Private Tour
(Private car)Fake It Then Taste It:Japan’s Quirky Cuisine Journey
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Start your journey at Sagamihara’s quirky “Used Tire Market,” a hidden gem loved by vending machine fans. Rows of retro machines from the Showa era still operate, serving hot udon, toast, capsule toys, and bottled drinks. Nostalgic, surreal, and irresistibly charming—your guide will help you capture photos. Stay about 30–60 minutes.
Next, get hands-on at “Atelier Stella,” a food sample workshop where you’ll craft realistic fake food seen in Japanese restaurants. Choose from sushi, takoyaki, rice crackers, or the popular toast-shaped clock. With guidance from a skilled artisan and English support, beginners and kids (age 6+) can enjoy making their own unique souvenir. Sessions are 1 or 2 hours.
Finish with a local dinner in Machida. Whether it’s izakaya, traditional washoku, or sizzling monjayaki, your guide will help you choose and order the perfect meal to end the day.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Used Tire Market Sagamihara Vending Machines Corner
Experience a unique retro adventure at the Sagamihara Used Tire Market. Discover a quirky and unexpected location with a hidden vending machine hideout in a tire market. Step back in time with a visit to the vending machine section, where nostalgic vending machines are still in operation. Purchase hot meals such as ramen, burgers, and toasted sandwiches, giving you a glimpse into Japan's Showa (1926-1989) culture. Not only the food, but the venue itself offers a quirky and unexpected location - a hidden vending machine hideout in a tire market. This unexpected combination has brought a sense of surprise and humor to many foreign tourists. It's not just a meal, it's an adventure full of discoveries, laughs, and unique photo opportunities. The nostalgic yet fresh contrast creates an unforgettable impression. The retro design and functionality make it the perfect place for Instagramable photos and sharing on social media.
Let's actually make "ultra-realistic fake food" that you often see in Japanese restaurants! You can choose to make sushi, takoyaki, rice crackers, or the super popular "bread clock". With the guidance of a craftsman and the support of an English guide, even beginners can feel at ease. Children (elementary school age and above) are also welcome. You can take home the creation you made as a souvenir. The duration is either 1 or 2 hours.
What‘s Included
This is a private tour, so you(and your friend, family, and so on) will be the only ones in the vehicle.
National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter
Food sample making experience fee
1,000 yen food and drink charge: If you want to buy more, you can buy it yourself
Parking Fees
Pickup points
Hotel Shinjukuya
6-13-22 Haramachida Machida Japan
Hotel Machida Villa
1-20-10 Morino, Machida Japan
Options
(Private car)Fake It Then Taste It:Japan’s Quirky Cuisine Journey
Pickup included
Reviews
16 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Enjoy retro vending machines and making food samples!
Lucy B,Apr 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The vending machine area was really fun, offering a wide variety of food options. The retro atmosphere was particularly impressive, making me feel like I'd traveled back in time to the Showa era. Sagamihara actually has over 100 old-fashioned vending machines, a truly unique experience. Making food samples was also very enjoyable; this time I tried making a tart. The instructors were very thorough, making it easy even for beginners, and the results were incredibly realistic. This is a highly recommended tour for experiencing Japan's unique food culture!
This is a tour that you...
Wakana I,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This is a tour that you can experience Japanese food culture from unique and interesting perspectives. Our guide Yuga was very friendly and he gave us wonderful insight on everything from the history of vending machines, shokuhin sample, languages, and more. The experience of buying food from vending machine was fun with so many choices! Also, food sample making was at the right level for beginners, and I was able to make real-looking sushi thanks to a talented teacher! Kanagawa(Sagamihara) is not that well known, but it’s definitely a hidden gem and a place for knowing Japan in depth.
An experience I've always wanted to try!
川地裕,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I was attracted to making food samples and joined with participating friends. But the vending machine tour I visited before that was awesome and it was a very good memory to be here. We looked at Japan's largest and oldest vending machines, toasted them with bottled Coke (the vending machine has a bottle opener), and had a hot butter sandwich wrapped in pretty aluminum. You can also try cooked ramen and nostalgic curry. A lineup of fortune slips, toys, candy, and other items that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. And I was surprised at the overall low price. There are also other exhibits, like a product exhibition, where you can taste things like smoked fish. The smoked mackerel was delicious and I bought some dried bonito flakes as an extra bonus. There are also old game consoles and lots to see. There is also a currency exchange machine so you can rest assured! The next is a food sample. I made it a key chain for rice crackers. I happened to see other customers there, and I was able to make it in a friendly atmosphere because I could see them all making different works. The teacher carefully taught me, so I was able to bake a nice rice cracker for the first time. He has also contributed to the movie "National Treasure"! The atelier is also home to many of the teacher's works, which you can enjoy in between making them. They also sell them, so you don't have to worry about souvenirs. I travel by car, and I also enjoy listening to the explanations of the attendant Yuga and chatting with her. It's more fun to listen to the explanation. It was the first time I had served them all and I really enjoyed it. I thought both people from overseas and Japan could enjoy it. It was good to know that Machida has such a nice place.
It was a wonderful tour....
Toshio H,Mar 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a wonderful tour. What particularly caught my eye at the vending machine site was the regular-sized bottle of Coca-Cola. Drinking it brought back memories of my younger days. I was actually born in the Showa era. I also ate wild vegetable udon noodles. It was just as delicious as what you'd get at a restaurant. At the food sample workshop, I colored sushi. Thanks to the instructor's guidance, it turned out beautifully. Since they have magnets, I've stuck them on the door of my refrigerator at home. Yuga is an excellent guide. He is knowledgeable and has a great sense of hospitality.
I joined this tour with...
Chie N,Mar 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I joined this tour with my five-year-old son. The vending machines didn’t just have food—they also had toys, which made my hero-loving son absolutely thrilled. Since there were vending machines from all over Japan, it felt like we were traveling around the country. At the food sample studio, my son took the lead in making takoyaki. The instructor was kind and taught him gently and carefully, so even small children can enjoy this activity. Our guide Yuga was incredibly flexible and attentive, and my son is already saying he wants to go again. Thank you for the great tour, Yuga!!
A wonderful experience with unique souvenirs
KYOKO K,Mar 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I enjoyed the tour with my friends on the day. Yuga picked us up in a car and took us to the vending machine station, where we could choose to eat lunch and dessert from the machines. I ate soba noodles and choco banana, which tasted delicious, just like at a restaurant. Then we went to a food sample workshop. I made pancakes with fresh fruit and whipped cream that looked so real, I really wanted to eat them, but they were fake. I believe this tour helps you better understand local Japanese culture. Yuga was so kind and helped your any questions about Japan.
Great Guide, Great Conversations, Great Experience
Sayumi T,Mar 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour was such a unique experience — something I don’t think I could find anywhere else. Yuga, our guide, knows the Machida area incredibly well and has a great personal network. Traveling by car made everything smooth, and the conversations along the way were fun and interesting. Thanks to Yuga’s warm personality, the whole day felt really enjoyable. The food sample–making workshop was my first time trying this kind of craft, and I got completely absorbed in it. The teacher’s atelier was filled with amazing pieces, and seeing the collection while hearing about the creative process made the visit even more special. Food samples are fun to look at, but making one yourself really shows how deep and fascinating the craft is. I definitely recommend this tour.
Original Japanese cultural experience
AkikoM212,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an absolutely wonderful experience that I highly recommend! Traveling alone, it might take a little courage to step into the places, but having a kind and knowledgeable host made me feel completely comfortable and able to enjoy every moment. The food sample making was surprisingly easy, even for a beginner like me, thanks to the instructor's careful and detailed guidance. The atelier itself felt like a museum, which was incredibly exciting! I got to take my creations home as souvenirs, and my family is already so fascinated by them. The vending machine experience offered a taste of both Japanese technology and subculture. Since our host knew everything about how to use the machines, their history, and the flavors of the snacks, we had a delightful and relaxing snack time!
Thanks by Aoi
Aoi O,Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was my first experience to try sample food making. The best workshop ever for me! All the vending machines were the ones I had never seen before. So interesting to stroll around. I could even try the old game machines, too. Thank you, Yuga-kun.
Yucky
Aoi O,Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00That was unpredictable experience! During the tour, I cannot stop being excited. A long-held wish came true and I could make sample food at last! The instructor and guide (Yuga) taught us how to make hand by hand gently, so that I and my son could be related to do that. We made bread clock and takoyaki. Those were very charming and too similar to distinguish them from the real ones. And the retro unique vending machines' place was like another world. I could travel back to Showa-era instantly. It was amazing to hear the story of the owner who collects the old vending machines all over Japan, fixes and maintains them, orders specially to the local venders to make the items to sell. We had soba and ramen noodles. Those were so well made I couldn't believe that they come out as ready to eat in bowls in just 27 seconds from the vending machine! And also it was convenient to travel from spot to spot by private car. Thank you so much, Yuga.
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