photo by Tatsuo Yamashita
The best part of Japanese festivals is “yatai”-hopping. “Yatai” is a roofed mobile retail stall. A number of night stalls (“demise”) stand next to each other at festive occasions. Ordinary footpaths, which normally are filled with people, look a lot more glamourous in such occasions. Just looking at colorful signs and curtains of stalls can be a great amusement by itself. It wouldn’t cost much to shop at these stalls. Pay just a few hundred yen and you can get food or toys such as a mask and enjoy them standing up or while walking.
Wooly Fluffy Sweet! Cotton Candy
photo by Dick Thomas Johnson
Cotton candy is very popular food in many countries and one of the easiest items to try. Flavored cotton candies such as strawberry or soda are available other than plain sugar one. Some stall keepers freshly make one upon your order and some others sell pre-made bagged ones. Anime or TV show characters printed bags will entertain you while you carry around it. Find your favorite character for fun.
Choose Your Own Topping, “Takoyaki”
“Takoyaki” is one of widely known Japanese munchies and very popular “yatai” food as it is handy to pop into your mouth standing up. A shop keeper will give you a packet of “takoyaki” with or without drizzle of sauce and mayonnaise and you can help yourself to top it with “aonori” or bonito flakes. Do not add too much “aonori” when you have to pay attention to your appearance (e.g. when going out with someone) as it often sticks on your teeth.
Loads of Toppings or Be Artistic? Drawing Cracker
photo by reflety.com
A drawing cracker is one of popular “yatai” snacks. Spread syrup on a light and crispy prawn cracker and sprinkle sugar flakes or chocolate over it. It is called a drawing cracker as you can create your own design on it. Some stall keepers let you help yourself with all the toppings and other shop keepers top a cracker for you. Writing your own name, drawing pictures, it is all up to you. Japanese kids can be divided into two groups; those who are keen to be artistic and who prefers enjoying generous amount of sugar toppings.
Girls’ Favorite: Candy Apricot and Candy Apple
Candy Apricot and Candy Apple are one of the most popular “yatai” snacks particularly among girls. These are made by dipping stick inserted whole apricots or apples into a shiny liquid candy and cooling them down. Eat a fruit inside after finishing a candy coating. Some stall keepers sell “candy fruits” that are candy coated smaller fruits such as strawberries, grapes or oranges.
Beginners, Do Not Touch Pop-Eyed Ones: Goldfish Scooping
You might have seen people in yukata carrying goldfish in a little plastic bag at festivals or fireworks events. They got those fish from goldfish scooping, one of Japanese summer features. It is a game to catch goldfish in a pool by using a paper scooper called “poi”. Some stall keepers allow you have one or two fish to reward your participation if you caught none. Beginners should avoid flashy beautiful pop-eyed fish as they are quite heavy and easily break your scooper. Some stall keepers give you an extra scooper if you tell them you won’t take any fish home. Ask if you can get this arrangement before starting a game.
Kids’ Favorite: Bouncy Balls Scooping
If you wish to carry that little plastic bag to show off but don’t want to take fish home, try bouncy balls scooping. It is a game to scoop bouncy balls in a pool. A bouncy ball is called “superball” in Japan. Each stall gives you a different type of scooper; a ladle, a “poi”, a little bowl or something else. A ladle and a bowl are the easiest to scoop balls, but probably you can get more balls with a “poi” depending on how good you are. Try a ”poi” if you are a confident player.
Enjoy a Midsummer Dream…
Of course there are many more kinds of “yatai” stalls at festive events. Those stalls give you special experiences of the Japanese culture and a festive atmosphere in addition to bringing an excitement to the events. Go out for a “yatai”-hopping with your friends, boyfriend or girlfriend while you stay in Japan. Enjoy strolling along the street and dropping by “yatai” stalls with a beer in your hand.
