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What is a festival without food? Every year, Japan celebrates more than 20,000 festivals for seasonal, historical, and religious purposes. A common element of these festivals is the presence of a variety of tasty festive foods. usually there will be is (food stalls) set up at the festival site, providing a great opportunity to sample traditional Japanese snacks or regional specialties at low prices. Here are 10 of the best and most common holiday dishes, loved by locals and visitors alike.
1. Takoyaki
A quintessential Japanese fast food: takoyaki – not only one of the most famous street foods in the country, but also a festival favorite. So what is it exactly? Crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside, takoyaki are ball-shaped candies made from a mass containing dashiand stuffed with pieces of succulent octopus (so). It is better to eat them very hot and brushed with takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, seaweed and katsuobushi (listing sheets).
2. Yakitori
Yakitori It’s the perfect festival food: cheap, tasty and easy to eat on the go. Tender chicken skewers are grilled over a charcoal fire and served hot. They go well with beer (and soft drinks too) and are easy to eat, requiring only one hand to hold the skewer, leaving one hand free to hold said beer. Chicken is usually seasoned with salt (zodiac) or a sweet and salty sauce (repel). Yakitori it’s a much-loved Japanese staple, and once you get it, you’ll quickly understand why.
3. Okonomiyaki
Another Japanese specialty, okonomiyakiIt’s absolutely delicious. It’s the Japanese version of a savory pancake and is packed with complex flavors and textures. It’s also surprisingly healthy despite being considered fast food. It consists of a dough made from wheat flour mixed with other ingredients such as cabbage, eggs, meat and seafood, then baked and covered with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, seaweed, pickled ginger and katsuobushi. When this dish is served warm, the thin fish flakes sway back and forth as if dancing, making for quite a unique side dish.
4. Wata-ame (cotton candy)
Here’s a festive treat that transcends cultures: cotton candy! Known in Japan as month-ame, this colorful and soft candy is very popular with children. At festivals, it’s mostly found in clear plastic bags decorated with anime characters, but you can also see it being made on the spot and served in Instagram-worthy shapes like flowers or rainbows. The sweet month-ame it will melt in your mouth and leave you with a sugar rush.
5. Kakigori (shaved ice)
The best Japanese summer soda is without a doubt persimmon. Similar to a snow cone, this treat is served in cups. Made with crushed ice and sweetened with condensed milk and fruit syrup, it’s enough to cool you off from the summer heat. Believe it or not, this tasty dessert dates back to the 11th century when it was sweetened with plant sap. Today, you’ll find it topped off with flavors like strawberry, mango, blue Hawaiian, melon, and more. kakigori It is popular with children and adults alike and goes hand in hand with fireworks parties and yukatas-exhausting.
6.Taiyaki
You may have already seen this sweet, waffle-like snack served in the shape of a fish. named after the thai fish (bream) seems, Taiyaki It doesn’t taste fishy at all! The outer shell is made with pancake or waffle batter and has a subtle hint of vanilla. The interior has a delicious filling, the most popular being sweet. adzuki (red bean paste. You will also find it with other flavors, such as custard, chocolate, matcha, and cheese. they say eat Taiyaki It brings good luck, so it’s a popular snack at parties, but whether it’s true or not, Taiyaki It sure is delicious!
7.Yakisoba
You will be able to smell the tempting scent of yakisoba even before seeing it. Noodles cooked on an iron griddle are the main ingredient in this dish, but despite the name, the noodles used are not actually Soba noodles. Instead, you’ll find Chinese-style fried noodles with a spicy and flavorful sauce. This classic holiday meal contains ingredients like pork, cabbage, and other vegetables like carrots, onions, bean sprouts, and bell peppers. You can even find region-specific versions. For example, from Osaka take the dish is called modanyakiwhich is essentially yakisoba crossed with okonomiyaki, and in Hiroshima you will find that they overlap the ingredients. Whichever version you come across, be sure to give it a try when you see it!
Chicken karaage it’s incredibly popular, and when you try the crunchy yet juicy bites, you’ll immediately understand why. Fried on the spot and often served in cups with chopsticks for easy consumption, karaage it goes perfectly with beer or sake. what sets karaage Aside from basic fried chicken, it’s baked in a batter made with potato starch instead of flour, then fried two or three times for extra crunch. The chicken is marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sake, which helps keep the meat tender. It’s almost impossible to eat a single bite without immediately wanting more.
9. Chocolate Bananas
Another to satisfy your sweet tooth, this seemingly simple snack is anything but. You’ll notice the eye-catching displays of colorful bananas on skewers, covered in chocolate and usually decorated with sprinkles or nuts. You may even see bananas decorated to look like famous cartoon characters or with different colors of chocolate. Bananas are frozen which makes them a nice cool treat at hot summer festivals.
10. Yakitomorokoshi (grilled corn on the cob)
If all these delicious dishes have you craving something healthier, look no further. yakitomorokoshi, or grilled corn on the cob. While grilled corn may not be uniquely Japanese, it’s the soy sauce added to sweet and salty corn that makes it even more flavorful. The corn husk is removed and tied at the end, forming a handle. This method makes it very easy to eat while walking and enjoying the festival. Don’t miss out on this smoky and flavorful take on a classic ear of corn!
You will find many of these delicious dishes at almost every festival in Japan. It is said that the gods love a lively atmosphere, which is one of the reasons why so many festivals host numerous food stalls that attract people to come and feast. With so many delicious things to choose from, it can be hard to decide what to eat! Fortunately, there are many festivals throughout the year, so I hope you can try them all. Which do you want to eat first?
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