Best Summer Foods in Japan

Here is a list of my favorite summer foods in Japan (in no particular order):

* Yakiniku （焼肉）, or Korean-style barbeque. Although it's available all year around, it somehow just tastes better when cooked and eaten outdoors, especially in the garden or at the beach.

* Somen　（そうめん） noodles. Thin, white noodles are boiled and served cold with a thin soy-based broth. They are often accompanied by a variety of toppings / add-ins such as wasabi or grated ginger, sliced green onion, sesame seeds, and / or sliced shiso leaves. Very refreshing for lunch!

* Watermelon （スイカ）. Not exclusive to Japan, of course, but if you can get a good Japanese watermelon, they are so good in summer! Watermelons from Tottori prefecture are regarded as the best, and indeed they are good.

* Ten-zaru （天ざる）. Udon noodles served cold with a dipping broth, with a selection of Tempura on the side. Both the noodles and the Tempura are dipped into the broth.

* Hakuto　（白桃）. White Japanese peaches. The peaches from Okayama prefecture are the best.

* Muscat （マスカット） grapes. Super-sweet, super big white grapes. Again, the grapes from Okayama are the best. If you can afford Momotaro grapes, these are a new hybrid of muscat grapes that are seedless, but at 2,500-5,000 Yen per bunch they are not cheap.

* Hiyashi Chuka （冷やし中華）. Ramen noodles served cold with a broth; topped with threads of cooked egg, shrimp or shredded chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickled ginger.

* Anything served on a stick at a summer festival!