During the month of September, Odori Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan is transformed into an expansive cultural space to host Autumn Fest, an annual event that draws hordes of visitors from near and far. Hokkaido is already famous for being an allure for food connoisseurs, so Autumn Fest just adds to the appeal.
This year's celebration, held Sept 6 - Sept 29, highlighted the theme “Sapporo Hokkaido Cuisine,” with over 300 food vendors spread across 12 city blocks or ‘chōme’ as they are called in Japanese.
A visit to the park on Sept 17 was a multi-sensory experience of savoring not just the flavors but also the flowers that were in full bloom. It was also a multi-tasking challenge of working one's way through the bustling crowds while checking out the food and drink stalls and trying to decide which ones to patronize.
Traditional Japanese ramen, Hokkaido ice cream, Sapporo beer, wine, and sake are staples at Autumn Fest. But there's much more to explore such as quail eggs, meat, and other farm-based products.
But it was the naan-twirling man who stood out at the Taj Mahal Indian food booth in Odori Park 4 Chōme. Drawing closer, one could see clearer details of a varied menu that included curry, biryani, butter chicken, tandoori, and even quesadilla and yakisoba.
At the helm of the Autumn Fest Taj Mahal stall was Anita Mansukhani, owner at Taj Mahal Niseko Annupuri, one of several restaurants in the family dynasty. A quick chat with her revealed a bit of the history of the restaurant and its presence at the event. “This is actually my family’s business. My dad started the first Taj Mahal in 1982, and then I came back here nine years ago to help continue the business in Sapporo.” Mansukhani added that after the quieter three-day holiday weekend in observance of the national Japanese holiday Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro-no-Hi), she expected business to pick up again for the upcoming weekend.
In its sixteenth year, Autumn Fest continues to play a significant role in Hokkaido’s cultural and economic enrichment, bringing in up to two million visitors, and offering a consumption outlet for the local, seasonal food and drink industry.
To learn more about Sapporo Autumn Fest, visit: https://www.sapporo.travel/en/event/event-list/sapporo_autumn_fest/
