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Ben spent six years living in various destinations across Japan, and is now a travel consultant based in our Bristol office. Here, he introduces us to his favourite Japanese bar snacks – or otsumami.
As a huge fan of Japanese food and drink, I have always enjoyed the drinking culture of Japan. Spending countless nights in local izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) with friends and stopping by a standing bars on my way home from work. I feel I have been lucky growing up in the UK, as I believe British pubs are among the world’s best drinking environments – your home away from home. However Japanese drinking establishments for me have always done one thing far better: snacks.
In terms of nibbles to share with friends alongside your favourite beverage, Japan goes far beyond the typical crisps and pork scratchings you’ll find at drinking holes in the UK. Introducing Japanese otsumami – or bar snacks. Once I got into the habit of having a small dish to go alongside my drink, it’s been impossible to shake.
So in this post I’d like to introduce my top five Japanese bar snacks – the five I crave whilst here in the UK, the ones I reach for when visiting the convenience store and seek out when stopping in one of my favourite izakaya.
1) Cabbage
Cabbage?! I hear you ask. Well yes I admit I was bit bemused when a plate of fresh salted cabbage was served to me for the first time. But it’s crunchy and healthy and if it’s served with some tonkatsu sauce – yum!
2) Renkon chips
Deep fried lotus root is not something I would commonly eat at home. But if you can imagine being served freshly prepared crisps (potato chips) you can imagine how delicious this dish is and how well it complements an ice-cold beer.
3) Kakipi
This delicious mix of peanuts and kaki no tane (spicy rice crackers) comes in a variety of flavours and is great to share among friends at a picnic or at home as an upgrade from a regular bowl of salted nuts. Tour leader Mark Fujishige has even written a whole blog post about the virtues of kakipi!
4) Tsukemono
Pronounced tsu-ke-mo-no, this literally translates as “pickled things”, but whereas in the UK & US we may enjoy a picked egg or onion with our drinks, the Japanese enjoy a vast array of different vegetables, often including locally grown produce. It’s also fairly common to use beer or sake in the pickling process, so this is the perfect accompaniment for an ice-cold beer or glass of wine.
5) Edamame beans
I am sure most people familiar with Japanese food are familiar with edamame beans. These immature soybeans served in their pods are a delicious and healthy option and often served as a complimentary starter in many izakaya. Usually served with a sprinkling of salt, these beans are often available hot in winter to warm your hands and palate – and ice-cold in winter. They truly are an irreplaceable part of the Japanese drinking culture.
Honourable mention: Shiokara
This unpleasant-looking paste is akin to pâté, and is made using heavily salted liver which is fermented then mixed with various kinds of seafood such as squid, cuttlefish or oysters. This dish is more popular among the older generation in Japan, with a taste is similar to raw anchovy paste. This snack goes fantastically with a glass of Japanese whiskey or sake.
Photos: JNTO
Want to get familiar with the ins and outs of Japanese food and drinking culture? An izakaya night with an Inside Japan tour leader will give you a fantastic introduction. Get in touch with one of our Japan experts to find out more.