夏の食べ物Summer Foods in Japan

Aug 18, 2024

In Japan, the best way to enjoy the seasons is through food! Let’s find some tasty vocabulary that will not only spice up your Japanese but also help you discover delicious ways to cool off this summer 😎.

冷やし中華(hiyashi chuka)

Cold Noodles

Hiyashi = cold , Chuka(soba) = chinese noodle

Hiyashi Chuka is a cold ramen dish topped with cucumber, ham, and egg, served with a refreshing soy or sesame dressing. You can find it at most convenience stores in Japan during the summer!

Because it’s such a popular summer dish, some restaurants even put up flags or signs to let customers know about this seasonal menu,such as 冷やし中華（hiyashi chuka hajimemasita）

流しそうめん(nagashi somen)

Flowing Noodles

Somen is a common Japanese noodle made from wheat flour. It's typically thin, white, and served cold, making it a refreshing dish, especially during the hot months.

Nagashi refers to flow. People enjoy catching the flowing somen noodles from a stream of cold water, making it a fun and unique way to enjoy this summer dish!

かき氷(kaki gori)

Shaved ice

Kaki gori is one of the traditional sweets in summer. In recent years, the number of Kaki gori specialty shops has increased, and more people are enjoying Kaki gori even in winter. (such people refer to themselves as "Kakigoorers”)

ざるそば(zaru soba)

Cold Soba

Soba is also a popular Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour. Zaru means to the bamboo tray on which the cold soba noodles are served. It's a refreshing dish enjoyed with a dipping sauce, perfect for cooling down in the summer—a must-try!

夏野菜カレー(natsu-yasai curry)

Japanese curry with summer vegitables

You’ll see many menu with 夏野菜（なつやさいnatsu-yasai） in Japan. “Natsu-yasai” means summer vegitables, and those usually refer to tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, okra, zucchini, corn, and so on.