What Makes Japan's Night Markets a Must-Visit for Food Lovers?
Forget bars and clubs. Night markets in Asia offer a unique way to explore the streets after sunset. We’re about to reveal everything there is to know about this cultural phenomenon in Japan.
In case you’ve never heard of an Asian night market, it’s a street market that operates mostly at night. Prospects and customers stroll down the road and stop by shops, stands, or stalls to buy traditional dishes, fruits, vegetables, snacks, toys, and fashion items. The products sold at night markets tend to be cheaper than those sold at regular markets.
There are hundreds of night markets in Japan. Many of them are located in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Sapporo, which are home to some of the most vibrant Asian food markets in the country.
What Makes Asian Food Markets Special?
Asian food markets are deeply rooted in Japanese culture and history. People from all backgrounds and social statuses have been coming together as a community to shop in these districts for centuries.
The Asian food market is special for many reasons, but the most important one is its diversity. You’ll find food stalls selling a wide range of ingredients, herbs, produce, spices, meat, seafood, snacks, and cooked dishes. The markets in Japan don’t stick to selling food from domestic cuisine. They also sell culinary delights from China, Korea, Taiwan, and even India.
These foods are not only diverse but also affordable. Even people who visit Asian food markets in western countries find the items cheaper than those sold at regular grocery stores. Seasoned shoppers claim that the traditional nature of these markets creates a low overhead, which keeps the cost of goods down.
The gourmet meals sold at Asian markets typically consist of fresh vegetables, seafood, whole grains, and lean proteins. So, they provide a solid offering of highly nutritious, fiber-rich, and balanced foods.
What Food is Most Popular in Japan?
Night markets in Japan may offer a diverse range of food, but certain items are more sought after than others. The following are the top food items in Japan:
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Street food: These are the ultimate culinary delights in Japan and the center of attraction in its night markets. They’re often sold in traditional street food stalls known as yatai. Popular street foods in Japan include takoyaki (grilled octopus balls), yakitori (skewered grilled chicken), and katsu (fried cutlets).
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Instant food: These are modernized meals that can be prepared at home or on the street in less than five minutes. They’re bought as condensed, dehydrated, or freeze-dried items and prepared with the use of water, heat, or both. Common instant foods include instant ramen, pre-cooked noodle soups, and rice cake cups.
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Raw food: The most popular raw foods are sashimi and sushi. Sashimi consists of thin slices of raw seafood or meat. Sushi also contains raw fish, but it includes vinegared rice as well.
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Snacks: These are the perfect on-the-go meals. Their convenient and portable nature suits the busy work culture of Japanese people. They often range from traditional snacks such as rice crackers to processed products like potato chips.
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Traditional sweets: In Japan, traditional sweets are called wagashi. They’re sold at nearly every corner of a night market. Popular options include mochi, dango, and castella.
A Taste of Tradition: Exploring Popular Japanese Street Food
Your stroll through a night market is never complete without a taste of traditional Japanese street food. Ranging from fried dishes to savory snacks, these treats dominate the market. The following are the most popular options:
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Takoyaki: a ball-shaped snack made with wheat flour batter and filled with pieces of octopus and other ingredients.
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Yakisoba: a stir-fried dish made with Chinese-style wheat flour noodles and flavored with savory sauce or a similar condiment.
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Taiyaki: a traditional fish-shaped cake filled with red bean paste (or anko). It may contain other types of fillings, such as custard, cheese, sweet potato, or chocolate.
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Yakitori: a street food prepared by attaching a steel or bamboo skewer to a piece of chicken and grilling the meat over heated charcoal.
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Okonomiyaki: a savory dish of pancakes made by cooking wheat flour batter, cabbage, meat, seafood, and other ingredients over a special pan.
Top 5 Traditional Foods in Japan You’ll Find in Night Markets
Most of the foods sold in Japanese street markets are local delicacies in the region. However, some dishes transcend borders and are available nationwide. Join us as we cover 5 iconic traditional Japanese foods that are staples in night markets.
Takoyaki: A Japanese Night Market Classic
The literal English translation of the word takoyaki is “grilled octopus,” but this dish is a little more complex than its name suggests. It’s made by filling balls of wheat flour batter with bits of octopus and other ingredients and then grilling it in a molded pan.
Besides octopus, other common takoyaki fillings include tempura scraps, green onion, and pickled ginger. The grilled balls are often seasoned with a special condiment known as takoyaki sauce. This sauce tastes a lot like common Worcestershire sauce. Takoyaki can also be topped with mayonnaise, dried bonito flakes, and seaweed flakes.
The dish originated in Osaka as a street food sold by vendor Tomekichi Endo in 1935. Its popularity grew until it was available in thousands of yatai in the Kansai region. Today, takoyaki is one of the most popular street foods sold at night markets.
Yakitori: The Must-Try Skewers
Yakitori is a traditional Japanese dish of grilled chicken skewers. Street food vendors in night markets can be seen attaching different chicken cuts to steel or bamboo skewers before grilling the meat over burning charcoal. They season the meal with sauce or salt when it's almost ready.
