Machida

Understand

It is the third most populous city in Tokyo. Machida is a city with a city and nature. The area in front of Machida station is busy with department stores and shopping areas, but away from the station you will find quiet residential areas, greenery and parks. Minami-Machida has been redeveloped with commercial facilities and a park at Grandberry Park (グランベリーパーク). In front of Machida, you will find a variety of shops and brands, and almost everything you need is available. Once you've done the necessary shopping, you can relax in the park. Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon, spent his childhood in this town, and Tajiri says that his experience of playing in the nature of Machida, where he was called "Dr. Insect", has been used in creating Pokémon. A Pokémon manhole has been set up in Serigaya Park near the house where Tajiri lived. It is also the town where the raccoon dog (Tanuki) moves to in the last scene of the Studio Ghibli movie Pom Poko.

History Machida has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The oldest stone tool found in Machida City is about 23,000 years old. Around 16,500-2,800 years ago (Jomon period), people built settlements. A reproduction of a house from those days stands in the Honmachida Ruins Park (本町田遺跡公園). The Kamakura-kaido road runs through the city. This road network connected Kamakura, the capital of the 12th century, with various places. As a stopping point for the road, a post town was established in Machida and prospered. It is said that there was a castle built in those days, but it has been replaced by a temple and a park. The Ruins of Idesawa Castle and the Ruins of Idesawa Battlefield are the Sugawara Shrine (菅原神社). It also became prosperous as a transit point for the "Silk Road" that brought silk produced in Hachioji to Yokohama in the late 17th century. There are many old establishments with a long history. Established in 1884, Kakishimaya (柿島屋), which supported "Silk Road" from long ago as a horse broker. Established in 1895, Masaya Shoten (柾屋商店), Machida's oldest dry goods store. Established in 1919, Tomisawa Shoten (富澤商店), which mainly deals in confectionery materials. Established in 1787, Oka Naozaburo Store (岡直三郎商店), a soy sauce brewer and distributor. During the war of the 20th century, Machida was spared from the fires of war, and the post-war reconstruction of the city prospered quickly. The Machida Nakamise shopping street (町田仲見世商店街), which evolved from the post-war black market, retains the atmosphere of the 20th century.

Climate Average spring temperatures are highs of 15-25 °C and lows of 4-17 °C

Getting there

By train Machida is a major stop on the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku, and the JR Yokohama Line between Yokohama and Hachioji. Nearly all Odakyu trains out of Shinjuku stop at Machida. The fastest ways to reach Machida from Shinjuku are by the Odakyu Rapid Express (快速急行, marked with orange text) and Express trains (急行, written in red text). These trains depart frequently, every 10 minutes or less, and reach Machida from Shinjuku in about 29 to 35 minutes (¥360). Slower Semi-Express (準急) or local trains can take about 45 to 55 minutes. Machida is also the first stop on all Limited Express services that run to Hakone. They take about the same time as a Rapid Express, but incur an additional ¥400 surcharge. However, for that price you get your own comfortable seat, similar to those on a bullet train, so reserving a seat on this train especially during rush hour can make your ride a lot more pleasant. JR Yokohama Line trains make runs to Machida from Hachioji (20–30 minutes, ¥290) and Yokohama (30–40 minutes, ¥380). More frequent trains from Yokohama depart from nearby Higashi-Kanagawa (東神奈川) station. The Yokohama Line offers the best connection from the Tokaido Shinkansen to Machida via Shin-Yokohama station (15–20 minutes, ¥290). There is no charge for JR trains with the Japan Rail Pass.

By bus Kanachu and Keio bus companies jointly offer daily services to Machida from Narita and Haneda airports. (There is only one service, depending on the time of the day, you may get Kanachu or Keio service.)

Getting around

By train Trains run on the Odakyu Line, the JR Yokohama Line and the Tokyu Denentoshi Line. The Odakyu Line, Tokyu Denentoshi Line and Keiō Sagamihara Line run from northeast to southwest along Kanagawa Prefecture, and the JR Yokohama Line runs from southeast to northwest along Kanagawa Prefecture. Trains run along the border of the prefecture, so buses are the main way to get around in Machida. Trains run along the border between prefectures, so buses are the main way to get around inside Machida.

