By Isiah Christie
Mitsuwa Marketplace in Edgewater is one of the city’s most beloved locations locally, known for its authentic availability of Japanese groceries and foods in one of North Jersey’s most demographically diverse cities. Already considered a hot spot in the area with frequent traffic from locals and tourists, their decision to continue a newfound tradition of holding a festival only worked further wonders for its marketability and sense of community.
The festival ran through the second weekend of August, with events on both August 9th and 10th. The 9th featured Bon-Odori dancing – a traditional style of dance made for the celebration of life – and the 10th featured taiko drummers and a dance session for locals to join in. Vendors were stacked around the marketplace, selling a variety of traditional Asian foods such as okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes), takoyaki (Fried octopus balls), gyoza (Japanese dumplings), and flavored ramen and chips. There were also sweet snacks such as creampuffs, donuts, and colored ice being sold. The latter was an absolute hit, with wait times of up to thirty minutes due to its high demand on such a hot day.
Hydration was no issue, however – due to the presence of Ümacha, which is a tea house with specialty coffees, teas, and bubble teas. They ensured that residents stayed cool and refreshed. They also sold five-dollar lemonades of varying flavors, including regular, strawberry, and peach variants – a remarkable marketing strategy – and patrons were certainly satisfied. The participants also indulged in nearby shops Kinokuniya, which sells merchandise, manga and books; Little Japan, which sells collectibles, clothing, and furniture; and Daiso, which sells household goods. Those stores, combined with Mitsuwa and the festival’s vendors, made for an experience that easily spanned up to several hours, keeping visitors engaged and satisfied with their visit.
If there was one roadblock or drawback, it was the parking. As Mitsuwa is already a heavily-packed lot on regular days, its ability to hold thousands was certainly unsustainable. Many were forced to park in nearby lots or take public transportation, and given the turnout, it can be concluded that the commute was certainly worth the hike.
These Summer Festivals are a must-have continued tradition for Mitsuwa, given they have experienced immensely positive engagement and provide proper exposure to plenty of local businesses, vendors, international brands and cultural happenings. It’s a great way to keep spirits up in the deep stretch of summer, and it’s almost inevitable that August of 2026 will see it happen again.
