I've been to about 50 Japanese festivals and, apart from the festival theme, the food and game stands are identical. To the point that I would believe it if you said there is one standard festival touring group that go to each festival. So if you are not fortunate enough to come to Japan and attend a Japanese festival, I have brought them all to you.

First there will be a path of lanterns or something of the sorts guiding the way.

Upon closer inspection we see all the booths lined up beside each other. What do they sell?

There will be a okanomiyaki stand, or 10. This is like an omelet with various things included. It's tasty.

Next we have the grilled corn on-a-stick stand. Also tasty, but usually slightly overpriced.

It wouldn't be a REAL festival without chopped squid and mayonnaise packed in a little flour dough ball.

We need more funky things on a stick. There is random meat and more squid.

Just squid in a dough ball isn't enough, we need other things to stuff in there as well.

More things on sticks. MORE. Here we have regular hot dogs and various sausage.

Fish on a stick? Sure, we can do it.

For the tots we have generic crap toys that break when you get home.

We need a few beer stands. It was only 10am and beer stands won't open until 11am.

Ah, I thought we might not have the traditional Japanese food booth, but here it is.

That can't be whole squid and scallops on a stick can it? Sure.

Chocolate covered bananas? Yup, we got 'em.

The photos below were either taken at the same festival or 3 years later, but you can't tell.

Useless trinkets and toys that break an hour after the festival.

Crepes, which the Japanese think they invented.

Octopus parts fried in a donut ball.

Can you catch a goldfish that will die in an hour?

Kids serving beer.

The omelet booth.

Heart Attack on a plate. Yea I had one. A potato floating in butter and mayonnaise.

Not happy I snapped a photo at the choco-banana booth.

Another one two booths down.

Octopus and squid parts chopped up for sale to eat raw or cooked.

Yakitori - cooked bird (swallow to be precise). Good, but pricey.

Get a tiny goldfish with a net and take it home for $1. If you make it home before it dies you are the lucky winner.

Cute kids in their yukatas.
 

© Ryan McDonald 2006, for information about using images or text please click here.