Japanese Summer Matsuri Foods: Celebrating the Season With Iconic Eats

Festivals, or matsuri, are held year-round in Japan as an opportunity to celebrate seasons, events, and holidays. They can take place at many different locations, including schools, temples, shrines, and even local cultural centers.

Of the many festivals, one of the most iconic is the Japanese summer matsuri. Featured in films, manga, anime, and music, summer festival days are full of fun and food. Yatais, or stalls, are set up all along walkways and paths, usually leading to a temple, shrine, or main stage. Walking amongst you’ll find plenty of games and prizes, but also sweets and savory foods, all usually around or under 500 yen.

Here are some of the most iconic matsuri foods:

Yakisoba

You’ll notice a trend in festival food in Japan. Often, the dishes are grilled and hot and covered in sauce. Yakisoba epitomizes this. Think stir-fried, chewy noodles grilled together with cabbage, carrots, pickled ginger, and pork, chicken, or beef. A generous portion of tasty noodles and veggies is covered in a tangy sauce and rich Japanese mayo before being sprinkled with green seaweed powder. These stalls are also a source of entertainment as vendors quickly cook massive piles of noodles, flipping and stir-frying batches for waiting customers.

Takoyaki

Another savory treat, takoyaki is often translated as “octopus balls” and they are pretty much what the name suggests. To make them, pancake-like batter is scooped into special rounded pans and filled with chunks of octopus, tempura batter scraps, pickled ginger, and green onions. They’re quickly turned, mixed, and cooked with ease by skilled vendors until the outside is golden brown and the inside is gooey and soft. These molten octopus balls are then covered in a tangy sauce, not unlike the yakisoba sauce, as well as Japanese mayo, seaweed powder, and bonito flakes.

Okonomiyaki

Japan’s version of a savory pancake, okonomiyaki is a delicious grilled dish made from batter, cabbage, and your choice of toppings since okonomi means “as you like”. Toppings can include noodles, pork, egg, cheese, shrimp, and onions but vary by region and taste. If you haven’t noticed a trend yet, okonomiyaki is also covered in a tangy okonomi sauce, Japanese mayo, seaweed powder, and bonito flakes.

Taiyaki

Our first sweet on the list, taiyaki are fish-shaped waffle cakes traditionally filled with a sweet red bean paste called anko. These days you can find them filled with sweet potato, custard, chocolate, and even matcha creme. They get their name from their distinct shape, that of a tai, or red sea bream, a symbol of good luck.

Choco Banana

Another iconic summer matsuri food, choco banana is exactly what it sounds like: a chocolate-covered banana. These simple but intriguing treats are often covered in rainbow sprinkles and sold on skewers for easy snacking. Just don’t let them melt in the summer heat!

Dango

Somewhere between savory and sweet, dango are skewers of rice dumplings made from rice flour and traditionally covered in a sweetened soy sauce glaze. You can also find them dyed with food coloring or matcha and covered in red bean paste or other glazes, making them perfect for a variety of tastes!

About the author: 

Kevin Kilcoyne

The spark that lit Kevin Kilcoyne’s interest in Japanese culture began in elementary school through a friendship with his then classmate Keisuke. Since then, that passion has evolved and bloomed to encompass more than just video games and manga, leading Kevin to live in Japan as a participant of the JET program. During his time in Japan, Kevin sought out as many foods as he could, the experiences and taste memories lingering long after they had gone. Now he is forging a path to link his passions for Japanese food, history, and visual culture and is planning for his return to live in Japan once again. For now, you can find Kevin on Instagram (@waruishouten) where he posts his photography and illustration work. Keep an eye out for more posts and updates as Kevin delves more deeply into his passions for writing and food.