Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Yattai

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This rather funky looking contraption looks like it may be some sort of mobile home for a homeless person, but once the sun goes down it transforms into......

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...a street stall dispensing food and drinks on the streets of Fukuoka. Known as Yattai, they are probably the most well known symbol of Fukuoka and high on the list of things to do for visitors there.

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There are about 150 yattai scattered across the city, but most are clustered around the Nakagawa and Tenjin districts. A variety of foods and drinks are available, including the local speciality Hakata ramen.

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It seems that the first Yattai was created in 1937 by someone returning from China who wanted to sell the style of noodles he came to enjoy in China, and by 1941 there were already 80 yattai in business.

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4 comments:

  1. I never knew what those were called. cool. Great shots.

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  2. They are yatai 屋台 rather than yattai.

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  3. Is that the graceful Yoko (from the back) in the third photo?

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