Summer is a great season for matsuri (festivals); where streets are lined with temporary stalls (yatai) selling delicious matsuri food! There are also stalls for games and festival goods like masks and balloons.
One summer bestseller is kakigoori (shaved ice), which is a refreshing way to combat the summer heat. It comes in a variety of colorful flavors, though staples usually include melon (green), strawberry (pink), cola (brown), blue hawaii (blue), mikan (orange).
My favorite's the cola flavor!
Karaage (fried chicken)
Tasty but not the best on a hot summer evening!
Every summer matsuri needs beer.
The legal age for alcohol consumption in Japan is 20!
Not taken in Japan but they sold Kirin beer at the Natsumatsuri (summer festival) here recently.
Dango! (mochi dumpling balls)
This is a type of dessert, made of sticky rice, similar to mochi.
This is the dango that "Hana Yori Dango" refers to!
Takoyaki (octopus balls)
Okonomiyaki! one of my perennial favorites ♡
This is a savory pancake made mostly of cabbage, along with flour, egg and dashi.
It can have various fillings like octopus, meat, seafood, etc, whatever you like.
Okonomi means the "what you like". Yaki means "grilled".
Another perennial favorite, ikayaki (grilled squid)!
Self-explanatory, squid (and other cephalopods ie cuttlefish/octopus) is one of my favorite foods!
Yakitori (grilled chicken)
Usually comes in shio (salt) and tare (soy) sauces.
I prefer the tare one!
Yakisoba (grilled/fried noodles)
Hmm, only now do I realize that most matsuri food is grilled!
I guess it's for the ease of cooking on the spot ^^
Choco-banana!
Chocolate-coated bananas.
I've never actually tried them, but they seem to be well-loved.
A newly discovered favorite, nikumaki (meatroll)!!
This is basically rice wrapped in a thin layer of meat.
There can be toppings like cheese and sauces too.
The meat is sooo juicy, and the rice inside is delectably soft!
But it's quite pricey at 400yen per piece!
Candied apples and other sweet goodies.
Another matsuri staple, kingyo-sukuu (goldfish scooping).
I always feel sad for the little goldfish so I've never tried it.
Doing my friend's hair.
I now have a cordless curling iron (it's pink!) that's super convenient for bringing around~
I really like this yukata, it's black-based but all the little balls are so colorful.
And the bright obi gives a striking contrast :)
I never got to experience a matsuri when I visited Japan, but I wish I did! They look like a lot of fun and the food looks so good! I did get a chance to wear a yukata for Tanabata, but I was sick at the time and couldn't go out to celebrate with my friends. :( I hope that next time I wear one it will be a better experience (perhaps at a matsuri!).
ReplyDeleteOoh you definitely must go celebrate if you have a chance, matsuris are so fun! It might be kinda squeezy with all the people, but the atmosphere is good and so is the food ♥
Deleteyou look like u had so much fun!!! id like to try this experience too, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIf you ever have the chance you should definitely go try~ ♥ The food and atmosphere are great! There'll also be street performers dancing or playing musical instruments sometimes!
Deleteoh my, all the yummy food! it all looks so lovely~
ReplyDeleteOoh it was delicious~ :)
DeleteIt looks so much fun! I miss the Japanese festivals and dressing up in Yukata. I also love Kakigoori since it's so refreshing! <3
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I dash for at matsuris is kakigoori, cos you always feel so hot when you first arrive^^ And you can spend a long time enjoying them whilst roaming the streets~ ♥
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