Odakyuu Lune (小田急線) 1 Machida Station (町田駅). (updated Oct 2020) 2 Tamagawa Gakuen Station (玉川学園駅). (updated Oct 2020) 3 Tsurukawa Station (鶴川駅). (updated Oct 2020) JR Yokohama Line (JR横浜線) 4 Naruse Station (成瀬駅). (updated Oct 2020) 5 Machida Station (町田駅). (updated Oct 2020) 6 Kobuchi Station (古淵駅). (updated Oct 2020) 7 Fuchinobe Station (淵野辺駅). (updated Oct 2020) 8 Yabe Station (矢部駅). (updated Oct 2020) 9 Sagamihara Station (相模原駅). (updated Oct 2020) 10 Hashimoto Station (橋本駅). (updated Oct 2020) 11 Aihara Station (相原駅). (updated Oct 2020) Tokyu Denentoshi Line (東急 田園都市線) 12 Minami-Machida Granberry Park (南町田グランベリーパーク駅). (updated Oct 2020) 13 Suzukake Dai Station (すずかけ台駅). (updated Oct 2020) 14 Tsukushino Station (つくし野駅). (updated Oct 2020) Keiō Sagamihara Line (京王 相模原線) 15 Tamasakai Station (多摩境駅). (updated Oct 2020)

By bus You can get to Machida by bus. There is a bus service from Machida station to various places in the city. Smart cards such as Suica can be used for easy payment.

16 The bus stop for Yakushiike park. This is a bus to Yakushi-ike Park and the squirrel park.North Exit of Odakyu Machida Station (in front of the POP Building), No.21 bus stop.Buses to Tsurukawa via Honmachida（本町田経由鶴川） or Notsuda Shako via Honmachida（本町田経由野津田車庫）Get off at Yakushi-ike or Yakushigaoka bus stop. (updated Oct 2020)

On foot Tourist attractions are concentrated in the Machida station area, Minami-Machida area, and Yakushiike area. You can get to each area by train or bus, and you can visit the tourist sites in the area on foot.

See

Parks 1 Serigaya Park (芹ヶ谷公園), 5-16 Haramachida, ☏ +81 42-724-4399. 06:00-18:00. A park with sculptures scattered in the lush greenery and water. (updated Sep 2020) Poke Lids -Pokemon Utility Hole Covers- (ポケふた -ポケモンマンホール-), 5-16 Haramachida. 06:00-18:00. Find Pokemon Manhole in the park in the city where Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri spent his childhood. The poke lid is a Pokémon Go pokestop. (updated Sep 2020) Machida Yakushiike Park Shikisai no Mori. (町田薬師池公園 四季彩の杜). Machida Yakushiike Park is made up of several areas. 2 Welcome gate (ウェルカムゲート), ☏ +81 42-851-8942. Information and Direct sales office 09:00-17:00; cafe and rRestaurant 10:00-20:00; library lounge (rest area) 09:00-17:00; lab and experience workshop 09:00-19:30. There is a local food market, a cafe and restaurant where you can enjoy cooking with Machida's local ingredients, a workshop where you can try your hand at making crafts, and a park where you can enjoy a BBQ and a picnic empty-handed. (updated Sep 2020) 3 Yakushiike Park (薬師池公園), 3270 Nozuta Town, ☏ +81 42-724-4399. Daily 06:00-18:00. There is a pond called Yakushiike, where you can enjoy cherry blossoms and wisteria in the spring, irises and lotus in the summer, and autumn leaves in the fall. There is another small temple called Notuda Yakushido.There are also relocated and reconstructed late-17th-century private homes and a doctor's office and residence, giving visitors a sense of old Japan. (updated Sep 2020) 4 Machida Peony Garden (町田ぼたん園), 2274-1 Nozuta Town, ☏ +81 42-724-4399. 08:30-16:00. The Botanic Garden is a 7-minute walk north of Yakushi Pond. The park is open for a fee according to the blooming period of peonies and peonies (usually mid-April to early May). Free of charge except when the flowers are in bloom. (updated Sep 2020) 5 Machida Calanthe discolor Garden (町田えびね苑), 3129-6 Honmachida, ☏ +81 42-724-4399. 08:30-16:00. The Botanic Garden is a 10-minute walk north of Yakushi Pond. The garden is pay-per-open for a limited period of time from late April to early May when the orchid Calanthe discolor are in bloom. The park is opened free of charge during the hydrangea season (usually in early to mid-June). (updated Sep 2020) 6 Machida Dahlia Garden (町田ダリア園), 1213-1 Yamazaki Town, ☏ +81 42-722-0538. 09:30-16:30. The garden is pay-per-open for a limited period of time from early July to early November every year when the Dahlia are in bloom. The rest stop and flower shop are open all year round. (Closed Jan 1-3.) ¥500; admission to the park is free for junior high school students and younger. (updated Sep 2020) 7 F

