Machida

Machida (町田市) is a city in southern Tokyo, located about 40 km southwest of central Tokyo. It is a major commercial and residential center for the southern Tama area, with a busy station district surrounded by department stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Machida has a youthful energy thanks to its several universities and colleges.

Machida developed as a post station on the old Oyama Kaido highway and later as a castle town. Today it is a convenient base for exploring the nearby Tama Hills and the Tanzawa Mountain range. The city is known for the Machida Soba and the Machida Matsuri, one of Tokyo's largest summer festivals.

By Plane

Haneda Airport (HND) is about 40 km east. Take the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa, then the JR Yokohama Line to Machida (about 1 hour). Narita Airport (NRT) is about 90 km east via the Narita Express and Yokohama Line.

By Train

Machida Station is on the JR Yokohama Line and the Odakyu Odawara Line. From Shinjuku, the Odakyu Limited Express reaches Machida in about 30 minutes. The JR Yokohama Line connects to Hachioji and Yokohama.

By Car / Road

From central Tokyo, take the Tomei Expressway to the Machida IC, about 35 minutes. The Ken-O Expressway also passes near the city.

The station area is one of the busiest commercial districts in western Tokyo, with department stores, underground shopping streets, and entertainment arcades all within walking distance. Local buses serve residential areas. Taxis are available.

• Machida Soba Museum — A small museum dedicated to buckwheat noodles, with exhibits on soba-making and a tasting area.

• Machida City Museum — Exhibits on the region's history from the Jomon period to the modern era.

• Serigaya Park — A large park with a pond, walking trails, sports facilities, and a traditional Japanese garden.

• Yakushi-ike Park — A park surrounding a scenic pond, with hiking trails into the Tama Hills.

• Machida Matsuri — One of Tokyo's largest summer festivals, held in August with parades, music, dance, and food stalls.

• Shopping at Machida Station — The station area has multiple department stores (Lumine, Marui, Odakyu) and a large underground shopping mall.

• Hiking in the Tama Hills — Trails in the hills around Machida offer nature walks and views of the surrounding area.

• Visit the Machida Sake Brewery — A local brewery offering tours and tastings.

• Machida soba — Hand-made buckwheat noodles, the city's most famous food.
• Machida ramen — Several shops serve a rich shoyu-tonkotsu broth.
• Takoyaki and okonomiyaki — Street food available in the station's amusement arcades.
• Budget meals from ¥700 in the station's underground dining areas.

Machida has a lively nightlife scene centered on the stations east and west exits, with hundreds of izakaya, bars, and karaoke establishments. The area is popular with university students. Tap water is safe.

• Budget: Business hotels near Machida Station from ¥5,500/night.
• Mid-range: Hotel Route-Inn Machida or Machida Central Hotel, about ¥7,000–10,000/night.
• Upscale: Most visitors day-trip from central Tokyo or stay in Yokohama (30 min by train).

Machida Station is the major shopping destination for southern Tokyo. Local specialties include Machida soba, regional sake, and Tama-area rice. The department stores carry everything.

• Yokohama (30 min by train) — Japan's second-largest city with Minato Mirai, Chinatown, and Yamashita Park.
• Sagamihara (10 min by train, Kanagawa) — City with the JAXA Sagamihara Campus and Sagamiko Lake.
• Hachioji (20 min by train) — Mount Takao hiking and temple visits.
• Fujisawa (40 min by train) — Enoshima Island, Kamakura's Great Buddha, and the Shonan coast.
• Shinjuku (30 min by Odakyu limited express) — Central Tokyo's skyscraper and entertainment district.