Japanese street food (yatai) is worth a try.
Yatai is primarily found at matsuri, hanabi and hanami (festivals, fireworks and flower viewing parties).
Yatai vendors follow the festival and event circuit all over Japan. It's a lucrative business, there are at least 200,000 events and festivals each year across the country.
Yatai can also be permanent shops. These can be found in the hundreds in the Tenjin and Nakasu districts of Fukuoka where yatai are lively night spots.
Any food imaginable is served at yatai. These are the easy to find classics.
The trucks may drive around slowly repeating "yaki imo ... yaki imo ... yaki imo" on a loudspeaker. This is either annoying or charming depending on your outlook. Most people become nostalgic about them. They are an aspect of old Japan that's quickly fading into the past.
The town of Nara has senbei yatai for tourists who want to feed the town's many deer. This practice has turned these quiet animals into senbei crazed troublemakers.
Good for warming up on a cold night. Oden yatai are often surprisingly lively.
(couple enjoying yakisoba and summer fireworks)
This is a tough business that depends on loyal customers. Tokyo office workers are thinking about lunch all morning. They're looking for something spectacularly tasty.
There is intense competition for their business from restaurants, convenience stores and yatai. Word of mouth spreads. A bento yatai with a good reputation will enjoy a long line of customers each business day.
Bebi Kasutera are the bite sized (baby size) version of this popular cake.
The slow cooking process gives the egg a texture like custard. It's typically served in dashi and soy sauce.
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Yatai is primarily found at matsuri, hanabi and hanami (festivals, fireworks and flower viewing parties).
Yatai vendors follow the festival and event circuit all over Japan. It's a lucrative business, there are at least 200,000 events and festivals each year across the country.
Yatai can also be permanent shops. These can be found in the hundreds in the Tenjin and Nakasu districts of Fukuoka where yatai are lively night spots.
Any food imaginable is served at yatai. These are the easy to find classics.
1. Yaki Imo
Yaki Imo are baked sweet potatoes cooked over a wood fire. Yaki Imo trucks and carts fitted with wood stoves can be found all over the Japan.The trucks may drive around slowly repeating "yaki imo ... yaki imo ... yaki imo" on a loudspeaker. This is either annoying or charming depending on your outlook. Most people become nostalgic about them. They are an aspect of old Japan that's quickly fading into the past.
2. Crepes
It's difficult to imagine how many crepe shops there might be in Japan. Certainly over 10,000. Many are trucks or street stalls. Crepe shops are usually surrounded by high school girls seriously contemplating the vast menu.
3. Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki are savory Japanese pancakes. They are traditionally prepared to use up leftovers at home. The matsuri version is usually packed with filling items such as thick cut bacon.
4. Dango
Japanese mochiko dumplings on a stick. Typically in a shoyu and sugar sauce.
5. Senbei
Senbei are Japanese rice crackers that come in hundreds of varieties both sweet and savory. Yatai offer fresh grilled senbei that are a step up from packaged senbei.The town of Nara has senbei yatai for tourists who want to feed the town's many deer. This practice has turned these quiet animals into senbei crazed troublemakers.
6. Takoyaki
Savory ball-shaped pancakes with octopus at the center topped with mayonnaise, ginger pickles and fermented fish flakes.
7. Kare Pan
A bun with Japanese curry in the center. Similar to a curry donut.
8. Oden
Oden is a winter dish of meats, fish and vegetable items stewed in a light broth for a very long time.Good for warming up on a cold night. Oden yatai are often surprisingly lively.
9. Shioyaki
Baked fish (often mackerel) on a stick. Saltier than salt itself.
10. Yakisoba
Fried wheat noodles with pork in a thick, sweet sauce.
(couple enjoying yakisoba and summer fireworks)
11. Poteto
French fries, the American classic. Much the same in Japan.
12. Ramen
Fukuoka is known for its many excellent ramen noodle yatai.
13. Taiyaki
Fish shaped cakes filled with custard, chocolate or cheese.
14. Choco Banana
Banana coated in chocolate and sprinkles on a stick.
15. Tomorokoshi
Corn grilled with miso, butter and soy sauce on a stick.
16. Jaga Bata
Baked potato with skin peeled topped with butter.
17. Bento
Japanese business districts attract bento yatai. They open for an hour or two at lunch on business days. The best of them sell out in 10 or 15 minutes.This is a tough business that depends on loyal customers. Tokyo office workers are thinking about lunch all morning. They're looking for something spectacularly tasty.
There is intense competition for their business from restaurants, convenience stores and yatai. Word of mouth spreads. A bento yatai with a good reputation will enjoy a long line of customers each business day.
18. Kyuri
The Japanese believe that kyuri (cucumbers) cool you down. Cucumbers on a stick with a little miso paste is the perfect food for hot summer nights.
19. Japanese Curry Rice
Japan is obsessed with mild curry similar to a spicy gravy. It's a staple of the Japanese diet. It's common to eat it twice a week.
20. Watame
American carnival classics such as cotton candy (watame) and candy apples are matsuri favorites. Yatai cotton candy comes wrapped in a plastic bag decorated with jpop bands or popular cartoon characters.
21. Ikayaki
Grilled squid.
22. Nikuman
Nikuman is the Japanese name for Chinese Baozi dumplings filled with pork.
23. Bebi Kasutera
Kasutera is a Japanese sponge cake inspired by Portuguese Pao de Castela.Bebi Kasutera are the bite sized (baby size) version of this popular cake.
24. Onsen Tamago
Onsen tamago are eggs that have been cooked by a natural onsen hot spring.The slow cooking process gives the egg a texture like custard. It's typically served in dashi and soy sauce.
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