【Recommended by Locals】Three Specialty Shops You Should Visit for Exquisite Taiyaki! Machida & Sagamihara Edition

The author is a taiyaki fanatic. While the Machida and Sagamihara area is my territory, I can't help but be drawn to these specialty shops. I'll be exploring with a focus on classic red bean paste.

Minami Ward of Sagamihara City has an impressive balance of the dough, Judo

The "Taiyaki Judo" located in the Southern Road Sagamidai Shopping Street of Minami Ward, Sagamihara City. It is a taiyaki specialty shop with a 16-year history, using 100% Hokkaido-grown flour and locally sourced eggs from Sagamihara. Perhaps due to its convenient location along the shopping street, customers of various ages stop by.

They offer a range of taiyaki including red bean paste made from Hokkaido-grown azuki beans, custard, and seasonal limited white bean paste, as well as chilled taiyaki options such as apple & custard, chocolate, and strawberry. The menu varies by season, so be sure to check their official X account.

The "Taiyaki with Red Bean Paste (200 yen)" has a firm body like one that has swum in a raging stream, yet it is thick and fluffy. Checking out the visual of the taiyaki is one of the pleasures, isn't it?

The refined sweetness of the red bean paste is delicious, but what impressed me most was the taiyaki dough itself. The exterior is crispy, while the interior is fluffy! It has a slightly sweet flavor, allowing you to enjoy the natural taste of the ingredients, which speaks to the specialty shop's dedication. Wow, once you start eating this, you just can't stop. The balance between the filling and the dough is exquisite.

Taiyaki Judō
6-18-17 Minami-dai, Minami-ku, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business hours: Weekdays 10:00–18:00, Saturdays 11:00–16:00
Closed: Sundays and public holidays *From July to September, there will be more days off due to summer business hours

Minami Rinkan in Yamato City has crispy dough! A new sensation of taiyaki, Mi-an

Next, I stopped by "Taiyaki Mi-an" located in Minami Rinkan, Yamato City. They say they make their own dough and anko fresh every morning. When I placed my order, they told me they would make it from scratch. I never expected to eat something freshly made, so it was an unexpected surprise. Moreover, while I waited, I was also served some cold tea. The hospitality is amazing! It has a compact appearance, but there was also an eat-in space available.

Oh? I was surprised when I held it. The dough of the "Taiyaki Tsubuan (210 yen)" is astonishingly crispy. This taiyaki also has a slim shape, doesn't it?

The tsubuan inside has a gentle sweetness. Combined with the crispy dough, it offers a new sensation of deliciousness. The texture is so enjoyable that I kept eating one bite after another, finishing it in no time. The thin dough really allows you to fully savor the rich flavor of the tsubuan! Among all I experienced this time, this taiyaki left the biggest impression on me.

Taiyaki Mi-an
4-6-12 Minami-Rinkan, Yamato City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business hours: 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Monday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Closed: Wednesday, Sunday

Machida City, Hara Machida is home to Maruya Seika, where you can enjoy traditional taiyaki

With over 50 years of history, Maruya Seika is a popular shop located at the entrance of Nakamise Street. It is known for selling 40 varieties of obanyaki, but in fact, its taiyaki is also famous. Besides the classic red bean paste, there is also a cream-filled taiyaki that is popular among young people.

On this day, I was fortunate enough to enjoy a freshly made "Taiyaki with Red Bean Paste (240 yen)" right off the griddle. Among the three shops featured this time, it had the fluffiest body!

The red bean paste wrapped in the fluffy, gently sweet batter is relatively sweet. It has a taste reminiscent of traditional taiyaki, which warms the heart. Although the sizes are similar, it is quite filling. I've tried other flavors, but the red bean paste is definitely the best! Since the filling extended all the way to the tail, I was able to enjoy the last bite just as much as the first.

Maruya Seika
4-5-18 Haramachida, Machida City, Tokyo
Business Hours / 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed / Wednesdays, irregular holidays

● Maruya Seika

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