My friend Dave talked me into going to the YATAI Festival this year. I first heard about it when I was preparing last year’s best of summer activities in Montreal list, but never gave it much thought. No one I knew was going last year, and honestly, I just didn’t think of it. Maybe because I had just been to Japan not long before and had the real thing. So this year, I figured why not compare Montreal’s version with the real streets of Tokyo?
The festival took over the space at Hangar 1825, right along the Lachine Canal in Griffintown. For a few days, it felt like a little Japanese village had popped up in the middle of Montreal. The entry fee was $5 although you could watch the action from right outside the event. Even with the fee, the festival wasn’t hurting for attendance. I heard they had around 35,000 attendees. After all of the atrocious weather we’ve had over the last couple of months, the festival lucked out with fantastic warm weather.
First Impressions
When we got there on Saturday, the place was packed. Thousands of people filled the area near the Lachine Canal. You could tell some were just out for a walk or jog, maybe walking their dog and stumbled onto the festival. Others clearly came dressed for the occasion. There were people in kimonos, lots of stylish festival outfits, and a surprising number of dogs. Turns out, it was pet-friendly, and people took advantage of the opportunity. When we first walked in, we thought it was a fairly small event with just a relative handful of product vendors (like keychains, knives, tea including high grade matcha, ceramics, and so on). But when you walked over to the other side, it was a revealing moment to see how many people and food vendors were there.
It had the feel of a true summer festival. Music played in the background, the scent of grilled food hung in the air, and the overall vibe was energetic and warm. People were smiling, waiting in line, chatting, taking photos, and lounging on the green spaces and hill by the canal. All walks of life were there, families, couples, solo wanderers, and friend groups. It felt like the whole city had shown up.
The Food Adventure
Now let’s talk food. The stalls were pumping out all kinds of Japanese street eats such as takoyaki, yakitori, karaage, okonomiyaki, and those luscious strawberries! The aromas were mouthwatering and you could watch some of the chefs work the griddles right in front of you. That part was really fun. You can see a video reel of all of the food on our Instagram including the activities and more.
The downside? The lines were long. In some cases, we’re talking 15-30 minutes just to get one dish. Some of the vendors weren’t keeping up with the demand, which made for a slow crawl through the experience. I can’t blame them though. People really wanted the food and there’s only so much these little temporary set ups can cook!
Festival Features Worth Mentioning
One of my favourite things was the giant cat blow up doll you could take photos with. That cat’s image was everywhere. It’s called a maneki-neko or “beckoning cat.” It’s a common symbol in Japanese culture thought to bring good luck and fortune. You’ll often see it in restaurants and shops with its paw raised, inviting customers in. It made sense as the festival’s mascot, welcoming us all in for food and fun.
Besides food, there were cool merch booths as I mentioned above, but also martial arts demonstrations, and Japanese pop music playing from speakers. People danced to the DJs and the entire crowd energy was on point.
Should you go?
Yes! Even with the long lines and entry fee, the YATAI Festival brought a little slice of Japan to Montreal in a way that felt festive, inclusive, and full of heart. Whether people came for the food, the culture, the dogs, the exercise, or just by accident, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. And I’m glad Dave pushed me to check it out.
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