For households with teenagers planning a bullet practice journey by Japan, don’t miss out on the nationwide journey meals staple — ekiben. To journey like a neighborhood on the Shinkansen, make certain to choose up a practice bento, a sort of lunch field stuffed with contemporary and scrumptious culinary delights.
The ekiben doesn’t simply supply comfort for hungry travellers. With tons of of various kinds of meals accessible inside, your chosen lunch field offers you the prospect to style regional specialities, and maybe some new elements.
Right here’s what you want to know in regards to the much-loved ekiben earlier than selecting up yours.
The origins of ekiben
Earlier than the ekiben, got here the bento, a meal packed in a field, designed to be eaten on the go. Historically, a bento meal would encompass rice, fish or meat, and greens, with the intention of filling you up with nutritious meals whereas out and about.
The time period ekiben got here later, combining the phrases eki (station) and bento (boxed meal) to explain lunch containers bought at practice stations from the late nineteenth century onwards. Hungry passengers making lengthy journeys by rail have been eager to take pleasure in a filling meal, and so the custom was born.
With the event of air journey, the soraben, a lunch field designed for flight passengers, is now a typical sight in Japanese airports.
What’s inside an ekiben?
Over time, the custom of making moveable meals has advanced past primary elements.
Now you can discover many regional or culturally themed ekibens, however some options stay customary whichever bento you go for.
Most ekibens embrace rice or noodles, pickled greens, and a few form of protein, like fish, meat, or tofu. You’ll discover the most important number of ekiben choices in Japan’s largest cities and practice stations.
Sorts of ekiben
Makunouchi ekiben
The makunouchi is essentially the most basic bento choice, that includes a mixture of formed rice, greens, and fish, or meat. Whereas the precise parts range from place to put, the makunouchi is a normal providing and a crowd pleaser you’ll discover at most stations.
Character ekiben
Character bento containers, with particular designs each inside and outside, will little doubt catch your eye when selecting your ekiben. Figures from Japanese tradition and animation are very talked-about — from Howdy Kitty to anime characters.
Youngsters’s ekiben
Specifically designed for teenagers, these bento containers are normally smaller, and infrequently embrace meals which are interesting to little ones. Nonetheless, there’s nothing stopping you from selecting one up for your self if that’s what you fancy!
Vegetarian and speciality ekiben
You’ll have the ability to discover a restricted collection of vegetarian ekiben at bigger stations, and massive cities like Tokyo. They normally embrace tofu, formed rice, and a few greens. In case you can’t see an ekiben that fits your dietary preferences, go for an onigiri, or different sort of moveable snack.
Regional specialities
Many kinds of regional speciality ekibens can be found, exhibiting off the most effective native elements and recipes, similar to Hokkaido’s famously nice seafood. One of the best half is that they’re accessible all around the nation, so you may style one thing new wherever you’re.
Eye-catching ekiben containers
Ekiben don’t simply look good on the within. Your meal typically comes packaged in a fantastically designed field, typically designed to be a souvenir. Some bento containers characteristic native paintings, or animated characters. You may even purchase an ekiben formed like a Shinkansen practice — an excellent memento out of your journey.
The place to purchase your ekiben
Ekiben have been previously bought instantly on the platform from a wood tray, and handed by the practice window to hungry passengers. Excessive-speed trains have made that difficult, so that you now want to purchase your lunch field contained in the station itself, normally earlier than you attain the platform.
You’ll discover many ekiben stalls in any respect Shinkansen and enormous practice stations, in addition to at some smaller regional stations throughout Japan.
eat your ekiben
Most ekiben are designed to be eaten chilly, or at room temperature. In case you fancy a scorching meal, bigger stations supply some self-heating ekiben containers.
All ekiben include disposable utensils so you may take pleasure in your meal en route. To accompany your bento field, drinks are bought in any respect ekiben stalls and different counters in practice stations. Alcohol is allowed on the Shinkansen, so choose up a beer if that’s what you fancy.
Japanese consuming etiquette
Ekiben are designed to be eaten on the transfer on long-distance and bullet trains, and also you’ll seemingly see many locals having fun with a bento field in your journey.
The Shinkansen has a tray and cupholder at every seat so you may eat comfortably.
To be well mannered, it’s vital to comply with Japanese etiquette when consuming on the practice. Eat quietly, and keep in mind to get rid of your garbage correctly. Native folks don’t eat on quick distance trains, so it’s wise to do the identical.
Completely happy travels and joyful consuming
I hope this submit has impressed you to take pleasure in an ekiben in your practice journey by Japan. Whether or not you’re heading to Tokyo with teenagers or exploring Japan as a younger grownup, make certain to strive a couple of differing kinds or a regional speciality when you can. Meshiagare — bon appétit!
Writer Bio:
Cathy Slater is an skilled content material author. She is related to many famend journey blogs as a visitor writer the place she shares her useful journey ideas with the viewers.
