Summer is winding down here in Japan, but there is still time to learning about and enjoy food and activities typical of this season!
Summer in Japan is characterized by fireworks, festivals, fun in the sun, and of course, tons of delicious food! Since the temperatures can get high, there are plenty of refreshing dishes to beat the summer heat.
Whether you are in Japan now or planning your next trip once the borders reopen, these blog posts will get you into the “Natsu Yasumi” or Japanese holiday summer spirit!
So without further ado, here are our 7 top summer reads for your enjoyment!
Source: Photo by Michael Lee on Unsplash
Our summer food list has so many delicious dishes that it can make it difficult to choose what to eat! That’s why we made this selection of our top 5 to help you choose, or add to your bucket list!
Ramune is a Japanese soda, and the symbol of summertime in Japan! This fizzy drink comes with a marble in it, which along with a special plastic cap, is used to open the bottle. Push down on the plastic cap until the marble drops in the bottle, and you’re ready to drink away the summer heat! find out more…
If you’re a tea lover, what better way is there to survive the summer months than with matcha gelato? And Nanaya Aoyama in Tokyo is the place to go: the shop offers premium matcha gelato, and the matcha flavour they offer is on a 1-7 scale, increasing in strength as it moves up!
Ayu (or Japanese fresh river Sweetfish) is typical of the summer season, and is a staple food at the many festivals and barbecues throughout the hottest months!
Image by @juanbiteatatime
A fluffy ice cup topped with different fruit flavored syrups, perfect to beat the summer heat bite after bite.
Source: Japanrailtimes.japanrailcafe.com.sg/web/
For this one, you have permission to play with your food! Nagashi somen is a delicious and refreshing summer activity to enjoy with friends and family in which bundles of somen noodles flow down a bamboo slide. The challenge? Catch them with your chopsticks before anyone else!
Photo by 加藤 俊 from Pixabay
Unagi (Japanese freshwater eel) is a delicious Japanese summer staple. It is believed that eating unagi helps withstand the heat thanks to its high level of nutrients, proteins and vitamins. There is even a day dedicated to unagi: usually at the end of July, on what is considered the hottest day of the summer, eating unagi is considered a good omen to preserve health for the rest of the year!
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If you want to know more about Japanese seasonal food, travel recommendations and curiosities, check out our blog series or join us in one of our online tours! We hope to see you soon in Japan!