For as long as I can remember, I have loved pretty little packages of food. I think all of us have a strange nostalgia for those “Lunchables,” which were such a prized possession in middle school. If you didn’t grow up with them, Lunchables were a small plastic boxes with little sections inside which perfectly fit the different elements of the “meal”. I was definitely one of those kids that hated when the different items on the plate would touch each other, so this was the ideal meal for me. Well, little did I know that years later I would find a fancy grown-up versions of this in Japan. And they were called Bento Boxes or Ekibens. I fell in love from the moment I saw them. Little curated boxes of deliciousness. Filled with treasures so perfectly shaped they look like works of art!
What are Bento Boxes or Ekiben?
“Bento” translates into the English word for “boxed-lunch.” These meals were designed to be eaten on the go. The invention of the bento box dates back to the Kamakura period (1185 to 1333). Back then, they were pretty simple and made mostly to carry rice.
It wasn’t until the late 16th century that the boxes evolved into a more luxurious design during the Edo period. Beautiful lacquered wooden boxes were made to display bite-sized food within. These fancy bento boxes were called the ‘Makunouchi.’ This translates into “between acts” as the lacquered boxes were designed to be sold inside Kabuki theatres and eaten during the intermission.
Different boxed meals were designed to appeal to various social classes. The ones with more expensive, specialty ingredients were sold to the upper classes, where the lower classes ate bentos with simpler ingredients. There were even specialty boxes designed to highlight seasonal fruits and vegetables during different times of the year.
Ekiben comes from the words “eki,” which means railway station. These bento boxes were designed exclusively for travellers on the railway. Sometimes people needed to travel long distances into big cities for work, so this was an excellent solution for people who needed to eat their dinner on the train. But who didn’t have time to prepare a healthy meal themselves.
Today there are rarely “dining cars” on Japanese trains as people will more often than not opt to bring these boxed meals onto the train instead. If you missed out on buying one in the station by chance, they are usually for sale inside the train as well.
Elements of an Ekiben
There are hundreds of different varieties of ekibens. But in general, the make-up of an ekiben should include a carb, a protein, a veggie and a fruit or dessert. Each one of these elements is separated into a different part of the container.
Another advantage to the Ekiben is that they sometimes feature ingredients from local prefectures. Even if you’re just stopping off at a station and then continuing on to a different final destination, you can hop off the train and grab an ekiben featuring a local delicacy.
While many simpler versions of the ekiben costs around $10, various gourmet boxes can cost almost $30! That might seem like a lot considering the kind of meal you can buy in Japan for $30, but I think the novelty of them is so special and worth the money. Ekiben’s are a quintessentially Japanese experience that you MUST have on your next Shinkansen journey.
Where to Buy Ekiben’s?
Japanese Convenience Store
One of the easiest and cheapest places to buy an Ekiben or bento box is at a Japanese convenience store. If you’ve read my post all about Japanese convenience stores, you’ll know they are one of the best places to eat in Japan (sounds weird, but it’s really true). The bento boxes available in the stores change throughout the day, some are more geared towards breakfast others more filling for dinner. My favourite Japanese convenience stores to look out for are 7-Eleven, Lawson and Family Mart. If you happen to be shopping inside a large supermarket, you’ll also be able to find these ekiben’s there.
Train Stations
But the best place to buy traditional Ekiben’s is inside the train station. Any station with long-distance trains is going to sell a myriad of different ekibens. Stations like Tokyo Station are so large that you’ll find dozens and dozens of shops selling nothing but ekibens. I remember my first time in Tokyo station, I was overwhelmed with all the different options in front of me. To help others in my situation, I went ahead and made a list of the best Ekiben’s you can buy inside Tokyo Station! And to make it even more straightforward, there really is one place to find it all! And that’s Ekibenya Matsuri.
Ekibenya Matsuri
Without a doubt, the most popular place to pick up your ekiben is Ekiben Matsuri. It’s located inside the station, past the ticketing gates, so you will need a ticket or entry card to get access to the shop. There are over 200 different ekiben sold at Ekibenya Matsuri! One of the best things about this shop is that the ekiben sold here are not just from Tokyo, but from all over Japan! Some exclusive ekiben you usually could only find in smaller cities across the country are shipped in here daily, so you can literally have a taste of the entire country in one spot.
Below are my favourite 11 ekibens you can find at Tokyo Ekiben Matsuri!
Tokyo Bento
The Tokyo Bento from Ekibenya Matsuri is a platter of the best of the best ingredients from Tokoyo. The main features are the tamagoyaki (rolled omelette) and a beautiful slice of salmon with a tiny soy sauce bottle to squeeze on top. There is a side of rice with pickled plums and a pile of fresh steamed vegetables. And for dessert you get a freshly made macha mochi!
