Know the Ekiben when taking the trains in Northern and Central Japan
Ekiben are Japanese boxed lunches available in train stations as well as inside the trains across Japan for commuters who are rushing for their afternoon trains. Best part is, not only they are affordable, but the boxed lunches surprise you with different local specialties in different locations. Let's take a look at what the Hokkaido, Tohoku and Kanto regions are offering.
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There are huge varieties of Ekiben available in train stations across the country
Hokkaido
Ikura-bento
Ika-meshi
Usually contains two or three rice-stuffed ika (squid), Ika-meshi is available at Mori Station and Hakodate Main Line trains. The squids are cooked with sweet and spicy sauce.
Also available in Hakodate Main Line trains, Nishin-migaki-bento is also available at Hakodate Station. In this bento, you will have boiled nishin (herring) in sweet and spicy sauce to go with the rice.
Tohoku
Inspired by the famous Yamagata Domanaka beef rice, Gyuniku Doman-naka is served with sweetened grilled beef and stewed slice beef. It is available at Yonezawa Station and Ou Main Line trains.
Kanto
Daruma-bento
This ekiben is available at Yokokawa Station and Shin-etsu Line trains. You will find rice cooked in stock with chicken, shiitake, sansai, boiled egg, burdock root and takenoko.
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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