Yatai beside the Naka River in Nakasu

Nakasu yatai, Fukuoka

屋台 · Hakata, Fukuoka

Foto: Yoshikazu TAKADA · CC BY 2.0

The last stronghold of Japan's yatai culture: ramen, oden and toasts with strangers by the river at dusk.

Antes de ir · Know before you go

  • Don't order just one drink and sit for ages
  • don't bring outside food
  • many yatai take cash only, so don't put the owner in an awkward spot when paying

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Stories & people

Historias y personajes

Historia

Why yatai survive only in Fukuoka

Yatai were common all over Japan during and after the Second World War. Before the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the government introduced regulations on hygiene grounds, and yatai fell sharply in number; many turned into shops, some later even growing into ramen chains. Today Nakasu and Tenjin in Fukuoka are the centre of Japan's yatai culture.

Fuente: Wikipedia: Yatai

Culture

Cultura y costumbres

Contexto cultural

Yatai are Japan's mobile food stalls, very common during and after the Second World War. Before the 1964 Tokyo Olympics the government introduced regulations on hygiene grounds, and yatai declined sharply nationwide, many turning into shops or even ramen chains. Today the heart of yatai culture is Nakasu and Tenjin in Fukuoka, where stalls set up almost every evening, selling tonkotsu ramen, oden, grilled skewers and more.

Costumbres locales

  • Each yatai has only seven or eight seats, so customers sit shoulder to shoulder and often chat with the owner and their neighbours
  • people usually order a drink and a few small dishes, then give up their seat for the next customer

Etiquette

Normas y tabúes

No lo haga DON'T

  • Don't order just one drink and sit for ages
  • don't bring outside food
  • many yatai take cash only, so don't put the owner in an awkward spot when paying

Lo que aprecian los locales DO

  • Owners appreciate customers who order, eat and move on, without occupying seats for long
  • chatting with your neighbours is part of the fun.

Plan your visit

Información práctica

Consejos de viaje

  • Stalls start setting up at dusk and may not open in rain or on holidays
  • they're most concentrated along the Naka River in Nakasu, with more around Tenjin
  • bring cash

Photos

Fotos

Fuentes y notas de verificación

Wikipedia: Yatai

Wikipedia: Fukuoka