text: I love everything Japan-related, so when I saw this festival first advertised I posted the event on yelp.  I bought $5 advance tickets at Japan Creek Market.  I planned to go at the beginning because our Saturday was full of to-do list items.  We arrived around 11:15 AM.  Some of the vendors for food were not yet open, but the ramen line was already enormous.  Since I don't eat pork, there was no need for me to stand in line, and Eric was unsure if he wanted to do that anyway.  We started with okonomiyaki (sans mayo) - it was okay but we just love Hiroshima-style and this one was Osaka-style and rather bland.  I got in the takoyaki line and saw one of my students taking orders.\n\nI ordered the takoyaki with mentaiko sauce, and it was the best thing I had all day.  Super hot and soft inside with tako, outside crisp, covered in mentaiko sauce, green onion, bonito flakes, and shredded nori.  It came with 7 which was a great deal and I got iced green tea.  Eric R. decided to get honey toast from Ichiza (he made them remake it because they gave him a completely burnt toast) and I got brussel sprouts from Yonaka as soon as they opened.  Curry Zen was not ready to open, Kyara served no food (only drinks) though they had a cool seating area, Snowflake was not there yet, Yu-yu only had a few kushiage options, and Raku had a really long line.\n\nI offered to get in the ramen line with Eric when it got shorter but he was full.  The stage performances and games were cool - Eric R. tried to play rock-paper-scissors for gift certificates to restaurants but lost.  I agree with Nelson that the vendor options for the \"market\" were limited, so there was not much to see.  I also wish the drink booth associated with the ramen line was separate and took cash instead of requiring people to wait in the ramen line to buy drinks, since there were more options there than at some food booths.  Plus, the drink booth at the entrance was price gouging whereas most restaurant booths sold bottled water for $1 and Calipico/green tea for $2.