Do

1 Bee, Haradamachida 6-10-7 5F. M-F 17:00-05:00, Sa Su 15:00-05:00. A dining establishment with darts, card games, and board games. A nice place to have a party with friends. (updated Jan 2016) 2 Neko-no-mise (ねこのみせ), 1-2-9-202 Haramachida, ☏ +81 42-722-0544. Daily 12:00-22:00. A cafe with a twist — there are cats running around that you can play with. Great if you want to play with cats but not raise one long-term. (updated Jan 2016) 3 Round 1, 1-13-14 Morino, ☏ +81 42-710-0095. M-F 10:00-06:00, Sa 09:00-06:00, Su 08:00-06:00. This place has a wide assortment of games, including bowling, karaoke, billiards, and many arcade games. (updated Jan 2016) 4 Sugawara Shrine (菅原神社), 802 Haramachida (Climb a long flight of stairs to get to the shrine.), ☏ +81 42-725-3991. People worship the god of learning, Sugawara, at this shrine. In Heian period, Sahara was a scholar. (updated Jan 2016) 5 Sports Park Partners Machida (スポーツパークパートナーズまちだ), 2035 Nozutamachi (In Nozuta Park), ☏ +81 42-735-4511. Holds 6,200 people. Many soccer games and university contests are held here. Prices start at ¥520. (updated Jan 2016)

Live music 6 Flava, 原町田2-7-3 トップヒルB1F. Live rock music, DJ live sets and dance performances throughout the week. Price depends on the event (normally includes 1 drink). (updated Apr 2015) 7 The Play House, 中町１丁目１８−１５ クローヴビル1F. Live house in Machida. Schedule can be accessed on their website. It is also a music school during weekdays. Normally ¥1,100-2,000 (ADV, drink(s) included). (updated Apr 2015) 8 West Vox, 森野 1-8-1 MOAビル B1. Live music and club, depending on the day. Depends on the event. (updated Apr 2015)

Karaoke 9 Big Echo (ビッグエコー), 6-14-13 Haramachida, ☏ +81 42-720-7761. M-Th Su 12:00-04:45; F Sa 12:00-06:00. 10 Karaoke Kan (カラオケ館), 6-21-28 Haramachida, ☏ +81 42-732-1585. 11:00-05:00. 11 Karaoke Manekineko Machida second store (カラオケまねきねこ 町田2号店), Colombus Building 4F, 4-11-14 Haramachida, ☏ +81 42-732-3430. Open 24 hours.

Spa and onsen 12 Natural Hot Spring Roten Garden (天然温泉 ロテン・ガーデン), 358 Aihara, ☏ +81 42-774-2681. 10:00-24:00. This is the first genuine bicarbonate natural hot spring in Machida City, pumped up from 1,381 meters below ground. From ¥760. (updated Sep 2020) 13 Manyou no Yu Machida (万葉の湯 町田), 7-3-1 Tsuruma, ☏ +81 42-788-4126. Open 24 hours. A hot spring facility where you can take a day trip and stay overnight. From ¥2,300. (updated Sep 2020) 14 Tamasakai Natural Hot Springs Mori no Irodori (多摩境天然温泉 森乃彩), 1-11-5 Oyamagaoka, ☏ +81 80-9093-3560. 09:00-24:00. Surrounded by the rich natural environment of the Tama Hills and s

Buy

Fashion stores include: Jorna, Lumine, OIOI, Modi, and Tokyu Twins. These are all near Machida station on both the Yokohama and Odakyu lines.

