Japanese Festival Food: Wakasagi

Wakasagi are small freshwater fish, often translated as smelt, that are commonly eaten whole in Japan. They are frequently served as tempura, allowing diners to enjoy the entire fish from head to tail. I see Wakasagi from time to time in restaurants and shops, but today was the first time I saw a festival stall selling Wakasagi! 

The festival stall appeared to use these tiny fish as part of a handheld snack, creating a distinctive appearance unlike anything else on offer. The sign listed a medium size for 500 yen and a large size for 1,000 yen, with the larger version looking particularly impressive in the promotional photograph.

One of the things I enjoy most about Japanese festivals is that there is always something unexpected waiting amongst the more familiar stalls selling yakisoba, takoyaki, and grilled skewers. Even without trying it, Wakasagi was memorable simply because it was so different from the festival foods I usually encounter.

Have you ever seen Wakasagi sold at a festival stall before? Have you ever tried it at a festival?