Searching chance to open food stand at a Matsuri

[TokyoBER]

Hello,

I have a little crazy idea of opening a German restaurant in Japan. This restaurant shall serve a special German fast food.
But in order to testify if the Japanese like it or not, I want first rent a stand on some Festival and offer the food there.

Does anybody has an idea where is a good chance to do that and how I can apply for such a stand? Or does anybody has a good internet link for further information?

I live in the West border of Tokyo in Hachioji (Horinouchi).

Thank you,
Stefan

[Nyororin]

I can`t really say I would recommend it as a way to try something out... You can`t just set up a booth and have a go.

You will need to have a license for selling food from the health department and a license for a booth from the police. And then, with a festival, you`ll have to go through the local groups to get a spot - and likely pay a LOT for the privilege of a space. In general, the local "group" will get a permit from the police for the entire area around the festival... And they will rent out the spaces. Festivals are the biggest chance for food stand income, so there are a LOT of competitors for the spots. The majority at festivals are associated with the local group, so you would have to get pretty lucky to find somewhere willing to rent you a spot...

Those booths are pros, to put it simply.

You would probably have a lot more luck by looking around for local international groups. They will often have an international food day, with locals coming just to try different foods from around the world. You wouldn`t need a license and wouldn`t need to get a permit as they are usually held in public halls.

[Gokiburi]

Check this out the Japan-Germany Chamber of Commerce. Also check with Economic Affairs Dept. of your Embassy. Both institutions are frequently organizing/hosting more or less informal events where you could have a possibility to check if Japan is ready for bratwust and saurkraut

[Sangetsu]

In small town festivals, it is usually locals who sell goods and such, and in order to get permission to set up your own place, you are going to need to become buddies with the festival organizers. The spots aren't expensive, there just aren't that many of them.

In larger festivals it is more of a problem as many of the vendors are associated with the yakuza. Junior yaks get their start in the gangs by running food stalls and cheap games (older yaks are into prostitution, porn, loan-sharking, and gambling). If your food stall is doing more business than the yak next door to you... you get the idea.

When I lived in Chiba, there were two large festivals each year, the hanami festival by the lake, and the summer festival in the downtown area. Most of the vendors in both festivals were yakuza. I wouldn't want to try open a booth at either festival.

[MMM]

In my experience it really depends on the size of the festival, and how urban it is. For example, one local festival I went to every year (two small cities join together at one festival) event had grandfathered "yatai" (food booths) for decades. One family I knew didn't even WANT to keep their spot at the festival, but felt an obligation, as their family had been doing it for decades, and if they stopped for a year they would lose the spot permanently.

On the other hand just a couple train stations down was a yearly local festival (more of a parade, actually) where the parade went down the neighborhood's shopping street. If you owned a shop on the shopping street you could sell whatever you wanted in that space. If a shop was closed down, and no one cared, you could set up right there. I saw 10 year olds selling beer out of a tub of ice to all the dads (and some moms) watching the parade.

There is some sort of parade or festival in EVERY neighborhood, just about, so I would start by asking a neighbor "when and where are local festivals near here?" and then ask "How could I set up a stand?" If it is like my first story, then it might be impossible, but you might say "It doesn't have to be a big one." and find there are much more local events happening all around.