You Won’t Believe These Six Must-Eat Dishes in Toyama!

  • Trout Sushi: Portable and Delicious!
  • Himi Udon Noodles: Fine Noodles Made by Hand.
  • Toyama Black Ramen: A unique, rich, black soup.
  • White Shrimp: Toyama Bay Gems.
  • Toyama Kanburi (Winter Yellowtail): Fatty, High-end Fish.

What local foods can be found in an ekiben?

Ekiben, the boxed lunch sold at train stations, is a complete meal, carefully thought out for travelers. It usually contains rice and side dishes, such as fried fish, vegetables and pickles.

What type of food is ekiben?

bento
Ekiben (駅弁, railway bento) are a specific type of bento boxed meals, sold on trains and at train stations in Japan. They come with disposable chopsticks (when necessary) or spoons. Ekiben containers can be made from plastic, wood, or ceramic.

What is the most famous ekiben?

Yonezawa Beef Domannaka Bento Delicately sliced layers of seasoned wagyu beef served over rice. This ekiben is said to be the most popular in Yamagata Prefecture.

Where do the salmon and roe ekiben come from?

The salmon and salmon roe in this bento come from the ocean of Miyagi prefecture. This ekiben is available at Sendai station and is a great hit with salmon lovers.

What is a character bento?

Character bento, or charaben, is a type of bento that features food decorated and styled to look like people, animals, characters from cartoons, etc. Character bentos started as a way for parents to encourage their picky kids to eat a wider range of foods, especially healthy food.

Why is ekiben popular?

For international travelers it is a great opportunity to try local specialties without visiting the region in person. The reasonable prices also make ekiben a popular option for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money, but are still interested in trying different food cultures.

What is this famous ekiben name?

In no particular order, the most popular and long-selling ekiben are anago (conger eel) ekiben, sold at Miyajimaguchi Station in Hiroshima, hipparidako meshi (sliced octopus and vegetables on rice), sold at Akashi Station in Hyogo, ebi chigiri chirashi (minced shrimp and omelettes on rice), sold at Niigata Station in …

What is a Hangetsu bento box?

While Western bento lunch boxes look a little different to their Japanese namesakes – which are traditionally wooden, most commonly in a shokado (rectangular) or hangetsu (half moon) shape – they share at least one thing in common: they can safely get food from A to B, with minimal mess.

What is the difference between ekiben and bento?

The Japanese word ekiben is essentially a combination of the words eki, meaning “station,” and bento, the traditional Japanese lunch box. Therefore, an Japanese lunch box. Therefore, an ekiben is a portable lunch that you have at the train station. Ekiben, however, are no ordinary fast food.

What is Japanese ekiben?

Literally meaning “station bento,” ekiben are special bento sold at train stations that are designed to be enjoyed on long train rides while showcasing the cuisine of the region they’re from.

What is bento or Kyaraben?

Kyaraben or charaben (キャラ弁), a shortened form of character bento (キャラクター弁当, kyarakutā bentō), is a style of elaborately arranged bento (Japanese boxed lunch) which features food decorated to look like people, characters from popular media, animals, and plants. Japanese homemakers often spend time devising their …

What to eat in Toyama?

The ekiben consists of pressed sushi of salmon, trout, and rice wrapped in bamboo leaves. It is traditionally eaten in slices resembling those of a cake. This bento is available at Toyama Station in the Toyama Prefecture.

Where can I find vegetarian ekiben in Tokyo?

Ekiben typically features beef, pork or fish as a main dish, with local vegetables and rice on the side, meaning it can be challenging to find vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free ekiben. Larger stations, such as Tokyo Station do feature several vegetarian and vegan alternatives—keep an eye out for the aptly named Vegetable Bento at Tokyo Station.

What are ekiben and how do you eat them?

Ekiben are pre-packaged with everything you will need to eat them. Once seated, unwrap your bento and enjoy your meal as the Japanese countryside passes by your train window—perhaps even passing through the same fields where the rice in your ekiben was grown. Larger stations have numerous shops selling ekiben from several regions.

How much does an ekibenya cost?

Ekibenya Matsuri is located on the first floor of the Central Passage of Tokyo Station. Ekiben are very affordable. If you are in the mood for a snack, you can acquire a small box for around ¥300. Most meal sized ekiben cost between ¥700 and ¥1200, or around $10 USD.