Ah, ekiben. Such a clever idea. Make mediocre packaged lunches with famous local goods, and sell them to people who have a long train ride ahead of them. 駅- eki - means train station, and 弁当 - bento - is a packaged lunch. Here is an example of one from Tottori Prefecture, using local matsubagani crab:
![_DSC5153.jpg](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7411/11152181743_ef5c24fd5c_c.jpg)
There is a fascination with these things. Everyone I've asked is happy to have a culinary chance.
But I'm always a dick about it, spoiling their fun. "You know, you can buy that in Tokyo." Shock. Followed by denial. Guilt for wasting some yen. Acceptance.
Here's a photo of the shop front that I stole from the internet.
Google Map for ma gangstas. I mean my Granstas!
So there you go. You can buy the most famous of the country's ekiben all in one place. Mediocre packaged lunches by the train-load must arrive in Tokyo every morning. I recognize a few I've bought, back when I didn't know. I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance!
![IMG_0360.jpg](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/11309275503_176b294333_c.jpg)
All the regional ekibens of Japan, available everyday at Tokyo Station!
![IMG_0361.jpg](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3745/11309198216_6cf24de9e5_c.jpg)
There's the Tottori one!
![IMG_0350.jpg](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7454/11309208124_f0835de014_c.jpg)
This is my favorite one, available to many stations in Tokyo (even though it says it is from Nara). 柿の葉寿司 - sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves. The salted leaves have curing properties, keeping the sushi fresh. Super bomb!
![IMG_0352.jpg](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5526/11309185976_1d4f7eeab1_c.jpg)
You are not meant to eat the persimmon leaves, but I do. Like a rookie. Whatever.
![IMG_0353.jpg](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2822/11309215694_cc2e28a7df_c.jpg)
Honestly, though, these ekibens are just $10, and coupled with a cold beer the make for a tasty train snack. And the Tokyo Station Ekiben Shop is a one-off thing, so folks outside of this big, stinky city have to travel for their gimmick-food.
![IMG_0355.jpg](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2883/11309271653_4b9cacbc95_c.jpg)
3 comments:
Ha! Figures. In 70 years no one will be living in those places anyway. The ekiben will all be made at the same plant in a Tokyo suburb and sold as nostalgia gimmicks.
Do you plan on ever returning to the States?
No plans!
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