As if riding a bullet train going hundreds of miles an hour wasn’t enough of a thrill, the other fun part of going to the train station is the ekiben, or bento boxes, that you can buy to eat on the train. Japanese bento boxes are one of my favorite things to eat. I love the variety, the cute packaging, and of course, the food!

 

Marinated Pork Bento Box

Tokyo Station was where I got my first ekiben and the choices were overwhelming. There were dozens of different kinds showcasing regional specialties from all over Japan. I got this pork bento because it smelled amazing and seemed very popular. The pork was tender and covered in a sweet soy sauce. The omelette was tasty and fluffy.

 

Traditional Japanese Breakfast Bento Box

I grabbed this beautiful traditional bento box at Kyoto Station. Breakfast in Japan tends to be more savory than in the U.S. and salmon is a very common breakfast food. The salmon was cooked perfectly. The two rolls of sticky rice and the mochi were really yummy!

 

Chicken Skewer Bento Box

I got this simple bento box at Shin-Osaka Station. The chicken breast, thighs, and meatballs were delicious.