Machida and Tama are suburban areas in western Tokyo, known as student towns. The station areas are packed with hostess bars, girls bars, snack bars, and concept cafes at reasonable prices.
Updated Jul 8, 2026
Step out of Machida Station and you're in a lively student town. At night, neon lights up the streets, and budget-friendly izakayas and snack bars come alive.
Machida is the main hub of western Tokyo, where the Odakyu Line and JR Yokohama Line intersect. The Tama area stretches further west, including Tama Center and Seiseki Sakuragaoka.
Machida's nightlife is centered around hostess bars and girls bars near the station. The north and south exits have dozens of these venues. Prices are lower than central Tokyo: hostess bars typically charge ¥5,000–¥8,000 per hour, while snack bars are even cheaper at ¥3,000–¥5,000. Concept cafes are also on the rise, with anime and game themes popular.
In the Tama area, girls bars and snack bars are scattered around Tama Center Station. The scale is smaller than Machida, but many are locally focused. Overall, the vibe is casual and student-friendly.
Access: about 30 minutes from Shinjuku on the Odakyu Line. Last trains are relatively early, so aim to leave by 11 PM. Friday and Saturday nights are busiest. Many hostess bars and girls bars offer first-time discounts or free-time plans—check ahead.
Machida/Tama runs on table-service venues: kyabakura (hostess clubs), girls bars, and snack bars. You pay a set fee by the hour, with nomination (shimei) and drink charges on top, so check each venue’s all-in price before you sit down.
Machida/Tama is generally fine for a night out. The main risk is bottakuri, a padded bill at the end. Stick to venues that post their prices, skip street touts steering you into ‘free’ bars, and confirm the set fee plus any nomination or bottle charges before you order.
Popular services in Machida/Tama include girls bars (flat drink charge, conversational setting), karaoke snack bars, and hostess clubs with shimei nomination options.
Visa / Mastercard / JCB accepted at most venues
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