7 things you need to do when you come visit Japan
October 10, 2022
If you are considering or already decided upon visiting Japan, here is a list of what you should not miss out on when you come and visit.
6 dishes you need to try when you go to a Matsuri
(Japanese Festival)
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If you go to Japan in the summer, there will be many Masturi, which is a Japanese festival taking place. While some of the festivals are held on a large scale, most tend to be held locally, which tend to be held in playgrounds in school which will be opened to the public or nearby parks or shrines. While traditional dancing and festivities taking place is one reason why you should go to one, another is enjoying these festivities with some nice Japanese food which are sold in the adhoc food stand which is referred to as 'Yatai (屋台)' in Japanese. However, you may not know what they may be so we have listed some of the dishes that tend to be sold and what they are.
1. Yakisoba (焼きそば) ～Cooked Japanese Noodles～
One of the most popular foods among Japanese people is yakisoba (焼きそば), literally translates to "Cooked Soba." Yakisoba is a meal comprises of noodles, cabbage, bean sprouts, pork, shrimp, and etc which are then seasoned with Japanese Bulldog sauce, which is a Japanese equivalent of Worcestershire sauce. The noodles for the Yakisoba are Chinese noodles made with wheat flour rather than the normal buckwheat flour that is used to make traditional soba.Once the noodles are cooked, a number of garnishes are placed on top, such as aonori(dried seaweed), beni shoga (picked ginger), and katsuobushi (bonito fish flakes). Yakisoba is probably one of the first dishes that comes to mind when Japanese people think about food in Matsuri and it is easy to see why as the noodles are cooked on a proper hot plate, making the Yakisoba extra delicious.
If you want to cook Yakisoba at home, check our our recipe right here.
2. Takoyaki (たこ焼き) ～Grilled Octopus Balls～
Takoyaki, also known as grilled octopus balls, are little wheat flour balls stuffed with cubed octopus (tako), tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger, and green onions. When the balls are finished cooking, they are covered with Japanese mayo, dried green seaweed, shaved bonito flakes, and sweet-tangy takoyaki sauce. These octopus balls, along with Yakisoba is the most popular dishes that are sold in a Matsuri. Get some nice cold beer and some of Takoyaki and we are 100% sure that it will make your evening extra special! (Be careful when eating the Takoyaki as the insides are really hot!)
3. Kushiyaki (串焼き）～Grilled Skewers～
Kushiyaki is a type of skewer that is cooked on a grill. In a matsuri there tends to be a variety of these skewers. Meat (Yakitori) or seafood, such as squid, octopus and clams tend to be the most popular ones sold. They are either cooked just using salt or cooked covered in a soy sauce-based sauce. As the Kushiyaki is cooked on an outdoor grill on a high heat, there is a very nice aroma to it in addition to the tasty coating and the natural flavors of the ingredients being cooked. As the different skewers each has their own distinct flavors, we highly recommend that you try different kinds especially since you will be waiting in the queue for quite a bit so you might as well try ones that seem appetizing to you. Just a word of warning, as the skewers are really sharp, make sure that you in a safe place.
If you want to cook Kushiyaki at home, check our our recipe right here.
4. Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) ~Japanese Savoury Pancake~
Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き), is a huge savory pancake prepared with wheat, eggs, shredded cabbage, and meat or other protein which literally means "grilled how you like it" in Japanese. Then, a variety of Takoyaki-inspired toppings are added, including bonito flakes, dried seaweed, Beni Shoga (pickled ginger), bulldog sauce, and Japanese mayo. As Okonomiyaki tends to be different depending on the region, the flavor might be somewhat different depending on the Matsuri you go to. As the flavor of the Okonomiyaki is somewhat similar to Takoyaki, if you are getting this, it might be best to get the Yakisoba or Kushiyaki instead.
If you want to cook Okonomiyaki at home, check our our recipe right here.
5. Taiyaki (たい焼き)
Taiyaki (たい焼き) is a traditional matsuri snack/dessert which is similar to a waffle either with a red bean or custard filling. Taiyaki literally means Sea bream cake and this is because it is shaped in a form of a sea bream (it does not have sea bream inside it). With a crispy shell encasing a warm, soft cake with a sweet interior, it makes it the perfect dessert after having some nice savory dishes.
6. Kakigori (かき氷) ~Japanese Shaved Ice~
Usually the Matsuri will take place in the summer, which is very hot and humid, Kakigori (かき氷) or Japanese shaved ice is the best dessert to cool down. In comparison to the dessert shops that specializes in Kakigori, the ice is not super thinly shaven but still, they are the perfect dessert for you during a Matsuri. There are many different kinds of flavors ranging from strawberry, melon, blue Hawaii, green tea, peach, calpico and etc. A must try in order to get the full Japanese festival experience.
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