Introduction: A Winter Food Adventure in Ueno
Hello! I’m Risako, and today I’m sharing my experience at a seasonal oden festival in Ueno, Tokyo. In January 2025, I attended this special event to enjoy steaming hot oden and a sake-tasting experience—a perfect combination for a cold winter day.
Ueno is well known for its cultural sites like Ueno Park and Ameya-Yokocho, but this time, I explored the area through a food-focused lens. If you love discovering local food, drinking in traditional izakayas, and experiencing Japanese winter cuisine, this might inspire your next Tokyo adventure!
A Warm Welcome: Arriving at the Oden Festival
In the afternoon, I arrived at Ueno Station, excited for a day filled with warm oden, flavorful sake, and casual bar hopping. The crisp winter air made the idea of eating something hot even more appealing.
The Oden festival was a limited-time event, bringing together stalls from different regions across Japan, each offering its own unique flavours and ingredients. The atmosphere was lively, with people enjoying steaming bowls of broth, sipping drinks, and chatting in the open-air setting.
There were large crowds, and some of the most popular oden stalls had lines stretching over 30 minutes. Seeing so many people gathering to enjoy Oden made me realise just how beloved this dish is in Japan.
What is Oden? A Taste of Japanese Winter
For those unfamiliar with Oden, it’s a traditional Japanese hot pot dish where various ingredients simmer in a seasoned broth. Each region has its own take, but some common ingredients include:
Daikon (Japanese radish) – absorbs the broth, making it juicy and flavorful
Egg – a simple yet satisfying addition
Chikuwa (fish cake) – soft and chewy, a classic ingredient
Konnyaku – a firm, jelly-like root vegetable
Atsuage (fried tofu) – soaks up the broth and becomes deliciously rich
The broth is typically made from soy sauce, dashi, and mirin, though regional variations exist. Some have a light and clear broth, while others are richer and darker in flavour.
At the festival, I tried an ago-dashi oden, a type of oden with broth made from flying fish (ago), which gives it a deep, umami-rich flavour. It was light yet packed with umami, making it the perfect winter comfort food.
Useful Phrases:
「おすすめはなんですか？」 (Osusume wa nandesuka?)
– "What do you recommend?"「おでんをひとつください。」 (Oden o hitotsu kudasai.)
– "One oden, please."
Enjoying a Sake Tasting Experience
With a warm bowl of oden in hand, I couldn’t resist pairing it with some Japanese sake.
At the festival, I tried a sake-tasting set featuring four different types from Yamanashi and Niigata. Each had a unique taste, from fruity and aromatic to dry and crisp. Sake tasting is a great way to experience regional differences in Japan’s brewing traditions.
I also tried a sake highball, a refreshing drink where sake is mixed with soda water. I had never considered this combination before, but it was surprisingly good—light, crisp, and easy to drink.
Useful Phrases:
「日本酒の飲み比べセットはありますか？」 (Nihonshu no nomikurabe setto wa arimasu ka?)
– "Do you have a sake tasting set?"
「これは甘口ですか？辛口ですか？」 (Kore wa amakuchi desu ka? Karakuchi desu ka?)
– "Is this sweet or dry?"
Ending the Night in Ueno’s Izakaya Scene
After enjoying the festival, I wasn’t quite ready to head home yet. Luckily, Ueno is one of Tokyo’s best areas for casual drinking, so I continued my night by exploring the local izakaya district.
Walking through narrow streets lined with small, lantern-lit bars, I visited a few spots to try more drinks and classic izakaya snacks. The places I stopped by included:
A seafood izakaya – where I had another glass of sake, paired perfectly with fresh sashimi.
A local izakaya – here I tried a more unusual drink, the cream soda highball, which was a fun and refreshing change from the usual.
An Okinawan cuisine izakaya – where I enjoyed the flavors of Okinawa with some awamori and local dishes.
One thing to note is that some izakayas might only accept cash, so it’s a good idea to have some on hand, just in case. Additionally, many places have outdoor seating, which is great for soaking in the atmosphere, but it can get cold in winter, so I recommend dressing warmly.
Useful Phrases:
「クレジットカードは使えますか？」 (Kurejitto kādo wa tsukaemasu ka?)
– "Can I use a credit card?"
「お会計お願いします。」 (Okaikei onegaishimasu.)
– "The check, please."
Plan Your Visit to Ueno
Ueno offers so much more than just sightseeing—it’s a great spot to enjoy food, drinks, and local culture. If you visit Tokyo in winter, I highly recommend checking out seasonal food events like the oden festival and exploring Ueno’s izakayas afterward.
Even basic Japanese phrases can make your trip smoother and more enjoyable. For example:
「すみません、これはいくらですか？」 (Sumimasen, kore wa ikura desu ka?)
– "Excuse me, how much is this?"
「駅はどこですか？」 (Eki wa doko desu ka?)
– "Where is the station?"
If you have extra time, Ueno Park, Ameya-Yokocho, and Yanaka Ginza are all fantastic places to explore nearby.
Conclusion
Winter in Japan isn’t just about keeping warm—it’s about experiencing the season through comforting food and local traditions. The oden festival in Ueno was a perfect way to enjoy seasonal flavours, from steaming hot broth to the smooth taste of sake, followed by a night out in the lively izakaya district.
If you’re interested in more delicious winter dishes, check out our guide to Japan’s best winter foods and hot pot dishes here!
To make experiences like this even more enjoyable, why not learn a few essential Japanese phrases for dining and exploring? With SakuraJapan’s travel-focused Japanese lessons, available online and in-person in London, you can navigate Japan with confidence and make deeper connections during your trip.
Start learning today and make your Japan adventure even more memorable!