stacked on top. After having the image scanned at the register, I was able to complete the payment successfully. Overall, the system still seems experimental and may not be suitable for high-traffic convenience stores in urban stations. However, I believe it is a necessary system for the future society. By the way, I enjoyed the Lucky Mayo and autumn salmon.

This is a convenience store inside the Shinagawa Gateway Station. Unlike regular convenience stores, the checkout is automated. It was newly opened and there were people at each machine. In the end, it was still manned, but it will probably become unmanned in the future. The price is displayed without scanning the barcode, which was interesting. I bought a melon bread from Kinokuniya. It was a well-made bread without being too heavy.

I returned to Takanawa Gateway Shibuya Station and boarded the Yamanote Line. I headed to a new station that had been built between Shinagawa and Tamachi called "Takanawa Gateway" Station. It was my first time getting off at this station. It's been a while since I've been in Tokyo, and it's surprising to see a new station like this. The station platform was quite modern and all brand new, even though it has been open for over two years. As I climbed the stairs, I noticed the good view from the top. And when I reached the ticket gate, I found an interesting shop. Apparently, this shop is a completely unmanned store, so I was curious to see how it worked. I decided to go inside. Oh, the entrance is one-way. Once you enter, you have to buy something. The products they had were similar to a regular convenience store. I picked something and headed towards the exit. There were two exits, one accepting electronic money only and the other accepting cash. I chose the cash exit. At the exit, the total amount was automatically displayed. I quickly took out my wallet and paid. The gate opened, and I was free to go. It was interesting, and I felt like trying it again, but I resisted the temptation. I purchased this item. They even provided a receipt. Later, I noticed there was a video playing at the store explaining how to use the system. Unmanned stores like this might become popular, but there could be issues if any trouble arises. I tried to find a nearby izakaya but couldn't locate one. So, I just got off the train at this station and caught the next train to Yurakucho.

I heard that JR is holding an event until September 6th, so I decided to visit the Shinagawa Gateway Station for the first time. The station, designed by Kengo Kuma, was beautiful, new, and bright with sunlight streaming in. Inside the station, there was a unmanned convenience store, so I went in. Here are some things that stood out: - When looking up at the ceiling, I noticed 50 surveillance cameras lined up closely, shining brightly, which felt a bit intimidating. It was surprising to learn that these cameras are watching to see who took what. - The selection of products was different from a regular convenience store. It felt more like a high-end supermarket, similar to Kinokuniya (which is now a JR East subsidiary). - They didn't sell newspapers or daily necessities, and many products were sold out or out of stock, which was unusual for a convenience store. - I wanted to buy something unique as a souvenir, but the options were limited to limited edition nuts for 500 yen, limited edition chocolate for 500 yen, limited edition coffee powder for 600 yen, limited edition Tirol chocolate with the station name on it for 783 yen, and a pie from Koneri Shinagawa for 1400 yen. They also had logo-branded Ebisu beer. In the end, I was thirsty so I bought Tropicana juice. When I left, I received a free bag with the original logo, so it was a nice touch. Overall, the experience of futuristic shopping was interesting. Note: Although there were still staff present, if cost-cutting measures continue to progress and the cost of equipment installation + maintenance is less than labor costs, unmanned stores like this may become more widespread in the future.