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

Your food photos start with rubber tires. In Sagamihara, the Used Tire Market hides retro Showa-era vending machines that actually sell hot udon, toast, capsule toys, and bottled drinks. I love the sheer weird joy of walking among those machines and spotting rare designs, and I also love the payoff of learning how Japanese restaurant fake food is made at Atelier Stella.

The only real catch is planning around good weather, since this experience requires it to run smoothly. Also, if you hate hands-on workshops, the fake food part may not be your thing.

Key Points You’ll Care About

• Retro Showa-era machines in an unexpected tire market setting
• English-supported fake food workshop with real craft guidance
• Popular options like takoyaki, sushi, rice crackers, and the bread clock
• A guide who helps with photos and helps you order dinner
• Dinner support with a per-person budget included

Retro Vending Machines at a Tire Market in Sagamihara

This part feels like someone mixed a history lesson with an arcade. You’ll start at the Sagamihara Used Tire Market, a place known for its vending machines lined up in a way that feels both random and strangely comforting. Many of the machines are from the Showa era, so you’re not just seeing old hardware—you’re seeing a working slice of everyday culture.

What makes it fun is what comes out of them. Expect offerings like hot udon, toast, capsule toys, and bottled drinks. If you’re the kind of person who likes details, this is also where you’ll spot machine designs you don’t usually see at tourist stalls.

Your guide also helps you capture photos. That matters more than it sounds. These machines can be visually noisy, with lots of shiny parts and odd angles. Having someone point out what’s worth photographing helps you leave with pictures you actually like, not just screenshots.

One more bonus: a couple of the stops can include playful distractions like old game machines, which makes the time feel less like an appointment and more like a “walk around and wonder” session. You’ll likely spend around an hour here, give or take, depending on how long you want to browse and try what’s available.

Atelier Stella: Making Fake Food That Looks Ridiculously Real

Next comes the hands-on part, and it’s the reason the whole day has a theme instead of being three random errands. Atelier Stella is a food sample workshop where you learn to make ultra-realistic replicas—the same style of fake food you see outside Japanese restaurants.

You can choose what you make. Common options include sushi, takoyaki, rice crackers, and the super popular toast-shaped clock. Depending on the session and the materials available, you might also get to make small food-themed items like magnets, which some people find especially fun as a take-home souvenir.

This is beginner-friendly in the practical sense. The instructor and guide provide close guidance, including gentle, hand-by-hand support. That’s a big deal if it’s your first time trying anything like this, or if you’re bringing kids. The workshop is also English-supported, so you’re not stuck guessing what you’re supposed to do next.

Timing-wise, you should expect about two hours for the main session. The experience can also be set for 1 or 2 hours, so it’s worth confirming your exact plan when you book. Either way, you’re making something you can keep, which turns a photo stop into an actual craft memory.

Value tip: don’t rush. Fake food making isn’t just about finishing. It’s about learning the small steps that make the food look real—shape, color, and the final details that make it feel like restaurant décor rather than a child’s craft.

Guided Dinner in Machida: Izakaya, Washoku, or Monjayaki

After the quirky machines and the workshop table, you end with a real meal in Machida. This stop is where your guide earns their keep.

You can choose among dinner styles such as izakaya, traditional washoku, or monjayaki. Your guide helps you pick and helps you order, which is the practical advantage for most visitors. Even if you can read some Japanese, ordering food in a casual setting can still feel stressful—especially when menus are packed and phrasing matters.

The tour includes a dinner budget: up to 5,000 yen per person is included in the tour fee. That means you can aim for something more interesting than you might order on your own. It also reduces decision fatigue. You’re not spending your evening performance-analyzing menus; you’re eating.

Time-wise, plan for about 1.5 hours. It’s long enough for a relaxed meal, but not so long that you’ll wonder why you’re stuck at a table.

The Private Car Setup and Why It Makes This Day Easier

This is a private car tour, which changes the vibe. You and your group ride together, with a guide-interpreter and an air-conditioned vehicle. No sharing the van with strangers. No waiting for a lagging member who keeps stopping to film everything.

