Japanese Summer Foods: Fun and Refreshing Treats

Summer in Japan is time for festivals, games, and delicious foods that help everyone stay cool. Some of the most popular summer treats are Suikawari, Nagashi Somen, and Kakigori. These foods are not just tasty, but they also come with fun activities that make summer in Japan extra special.

SuikaWari: The Watermelon Game

“Suikawari” is a fun game where people try to split a watermelon with blindfolded. The game is usually played at the beach or in a park during summer. One person is blindfolded and given a stick, while others shout directions to help them find and hit the watermelon. Once the watermelon is cracked open, everyone gets to enjoy the sweet, juicy slices.

This game is not just about eating watermelon, it’s also about having fun with friends and family. Watermelon, or Suika, is a popular summer fruit in Japan because it’s refreshing and helps keep you cool on hot days.

Nagashi Somen: Catching Noodles on the Go

“Somen” are thin Japanese noodles made from wheat flour usually served chilled with dipping noodle sauce. In this tradition, cold Somen noodles are sent down a bamboo slide filled with icy water. People stand along the slide with chopsticks, trying to catch the noodles as they flow by. Once you catch some noodles, you dip them in a tasty sauce and eat them.

“Nagashi Somen” is usually enjoyed outdoors with friends and family, especially during summer festivals. The cool water and light noodles make it a perfect dish for hot weather. The fun of catching the noodles adds excitement to the meal, making it a favorite summer activity.

Kakigori: A Cool and Colorful Dessert

“Kakigori” is a traditional Japanese dessert made of shaved ice. It’s a must-have treat during hot summer months. The ice is shaved into a light, fluffy texture and topped with sweet syrups, condensed milk, or fresh fruit. Popular flavors include matcha (green tea), strawberry, and melon, but you can find many other flavors too.

Kakigori is a refreshing dessert that helps cool you down instantly. It’s often enjoyed at summer festivals, but you can also find it at cafes and street stalls all over Japan. The bright colors and sweet, icy taste make kakigori a fun and delicious way to beat the heat.

Summer Festival in Vancouver

Nikkei Matsuri at Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre

We have Nikkei Matsuri, Japanese Festival on this weekend form Aug30-Sep1. Nikkei Matsuri is Burnaby’s authentic family-friendly Japanese festival celebrating Japanese culture. Proceeds benefit Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre. We join this event as a vendor of sake and you can enjoy selected sake from many agents.

Enjoying Summer Foods with Japanese Sake

+32354 Kamikokoro Momo Peach

To make these summer treats even better, try them with a glass of chilled Japanese sake. A light and fruity sake, like KAMIKOKORO MOMO PEACH, goes perfectly with the fresh taste of summer. Taking a sip of this is like taking a bite into the juicy, sweet nectar of a white peach called Shimizu Hakuto, the queen of peaches, from Okayama prefecture. They even use peach yeast for their carefully crafted sake, and express the fruit’s elegant white flesh and natural sweetness by using a process with minimal filtering.