(Private car)Fake It Then Taste It:Japan’s Quirky Cuisine Journey

This 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.

It 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 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!!

I 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.

This 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.