Pickup is offered, too. That matters if you’re not eager to figure out local transit connections between each stop. The tour also notes it’s near public transportation, but you’ll usually benefit most from the pickup if you want a smoother day.

Duration is about five hours total, so it’s not a full-day commitment. It’s also not a “speed run” either. You get time to browse the vending area, time to work at the fake food workshop, and then time to sit down and eat.

One more thing: parking fees aren’t included. If you’re driving to meet the tour, you’ll want to plan for that. Most people won’t run into that problem if you’re using pickup, but it’s good to know.

Price and What You’re Really Paying For

At about $82.03 per person, this tour looks like a bargain—mainly because so much is folded into the day.

Here’s what you’re paying for that’s hard to DIY:

• A licensed guide interpreter (and you’ll want that for both the workshop and ordering dinner)
• An air-conditioned private vehicle
• The fake food making experience fee
• A snack food and drink charge of 1,000 yen included
• Dinner with a maximum included budget of 5,000 yen per person

So while the headline price might look simple, the structure is what gives it value. You’re not just paying for a transfer. You’re buying guided access to places that can feel odd or hard to approach on your own, plus a workshop that produces an actual souvenir.

Real talk: you may spend extra if you want to buy more snacks or drinks beyond the included 1,000 yen. The tour notes you can buy more yourself. That’s normal and fair—just don’t assume everything is automatically covered.

Who Should Book This Quirky Cuisine Journey

This tour fits best if you like any two of these things:

• Retro machines and photo-worthy oddities
• Learning a hands-on cultural craft (fake food replicas)
• Having help ordering dinner without the language stress

I especially think it suits solo travelers who want a friendly, structured day. The vibe is welcoming, and the guide support can make the first step into a less-obvious venue feel easier. It’s also a solid option for families. The workshop experience is listed as suitable for kids age 6+, and the instruction is designed to be approachable.

If you’re strictly into serious, traditional food only, you might find the “fake food” theme a little playful. Still, the workshop teaches you how the replicas are made—so it’s not just novelty.

Should You Book Fake It Then Taste It?

If your Japan trip includes even one day where you want something different, book it. The day has a clear arc: retro vending culture, craft time where you make your own collectible, then a guided dinner to cap it off.

I’d skip it only if you strongly dislike workshops or you need a fully flexible schedule with no weather dependency. Since the experience requires good weather, you’ll want to keep an eye on forecast changes.

Also, if you love options and want to taste what’s most local to the area you’re in, the guide-led dinner choice is a big plus. This is one of those tours where the guidance doesn’t feel extra—it feels necessary in the best way.

FAQ

Where does the tour take off from, and how long is it?

The tour is in the Tokyo Prefecture area, starting at the Used Tire Market in Sagamihara. The full experience is about 5 hours.

Is this tour private?

Yes. It’s a private tour with your group only in the vehicle.

Do you offer pickup?

Pickup is offered.

What happens at the Used Tire Market stop?

You’ll visit the Sagamihara Used Tire Market’s vending machines corner, where retro Showa-era machines sell items like hot udon, toast, capsule toys, and bottled drinks. The guide also helps you with photos. Admission is free.

What can you make at Atelier Stella?

You can choose from items like sushi, takoyaki, rice crackers, and the popular toast-shaped clock. Some people also mention making small food-themed items like magnets.

How long is the fake food workshop?

The workshop session is listed as 1 or 2 hours, and the tour schedule shows about 2 hours at Atelier Stella.

Can kids join?

Most travelers can participate, and the workshop experience is listed for kids age 6+.

What’s included for dinner in Machida?

Your guide helps you choose and order. The tour includes up to 5,000 yen per person toward dinner.

What extra costs should I expect?

Parking fees are not included, and if you want more snacks or drinks than the included 1,000 yen food and drink charge, you’ll pay for those yourself.

What if the weather is bad or I need to cancel?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund.