The Tokyo Metro is allowing the introduction of DVD rental machines in 10 stations from later this month. The technology has been licensed from an American company and a new design produced for the local market by Shibuya firm Astala Vista. The first locations will include Omotesando, Shinjuku, Azabu Juban, Roppongi and Otemachi and the cost, not especially cheap, will be 350 yen for 24 hours. Each unit will typically have a selection of the latest top 20. Users preregister on the company's homepage and pay by credit card only. Astala Vista believes they will have about 150 machines in stations by the end of the year and ultimately want to expand into convenience stores, chain izakaya and office buildings nationwide.