There are different types of yakitori in night markets. The biggest distinguishing factor is which part of the chicken’s body the cut came from. Examples include the following:
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Mune (chicken breast)
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Reba (liver)
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Tebasaki (chicken wing)
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Bonjiri (chicken tail)
Sweet Treats: Taiyaki and Other Dessert Delights
Many adults and children love night markets for the unique sweet treats found in them. Small confectionery shops remain open after hours to serve shoppers with delicious desserts. Taiyaki, a traditional cake shaped like a fish, is common in the market. The cake is typically filled with red bean paste, but vendors can get creative and fill it with chocolate, custard, sweet potato, or cheese.
The king of all traditional Japanese sweets, mochi, also features in night markets. It’s made by pounding steamed glutinous rice and molding it into a round ball. Mochi can be filled or coated with red bean paste, strawberries, cheesecake, or other sweet ingredients.
Candy apples are also common in night markets. They’re skewered apples dipped in sugar syrup. The vendors sell other kinds of candy fruits besides apples, such as candy oranges, strawberries, and grapes.
Ramen at Night: Warm Bowls of Comfort
Ramen stands are some of the main highlights of the night market dining experience. Although ramen noodles originated in China, they have long since become a staple in Japanese cooking. In major cities, the streets are filled with portable stalls selling ramen noodles in a variety of broths, such as soy sauce, salt, miso, and tonkotsu.
Savory Snacks: Gyoza, Korokke, and More
Japan is home to all kinds of snacks, including those with flavors ranging from slightly salty to umami-rich. Those types are called savory snacks.
One of the most famous traditional savory snacks in the night market is gyoza, the Japanese dumpling. It’s filled with minced beef, ground pork, cabbage, garlic, ginger, and mushrooms.
Other savory delights in the market are korokke (Japanese croquettes), arare (bite-sized Japanese crackers), pretz, and agemochi (fried rice cakes).
What Are 5 Traditional Foods in Japan?
Below are five iconic traditional Japanese dishes that can be found everywhere in the country, including night markets, gourmet eateries, and supermarkets.
Sushi
Sushi is arguably Japan’s most famous dish worldwide. It consists of vinegared rice, raw or cooked seafood, salt, sugar, and other ingredients. The dish has been around since the 8th century and has evolved over time.
Miso Soup
Japan’s No. 1 soup dish, miso soup, can also be found in night markets. In its most basic form, miso soup is made of miso paste and dashi stock. However, additional ingredients like tofu, mushroom, wakame, and seaweed can greatly elevate the taste and texture.
Tempura
Tempura is made by coating seafood or vegetables with a thin batter and deep-frying them until crispy. The meal was introduced to Japan by Portuguese traders in the 16th century. Today, it’s a popular side dish and topping for a variety of other meals.
Onigiri
This is a dish of cooked white rice shaped into a round, cylindrical, or triangular shape and in a sheet of nori seaweed. Onigiri can contain filings such as salted salmon, umeboshi, and bonito flakes.
Tonkatsu
Tonkatsu is made by coating slices of pork with panko breadcrumbs and deep-frying them. It’s a western-style dish that has found its way to local eateries and street stalls all over Japan.
Fusion Foods in Japan’s Night Markets
Traditional foods are not the only culinary offerings in the country. Japan’s night markets incorporate modern, fusion takes on traditional Asian food market flavors. Common fusion dishes include naporitan (Japanese ketchup-based spaghetti), taco rice, and doria (rice gratin).
Night Market Favorites at Your Doorstep
There are many Bokksu Market products that resemble the snacks found at Japanese night markets. We offer a wide range of savory snacks from Japanese cuisine, including potato chips, shrimp chips, arare rice crackers, and instant ramen.
Disclaimer
×Bokksu is not responsible for the accuracy of the products’ nutritional or allergen information. Warning: California’s Proposition 65 may be in effect. For more information,visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Some Bokksu Market products are produced overseas and may have a Production Date printed on the packaging, rather than a Best Buy Date as is standard in North America. If your product appears expired, do not be alarmed! This is most likely the Production Date. All items have been double checked to ensure they are not expired and safe to eat.
How to Enjoy Asian Market Snacks Without Traveling to Japan
Bokksu Market offers you the chance to experience Japanese night market food from the comfort of your home. We offer a taste of Japan’s most popular foods and snacks through our online store.
Bokksu is not responsible for the accuracy of the products’ nutritional or allergen information. Warning: California’s Proposition 65 may be in effect. For more information,visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. Some Bokksu Market products are produced overseas and may have a Production Date printed on the packaging, rather than a Best Buy Date as is standard in North America. If your product appears expired, do not be alarmed! This is most likely the Production Date. All items have been double checked to ensure they are not expired and safe to eat.
Disclaimer
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At Bokksu Market, you’ll find various instant noodles, savory snacks, mochi sweets, and many more treats. We also sell authentic ingredients like soy sauce, miso soup, and dashi stock. You don’t have to travel to Japan to get a taste of Asian culinary tradition!
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