Cost: 1,650 yen
Gyuniku Domannaka
While a pre-cook and cold box of beef might be unpalatable to some, this is honestly of the best packages. We got one to try, and though we were apprehensive at first, once we tasted it, we were amazed at how delicious and moist the meat was. The Gyuniku Domannaka is from Yonezawa and is made with a secret marinated sauce, making it taste just impeccable!
Cost: 1,250 yen
Daruma Bento
The Daruma Ekiben from Gunma Prefecture is another one of those gimmicky boxes which are impossible to pass up. The bright red container is shaped into the form of a Daruma Doll. Darumas are good luck dolls in Japan, and the slit in the mouth of the box can be used after the meal is done to help store your coins. The food inside the package is pretty healthy. As Gunma prefecture is located up in the mountains this meal has no fish and highlights the rich food found at altitude. The bento features shiitake mushrooms, burdock root, bamboo shoots, and root vegetables.
Cost: 1,080 yen
Hipparidako Meshi
This Ekiben’s name translates to “octopus in high demand,” and that is pretty much what you’ll find inside. From Hyogo Prefecture near the Kobe Harborland and waterfront, this beautifully crafted clay pot features a myriad of fresh seafood. Inside you’ll find braised octopus, along with shiitake mushroom, bamboo, conger eel, shredded egg, vegetable and vinegar rice. It’s almost as if someone was fishing off the mainland and this is a selection of the catch of the day!
Cost: 1,080 yen
Oshizushi
One of the oldest bento recipes you can find here is from 1913! It is a very simple box featuring thinly sliced horse mackerel atop pressed sushi rice covered in vinegar sauce. This is called “oshizushi” style and is one of the oldest styles of sushi making. The dish comes from Ofuna Station near Kamakura.
Cost: 1,280 yen
Shinkansen Bento
If you’re travelling with children or are a child at heart, then you really MUST buy the Shinkansen Bento. The bullet train-shaped container is something you can keep as a souvenir or even use for future homemade bentos. Inside you’ll find food best suited for a simple palette (aka for the kids). You’ll find fried chicken, shrimp, pork sausages, meat dumplings, potatoes and, of course, rice!
Cost: 1,300 yen
Three Flavour Beef Bento
If you love beef, then you must try the Three Flavour Beef Bento. Inside this box are three types of flavours: “Beef Soboro Sansho Flavor”, “Spicy Beef”, and “Beef Miso Pickled Grill”. Plus, you get a soft boiled egg on the side along with some delicious rice. The beef comes from Nipponbashi, near Osaka. Some of this meat is flavoured with Sansho which is a specialty of this region. Sansho berries have a strong, peppery, citrus flavour that has been compared to lemon, yuzu and grapefruit!
Cost: 1,200 yen
Seasonal Box
If you ever see a seasonal box, I would implore you to give it a try! It’s such a unique way to taste the literal flavours of the season in Japan. We visited during the Fall so our tasting box included Autumnal flavours such as chestnuts, shiitake mushrooms, mackerel, trout, smoked duck, and sweet potatoes. It was absolutely delicious and looked like a miniature painting!
Cost: varies by the seasonal items
Tuna & Salmon Roe
If you want a taste of the sea, you need to try the tuna and salmon roe bento. This is one of the brightest meals on offer with that hot pink of the tuna and flaming orange of the salmon roe. The entire meal is placed atop shredded omelet and vinegared rice. You also get some pickled ginger and wasabi on the side to cut the fat of the tuna. Everyone is always so surprised at how fresh and tasty this fish is considering its from a box!
Cost: 1,300 yen
Vegetable Bento
I really wanted to add a Vegan/Vegetarian item on here to make sure that all those travellers know that there is indeed something for you too! The Vegetable Bento is a colourful mixture of steamed and pickled vegetables paired with two rice types and even a vegan omelette!
Cost: 900 yen
Pork Cutlet Bento
An item that is often overlooked is the Pork Cutlet Bento. Pork cutlets are one of the things that Japan just does right. Somehow they always manage to capture the juiciness of the pork while the outside is crisped to perfection! The cutlet is served alongside white rice with potato salad and some pickled radishes.
Cost: 1,080 yen
I hope this list helps narrow down your choices when you get to the train station. But if you have the time, go inside and see for yourself all the hundreds of different curated boxes they have inside. There is always something new and exciting to try! Let me know in the comments if you have ever tried an Ekiben before or what your favourite box from this list is!
Happy Travels, Adventurers!
Leave a Comment