Feel the Japanese summer. Bon Odori and standard food stalls

Bon Odori is an essential part of Japanese summer. The sight of people dancing around a tower at dusk, lit by lanterns, is heartwarming. The aromas that fill the air at the Bon Odori venue are also a highlight.

So, the other main attraction is the lively food stalls!

We'll introduce you to the charm of Bon Odori, a traditional Japanese culture, and the classic food stall menu that will get you in the festive mood. Let us guide you on a journey where you can fully experience the Japanese summer night with all your senses!

What is Bon Odori? A summer tradition that connects Japanese hearts

Bon Odori is a traditional Japanese event held during the Obon period (usually in August) to welcome and offer prayers for the spirits of ancestors. The types of dance and music vary depending on the region, but it is common for people of all ages and genders to dance in a circle around a centrally erected "yagura" (tower).

The appeal of Bon Odori, which involves repeating simple choreography to the sound of Japanese drums and flutes, is that anyone can dance and participate easily. If you join the circle by imitating others, you will soon be drawn into the sense of unity and fun. This event, which brings the local community together, is more than just a festival; it gives you a sense of connection between Japanese culture and people .

Add some excitement to the festival! The temptation of classic food stalls

Around the Bon Odori festival venue, there are many food stalls lined up, giving off mouth-watering aromas. There is a huge variety of food, from the most classic to the more unusual. Here we will introduce some of the most popular standard food stall menus.

1. Yakisoba: A festival staple! You won't be able to stop eating it because of its delicious aroma.

Yakisoba, the king of B-grade gourmet food, is the undisputed number one favorite at summer festival food stalls. Just watching the sizzling sound of pork, cabbage, bean sprouts, and other ingredients being stir-fried with Chinese noodles in a special sauce on a hot plate is enough to whet your appetite.

The aroma of the fragrant sauce wafts through the air, and it is served hot and fresh in a pack. With just one bite, the flavor of the sauce fills your mouth.

2. Takoyaki: Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside!

Takoyaki, a national dish originating from Osaka, is also an essential part of festivals. Its distinctive round shape means that octopus is placed inside a flour-based batter and cooked on a special hot plate. Its unique texture, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, is addictive. It is typically eaten with sweet takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, and plenty of green laver and bonito flakes. It's best eaten hot while huffing and puffing.

3. Okonomiyaki: Japanese soul food at a food stall!

Okonomiyaki, a representative of flour-based food culture, is also a standard menu item at festival stalls. It is made by mixing cabbage, pork, and other ingredients into a flour-based batter, grilling it on a hot plate, and then topping it with a sweet and spicy sauce, mayonnaise, green laver, and bonito flakes. The piping hot, fluffy texture makes it very satisfying to eat.

4. Cotton Candy: Fluffy and Sweet Dreams

Cotton candy is extremely popular with children. When sugar is put into a special machine, it transforms into fluffy cotton candy and is wound around a stick, almost like magic. When you put it in your mouth, a sweet and gentle taste spreads and it melts away in an instant. It is sometimes packaged in bags with anime characters on them, and they look so cute, they are truly "dream sweets."

5. Shaved Ice: Beat the summer heat!

Shaved ice is an essential cold dessert at Japanese summer festivals. It is served with freshly shaved fluffy ice drizzled with colorful syrups such as strawberry, melon, and blue Hawaii. On a hot summer night, eating a cool, refreshing bowl of shaved ice will cool you down to the core. There are also more luxurious versions topped with condensed milk or red bean paste.

6. Baby Castella: A nostalgic sweet treat from a Japanese street food stall

Baby castella is a small, bite-sized castella cake that is popular at festivals and fairs. Baked on a special hot plate, it has a fragrant outside and a soft, gentle sweetness inside. It is easy to eat, and is loved by children and adults alike as a taste of Japanese summer memories.

7. Karaage: A juicy staple that's extremely popular at Japanese food stalls!

Karaage is a staple dish that is immensely popular at Japanese food stalls. It is a dish of chicken marinated in a special sauce that is deep-fried until crispy and fragrant. One bite and you'll be hooked on the crispy batter and the juicy meat inside. It's easy to eat, so it's a Japanese soul food that you should definitely try at festivals.

8. Sauce Senbei: A simple yet profound taste with a nostalgic flavor

Sauce rice crackers are especially popular among children at festival stalls. They are a simple dish of thin, round, traditional rice crackers smeared with sauce. You can also have fun spreading the sauce however you like and decorating them with a special spatula. In some regions, they are also garnished with plum jam or starch syrup, giving them a simple yet rich flavor.

9. Goldfish scooping and super ball scooping: Very popular with children

In addition to food, the food stalls also have plenty of fun games to play. Goldfish scooping and super ball scooping are classic games that children love to play. Using a poi (a paper scooping tool) to scoop up goldfish and colorful super balls requires a surprising amount of concentration, and adults can get absorbed in them too.

Tips for enjoying the Bon Odori festival food stall tour even more

Even if this is your first time visiting a Japanese summer festival, here are some tips to help you make the most of your food stall tour.

• Bring plenty of cash! Most food stalls require cash payment, so bringing plenty of coins will make your purchases go more smoothly.

• Get what you want right away! Popular food stalls can have long lines and sell out quickly, so if you see something you like, don't hesitate to line up.

• Please help with garbage sorting: After you've finished eating, be sure to throw away your containers and skewers in the designated trash cans. Don't forget to show your gratitude and cooperation for this local event.

• Interacting with locals: Food stall owners are also a great way to interact with locals. Try saying "Oishii!" in simple Japanese or asking for recommendations, and you'll create some wonderful memories of your trip.

• Try wearing a yukata! : Participating in a festival wearing a yukata will put you in a more lively mood. With some food from the food stalls in hand, you can feel the Japanese summer atmosphere with your whole body.

Feel the Japanese summer with your whole body!

The lively rhythm of the Bon Odori dance, the fragrant aromas wafting from the food stalls, and the lively people all combine to create a unique charm for Japan's summer festivals.

This summer, be sure to visit a Bon Odori festival venue in Japan and experience delicious food stalls and Japanese summer culture to your heart's content.