Japan’s iconic boxed lunch serves as inspiration for a bag big enough to hold multiple meals.
bento (Page 8)
Courageously protecting Japan with the aid of garrison-exclusive convenience store meals and socks.
The latest lunchbox from this girl’s character bento-making dad probably raised a lot of questions at school.
Pokémon lovers rejoice! There’s now a whole new way to celebrate your fandom with these Pikachu-themed lunch boxes now on sale in South Korea!
This Culture Day, our reporter Yuichiro Wasai went straight to Fuchu Prison. He did not pass Go. He did not collect 200 dollars.
When this high-school kid opened up the last hand-made bento lunch of his high school life, he found a note from his mother with a sweet and surprising message…
From Pikachu to Totoro, these onigiri rice balls are as cute as they are delicious-looking!
There’s a new take-out place in Tokyo selling kangaroo bento boxed lunches, so we hopped on over to try them for ourselves.
If we had to pick one thing that represented how Japanese food maybe isn’t quite as healthy as generally perceived, it would probably have to be the bento lunchbox. Bento are readily available practically everywhere in Japan—when not being handmade for you by a parent or spouse, usually in the shape of Pokémon characters and the like—and are widely consumed by office workers and other day laborers as a cheap, convenient lunch.
Despite healthy origins back in the old days, bento—perhaps by design—have become increasingly unhealthy, with your standard box available from a retailer or food truck usually weighing in at a thousand calories (or frequently even more) and containing a bunch of fried food in addition to huge portions of rice.
But heck, when a filling, albeit cholesterol and calorie-packed bento sets you back only a measly 200 yen (US$1.50) over at discount supermarket Lamu, well, we’ll happily do the extra time on the treadmill.
Japanese often say that a good view makes a meal taste better, so it goes without saying that a cute-looking lunchbox would also enhance the contents inside. From meals served in Shinkansen-shaped containers or rabbit-faced boxes that can be reused as coin banks, to lunch boxes that play music or have collector’s items hidden inside, Japan’s ekiben take Japanese food to a whole new level.
Today we’d like to tell you about “Ekiben”, a little book by Aki Tomura which introduces the best and most unique train station lunch boxes in Japan. We’ve chosen just a few to highlight from this gorgeously photographed, pocket-size book. The word Ekiben is a combination of two Japanese words: eki (station) and bento (lunchbox), so make your next train trip a gourmet ride with these bento available at various JR stations—just waiting for you to buy, smile, and devour.
Let the fun begin!
Lunch-making parents in Japan have long been infusing their midday meals with fun characters designed to please the eye along with the taste buds. A common ingredient used for detail and decoration is the humble dried seaweed sheet called nori. The dark color makes it perfect for creating lines and patterns, and since it comes in a flat sheet you can cut out some fairly detailed shapes with a knife. If you quickly browse through some amazing character bento we’ve shared with you before, you’ll see the important role that seaweed plays in their design.
However, it’s not only good in a supporting role; world-renowned seaweed shop Kozen wants to elevate it to a star in the art world! Forget all the other ingredients you might find in a bento, “Nori Art” is all you need to turn your next meal into an unforgettable feast.
In just about every major train station in Japan, you’ll find a stand selling boxed lunches called ekiben. A combination of the words eki (“station”) and bento (“boxed lunch”), ekiben serve as a tasty, convenient meal for travelers to dine on as they watch the scenery slip by outside their window.
Given that trains are terrestrial transportation, and that Japan is an island nation, until now you’ve generally had to come to Japan in order to get your hands on authentic station bento. That’s changing soon, though, with the opening of an ekiben stand in a rail station in Paris.
Many foreigners who travel to Japan are relieved to find that it’s common for restaurants here to have a display window filled with plastic models of the food they serve, which is a huge help in getting around the language barrier. That’s not really why restaurants have them, though. After all, the potential number of foreign customers is a drop in the bucket compared to the native Japanese population that has no trouble reading the menu or placing an order.
The real reason for those plastic models is that they catch the eye and stimulate the appetite of passersby, be they foreign tourist, local resident, or adorable cat.
MOST POPULAR
Today
Starbucks Japan releases two new “chunky” drinks… and matching gel designs for our nails
Mt. Fuji hot spring inn gets even more beautiful after dark with Firefly Festival
Japan releases new ramen sandwiches… that don’t taste like ramen
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
The 3 best secret places to eat a cheap One Coin lunch in Shinjuku
Dr Pepper knockoff Mr Popper is a cult drink in Japan, but does it taste like the real thing?
McDonald’s Japan hack: Make a Chicken Tatsuta in five minutes anywhere in the world
This train station bento boxed lunch shop has been in business for nearly 100 years
Japanese criminals are now using crabs to hunt for burglary targets
Police cracking down on outdoor seating in Tokyo’s liveliest street market neighborhood[Video]
Weekly
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows- Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Japanese hair salons going bankrupt in record numbers
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Does one of Japan’s favorite chocolate brands work with the Pringles chocolate hack?- Japanese criminals are now using crabs to hunt for burglary targets
- Mt. Fuji hot spring inn gets even more beautiful after dark with Firefly Festival
Japanese Pokémon card shop grabs scissors as part of its plan to keep scalpers away- Starbucks Japan releases two new “chunky” drinks… and matching gel designs for our nails
- Japan releases new ramen sandwiches… that don’t taste like ramen
Monthly
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden- The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
- Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Yearly
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Dr Pepper knockoff Mr Popper is a cult drink in Japan, but does it taste like the real thing?
McDonald’s Japan hack: Make a Chicken Tatsuta in five minutes anywhere in the world
This train station bento boxed lunch shop has been in business for nearly 100 years
Japanese criminals are now using crabs to hunt for burglary targets
Police cracking down on outdoor seating in Tokyo’s liveliest street market neighborhood[Video]
Retro-style Evangelion T-shirts coming to Uniqlo sister brand GU[Photos]
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Naked woman runs through one of Tokyo’s busiest train stations, police say she’s not a criminal
Does one of Japan’s favorite chocolate brands work with the Pringles chocolate hack?
Woman in Japan breaks into home of complete stranger just to slap him in the face
Squeezy Tanuki Testicle toys once again appear in Japanese gacha machines
A letter from our reporter’s deceased mother arrives at just the right time
Samurai Coffee: Try Edo period coffee once enjoyed by Japanese warriors
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
-
