What is Typical Street Food in Japan?

Japanese street food is an extraordinary adventure in sensations, not just for your palate but also for your eyes! Many street vendors are multigenerational venues that date back hundreds of years. Fish cakes, yakitori skewers, seaweed crackers, grilled shellfish, okonomiyaki, and traditional mochi sweets are a few of the delicious street food delicacies for sale…

“Tabe Aruki” or street snacking is frowned upon in Japan. Considered bad manners, it is only encouraged in department store food floors like Takeshimaya or Kintetsu where food samples abound, or at festivals, food markets, amusement parks, and temple flea markets.

If you munch on a treat or drink a beverage while walking down the street, it is considered rude; so it is a good idea to finish your snack outside a local convenience store or vending machine as there is usually a garbage bin beside the entrance. (Garbage bins are few and far between in Japan as everyone seems to take their garbage home with them.)

Nishiki Market

Located in the centre of Kyoto, this bustling crowded market is always crowded with locals and tourists alike, so try to go early…

Filled with an abundance of food items and cooking utensils, Nishiki Market covers several city blocks, and offers a fascinating respite from temple and shrine hopping; it is also a nice place to spend a rainy afternoon.

Many of the vendors have multigenerational establishments that date back hundreds of years.

Arrive hungry as there are endless opportunities for snacking!! Try some fish cakes, seaweed crackers, grilled squid or green tea ice cream. Or sample different types of pickled vegetables, styles of tofu, varietals of sake, and traditional Japanese sweets.

China Town in Kobe

Nankinmachi

Usually crowded on any given day, Nankinmachi is a vibrant tourist attraction that is fun to stroll through and engage in “tabe aruki”, a pastime not usually encouraged in Japan.

Founded in 1868 when foreigners were finally allowed to enter into the Port of Kobe, Nankinmachi has its own temple, many shops, and over one hundred restaurants.

Nankinmachi means Nanking Town since Japanese referred to the Chinese immigrants as “People from Nanking”.

Walking through the town is a culinary adventure as all the restaurants display their particular food specialties on stands outside their entrances. Visitors can sample and purchase items such as Peking duck, steamed buns, Kobe beef,

Festival Food

There is a tremendous variety of Matsuri or Festivals that are held all over Japan throughout the year.

Since there are at least 190,000 temples and shrines in the country, there are at least that many festivals and more held every year. This is because each temple or shrine holds at least one yearly festival.

A memorable way to celebrate Japan and learn about its culture is by attending one of its main seasonal festivals. Its most important celebration is Shogatsu or New Year’s Festival which lasts a full week at the beginning of January. Most Japanese visit their neighbourhood temple and shrine to pay their respects and also to enjoy the festival atmosphere.

Other memorable family festivals include Girls’ Day on March 3, Boys’ Day on May 5th, and Chichi-Go-San (7-5-3) on November 15th which celebrates the good health and growth of small children.

The Snow Festival in Sapporo has millions of visitors in February every year as does the picturesque Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto.

Whatever season of the year, because of the hundreds of festivals occurring in Japan, visitors have a great chance of viewing a traditional matsuri and experiencing festival food and atmosphere.