Travel: vending machine noodles

After a nine hour plane flight I found myself sitting on a tokyo train headed for Shimbashi Station. Absolutely starving and having found out that I definitely would be going to have language barrier problems, all I could think about was getting something to eat. Shimbashi is an area next to the popular shopping mecca Ginza, but nevertheless, an area which does not play home to many foreigner outlets. As I was in Tokyo to explore and discover off the beaten track, it made sense to start somewhere less known. Upon arrival I went for a walk around the area passing endless japanese noodle houses until finally one attracted me. After choosing No. 40 from the picture menu outside, I ventured inside and asked the chef for No. 40. He immediately asked me to leave the restaurant, pointing to the door. Nothing could convince him of letting me order No. 40, so I made my way to the door. Upon leaving he shouted at me, pointing to a machine. As I soon realised, in Japan many noodle houses have vending machine for you to pay. Once you have paid you receive a ticket which you give to the chef for your meal. They were the smoothest silkiest Udon noodles I had ever tasted!