1 Bookoff (ブックオフ), 4-4-8 Haramachida, ☏ +81 42-739-4580. Second-hand shop including comic books, CDs, games, and more. If you are studying Japanese, comic books are helpful. 2 Don Quijote (ドン・キホーテ), 4-2-14 Haramachida, ☏ +81 42-709-5411. Open until 05:00. Popular chain of discount shops found all across Japan. Great selection and wide range of merchandise from groceries to electronics to designer handbags, at really low prices. 3 Grandberry Park (グランベリーパーク), 3-4-1 Tsuruma (a 1-minute walk from Minami-Machida Grandberry Park Station), ☏ +81 42-788-0109. 10:00-20:00. This is a facility with a large outlet shopping mall and a large park. You can buy clothes, shoes and so on at cheap prices. There are foreign stores, but there are also Japanese brands of clothing. There are also many restaurants and an indoor food court. You can eat Japanese Chinese, Italian and so on. The all-you-can-eat Kentucky Fried Chicken is a popular choice. The mall also has a movie theater called 109 Cinemas. On weekends, the mall is always crowded with many people and you can even see some street performers. Grandberry Park is a good place not only for shopping but also for walking. On weekends, many people come to show their pets to other people and have fun talking about pets. Some of the neighboring areas are sometimes used as filming locations for Japanese TV dramas. The Snoopy Museum is located on the grounds. (updated Sep 2020) 4 Lumine (ルミネ), 6-1-11 Haramachida (a 1-minute walk from JR Machida Station and 3 minutes from Odakyu Machida Station), ☏ +81 42-739-3111. 10:00-22:00. A big department store that includes clothes, dresses, sundries, small articles, accessories, shoes, a restaurant, a book store, a CD/DVD store, cosmetics, a hair salon and more. (updated Jan 2016) 5 mina (ミーナ町田), 4-1-17 Haramachida, ☏ +81 42-710-3725. Daily 10:00-21:00. There is a very large Uniqlo store if you need to pick up any cheap clothing during your travels. Also, there are cafes and knick-knack stores. (updated Jan 2016) 6 Jorna Machida (ジョルナ町田店), 6-6-14 Haramachida. 10:30-20:30. The store is popular amongst teenagers and stylish young women. It includes clothes, dresses, sundries, small articles, accessories, restaurants, cosmetics, a hair salon, beauty salon and more. Uniqlo's sibling brand Gu is there. Gu is a cheaper price point brand than Uniqlo. (updated Sep 2020)

Eat

Machida is an area with many ramen shops. There is also a restaurant specializing in rare soy sauce dishes and a horse meat restaurant. There are too many other restaurants in Machida to mention. Here are some of the distinctive shops.

Ramen 1 Hokkaido Ramen Oyaji (北海道ラーメン おやじ 町田店), 1-19-1 Nakamachi (near the Machida City Hall, a short walk from Machida Station), ☏ +81 42-723-2951. M-F 11:30-15:30, 17:30-23:30; Sa Su 11:30-23:00. This is a famous and very tasty Hokkaido-style miso ramen shop. The "Oyaji Set" is notable. Ramen and gyoza ¥1100. (updated Jan 2016) 2 Ichiban Ichiban (一番いちばん), 1-28-24 Nakamachi, ☏ +81 42-724-5506. Good ramen. ¥800-1000. (updated Jan 2016) 3 Shio Ramen Shinka (町田汁場 しおらーめん進化 本店), 3-18-17 Morino. Famous for its salt ramen. (updated Oct 2020) 4 Papapapapine (パパパパパイン), 3-1-4 Haramachida. A rare ramen made with pineapple. (updated Oct 2020) 5 Karamen Shinku (辛麺 真空), 4-1-5 Haramachida. Spicy ramen is the specialty of this shop. (updated Oct 2020)

Japanese food 6 Tencyuu (醤油料理 天忠), 1-3-4 Nakamachi, ☏ +81 42-739-1303. Lunch 11:30-15:00, dinner 17:00-22:00. This is a restaurant specializing in soy sauce dishes, a rarity. (updated Sep 2020) 7 Kakijimaya (柿島屋), 6-19-9 Haramachida, ☏ +81 42-722-3532. 16:00-22:00. Horsemeat dishes are available at affordable prices. (updated Sep 2020) 8 Yakitori Dokoro Daibu（formerly Gecchu） (やきとり処 大舞 (旧名 月忠)), Haramachida 3-9-1, ☏ +81 50-5346-1221. W-M 17:00-23:00. A yakitori restaurant. All the clerks are friendly and nice. They serve good yakitori and sake.

