Japanese Summer Festival Sale

If you want to get into the festive vibe and hit on all different notes of a matsuri, check out this starter kit. Cool yourself off with a Japanese fan, as you imagine yourself in the humid Japanese summer heat. Pick up our select items with a goldfish theme, to enjoy a traditional artistic and nature motif for summer (and also pretend like you’re playing a game of goldfish scooping). Put a “maneki neko” good luck cat in your surroundings to help bring good energies for your very own festival. This is a great way to get to know what it’s like to enjoy a matsuri!

12% off with code: SUMMER12, click [Shop All] to see more eligible products.

One of the things to enjoy at a natsu matsuri is the different stalls with games and prizes. Whether it’s ring toss or fishing for water balloons, you can participate in some friendly competition and walk away with a much coveted proof of your undeniable skills. (Who doesn’t want knick knacks like plastic masks and little figurines?) Of course, some of the best prizes are character- and anime-themed, from classic titles to the biggest hits trending right now. If you’re recreating natsu matsuri at home, feel free to go all out and assemble a wide range of games and goodies related to summer anime hits—from classics like Hello Kitty, Pokémon, and One Piece, to more recent titles like Demon Slayer!

12% off with code: SUMMER12, click [Shop All] to see more eligible products.

It’s not a natsu matsuri unless you’ve eaten your fill of good street food from the “yatai” (stall) lining a festival pathway. Lucky for us, we can enjoy all the essential delicacies without hopping on a plane to head to Japan. Start with “takoyaki”, that delicious ball of soft fluffy dough with chewy pieces of octopus. Enjoy some “yakisoba”, that sweet and tangy fried noodle dish that’s a must-have for any outdoor event (even if you’re inside, trying to beat the heat). Challenge yourself with some “okonomiyaki”, the cabbage + batter pancake that literally means “all your favorite stuff, grilled”. Throw in some useful cookware, and you’re all set to cook up festival street food like a pro!

12% off with code: SUMMER12, click [Shop All] to see more eligible products.

If you want to get adventurous and decadent in your natsu matsuri experience, try out some grilled and fried dishes. You can enjoy “yakitori”, the ever-popular chicken-on-a-skewer, which has multiple iterations (including skin and heart). There’s also grilled corn, delectable in its simplicity and open to possibilities—soy sauce, butter, cheese, spices... you name it. If you want something different, you can try grilled squid, which is impressive in its presentation but also absolutely delicious. You can also try making tempura at home with convenient tempura powder. Even if it’s hot and humid outside, you won’t want to miss these delicious summer staples!

12% off with code: SUMMER12, click [Shop All] to see more eligible products.

Once you’ve gotten your chill on, it’s time to move on to enjoying some classic confections. Why not try some mini castella cakes, a Japanese cake inspired by a Portuguese recipe, but in tiny spherical form? You can also enjoy “taiyaki”, which is a cake baked in the shape of a fish and filled with sweet red bean paste. The snack is also popular in other countries, and you may have seen them with different fillings and add-ons, including chocolate and cheese! There’s also “dango”, small but hearty snacks made from powdered grains that are covered in tasty sauces and toppings. You can finish off with cotton candy, the classic fair fare that’s ubiquitous at Japanese natsu matsuri too—a perfect, lightweight ending to your dessert train.

12% off with code: SUMMER12, click [Shop All] to see more eligible products.

Did we mention that it’s hot when you go to a natsu matsuri?! The best way to cool down is to enjoy some frozen sweets while taking in the sights. The most popular (and for good reason) is shaved ice—that adorable, round globe of slushy ice, topped off with syrup of whatever vivid color and flavor you want. The feeling of walking around with that paper cup in your hand, trying to eat all the ice before it melts... it’s a classic matsuri experience. And now you can make the treat at home yourself, to enjoy a bit of Strawberry, Melon, or Blue Hawaiian flavor (or all mixed, if you want)! You can also treat yourself to other goodies, like small mochi balls and seasonal candy!

12% off with code: SUMMER12, click [Shop All] to see more eligible products.

Can you guess the most refreshing way to close out your natsu matsuri tasting menu? Some classic sodas, of course! Enter: magic marble “ramune”, the bottle of soda with a marble inside where you have to wonder, “How did that get in there?? And can I get it out??” Ramune soda comes in a unique bottle that you can’t help but twirl around as you drink. It comes in a range of flavors, from “original” and white muscat grapes to blueberry and lychee. Of course, if you don’t want to be drinking a soda with a marble in it (don’t worry, it doesn’t come out, no matter how hard you try..), there are other tasty Japanese sodas too!

12% off with code: SUMMER12, click [Shop All] to see more eligible products.

And of course, you’ve gotta look the part to really experience natsu matsuri! If you can get your hands on some breezy summer yukata, fantastic—but fear not, when comfort is king, it makes sense just to put on your favorite T-shirt and shorts to enjoy the occasion. What’s more fun is the extras and accessories, after all. Reach for some summer-appropriate skincare and makeup items to complete your summer look. From eyeshadow and mascara to lipstick and blush, there are all sorts of products to get that summer evening glow, so that you can enjoy some sizzle and romance with someone special under the fireworks. (Don’t forget sunblock too, if you’re enjoying the matsuri while the sun is still out!)

12% off with code: SUMMER12, click [Shop All] to see more eligible products.

The end of a festival only brings... the desire for more! Stay in the matsuri feel by incorporating any one of a wide selection of home goods that you can both use and experience with your senses into your everyday life. Enjoy tea and a light summer breeze on your porch with matching cups and a teapot. Evoke the traditional matsuri shrine atmosphere with sweet scents by burning incense, placing a reed diffuser around your house, or even turning on your humidifier. Cook up more matsuri food and serve it up in an adorable shiba inu bowl. This way you can keep up the matsuri vibe until next summer... though of course, you can enjoy festivals in fall, winter, and spring too!

12% off with code: SUMMER12, click [Shop All] to see more eligible products.