Cafe 9 Sabou Nakanoya (茶房 中野屋), 4-11-6 Haramachida (10 min from Machida Station.), ☏ +81 42-725-4104. 11:00-18:00. A cafe where you can enjoy Japanese sweets in a relaxed atmosphere. (updated Sep 2020)

All you can eat 10 Sweets Paradise (スイーツパラダイス), Machida Modi 9F,6-2-6, Haramachida, ☏ +81 42-728-8506. 11:00-23:00. A large variety of desserts. Adults ¥1480, children ¥840. 11 KFC Restaurant (ＫＦＣ レストラン), 3-4-1 Tsuruma (in Grandberry Park), ☏ +81 42-788-5205. 11:00-22:00. All-you-can-eat Kentucky Fried Chicken. Some of the menu items are only available here. ¥1,980-2,180. (updated Sep 2020) 12 Syabu-Syabu Onyasai (しゃぶしゃぶ温野菜), Tokyo Machida Haramachida4-11-14 B1, ☏ +81 42-709-1829. 17:00-00:00. All you can eat shabu-shabu and sukiyaki. Ninety minutes of greatness. ¥2480-3280.

Other 13 Shouyou Sennchin Manjyu (小陽生煎饅頭屋) (in the Nakamise Shopping Arcade, a five-minute walk from Machida Station). Serves Chinese steamed dumplings (shoronpo). Four pieces for ¥340, five pieces for ¥510. (updated Jan 2016) 14 T.G.I. Friday's, 2F 6-9-18, Harama

Drink & nightlife

1 HUB Machida branch (HUB町田店), VintageB1F 6-14-15 Haramachida (next to Matsumoto Kiyoshi, just outside Odakyu Machida Station's east exit), ☏ +81 42-724-5724. 17:00-23:00. A branch of the popular chain of English pubs found all around Tokyo and other urban centers across Japan. Lively atmosphere especially on weekends. Reasonably priced drinks along with a decent selection of British pub fare, as well as darts, and TVs showing sporting events. (updated Sep 2020)

Sleep

1 Rembrandt Hotel (Hotel the Ellcy) (レンブラントホテル東京町田), 3-2-9 Haramachida (7 minutes from Odakyu Machida Station), ☏ +81 42-724-3111, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. This is the high-end option for hotels in the Machida station area. Doubles ¥12,700, doubles w/ dinner ¥16,700, twins ¥16,700, twins w/ dinner ¥20,700, parking ¥1000. 2 Hotel Shinjukuya (ホテル新宿屋), Haramachida 6 (near the east exit of Odakyu Machida station, right in front of MOS Burger), ☏ +81 42-722-3112. Very affordable, good condition, and surrounded by plenty of options for shopping, dining, and drinking. rooms from about ¥6500 per night. 3 Sun Hotel (サンホテル), Haramachida 6 (Located near the Covent Garden Bar), ☏ +81 42-724-0708. The cheapest hotel in the Machida Station area, and rightfully so. This business hotel's rooms are very basic and not in the best condition, but they are a cheap. Singles ¥5900. 4 Hotel Rapport Senjukaku (ホテルラポール千寿閣), Kamitsuruma Honcho 3-11-8, Sagamihara (behind JR Machida station, past Yodobashi Camera and the love hotel district), ☏ +81 42-749-1121. Very well-priced rooms in good condition, although a little old and basic in terms of amenities. Perhaps the best value for your money among hotels near Machida Station. Singles ¥5500. 5 Hotel Resol Machida (ホテルリソル町田), 1-12-15 Morino (a short walk north from Odakyu Machida station main exit (towards Seiyu and Round 1 entertainment complex)), ☏ +81 42-720-3011. A good mid-range hotel. Free internet access. Singles ¥7000. 6 Toyoko Inn Machida (東横INN町田駅小田急線東口), 1-3-3 Nakamachi (from the east exit of Odakyu Machida Station, you will see the police station on your left as you come up the stairs and exit; proceed forward and cross the railway on your left and carry on forward), ☏ +81-42-728-1045. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 10:00. Breakfast served 07:00-09:30. Free internet. Singles ¥5990, doubles ¥6500.

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