Ekiben boxed lunches for train travel

The Manila Times

Ekiben boxed lunches for train travel  Japanese boxed lunches, or bentō, come in an immense variety. Ekiben, sold at train stations for eating on long train journeys, are a great way to sample the many regional cuisines as you travel around the country. The Sanriku Railway, running along the northeastern Tohoku coast, has ekiben featuring fish fresh from the ocean you see out of the train window. Trains to the mountain hot spring resort of Hakone, near Tokyo, offer a special ekiben only sold when the area’s famous hydrangeas are in bloom. Finally, we visit Gunma, for Japan’s most famous ekiben, Toge no Kamameshi, sold in a traditional Mashiko-ware ceramic container that keeps your meal warm during the journey, winning popularity for a long time.  VIDEO BY MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe    Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net    Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes #Japan #Bento #foodtrip #travel

Transcript

00:00 [Music]

00:12 Boxed lunches or bento are a way of dining dear to the Japanese heart.

00:17 [Music]

00:18 On long distance trains you'll see people eating ekiben.

00:22 These are a special kind of bento sold at train stations called eki in Japanese.

00:27 [Music]

00:28 The variety is breathtaking.

00:31 Japan is known for its many regional cuisines

00:33 and sampling ekiben as you travel around the country is a great way to discover local specialties.

00:38 [Music]

00:44 This is the Sanriku railway serving the northeastern Tohoku region.

00:50 Most of this line runs along the coast.

00:55 The sea here is noted for the abundance and quality of its fish.

01:03 And that's reflected in this railway's famous ekiben.

01:10 A bed of rice covered with locally caught salmon flakes and a generous helping of salmon roe.

01:18 One of the great pleasures of touring Japan by rail is enjoying a region's ekiben as you watch the scenery go by.

01:28 A two hour train ride southwest from Tokyo will take you to Hakone.

01:34 This mountain hot spring resort is famous for its flowers,

01:38 especially hydrangeas which blossom here in early summer.

01:44 There's a special ekiben sold only in this season.

01:51 Made to be enjoyed while viewing the passing hydrangeas.

02:00 Next let's try Japan's most famous ekiben.

02:06 Sold in Gunma, a few hours to the northwest of Tokyo.

02:14 It all began here at this country station.

02:17 An ekiben made with the finest locally sourced ingredients.

02:21 Toge no Kama Meshi.

02:25 The name comes from Kama, a traditional metal pot for cooking rice, and Meshi meaning meal.

02:32 This ekiben container is shaped to resemble an old style Kama pot.

02:40 We wanted a way to serve piping hot rice in a bento.

02:44 It took many experiments before we finally settled on this style of container.

02:50 Their famous ekiben was first launched 60 years ago.

02:56 The station was already selling tea to travellers in ceramic pots.

03:02 Those pots were designed to keep tea warm during a train journey,

03:05 and someone realised that the same material would keep packed meals hot.

03:11 To develop a design that could be used for bento,

03:14 they worked with ceramic artisans at a traditional Mashiko ware pottery.

03:22 This was the design finally chosen, combining portability and heat retention.

03:29 It feels like eating at home with the food still piping hot from the stove.

03:34 I travelled for four hours specially to eat this bento.

03:39 A packed lunch so famous, people come from the other side of the country to buy it.

03:44 But there's more to its appeal than just the taste.

03:48 I'll take the pot home and it will always be a reminder of this trip.

03:52 These containers are very versatile. They have so many uses.

03:56 For example, I like to grow plants in them.

04:01 They make great planters, and they're an excellent way to carry homemade meals.

04:09 Or how about vases for New Year decorations? The uses are endless.

04:16 If you're seeing Japan by train, be sure to try the ekiben.

04:21 It's a great way to experience the country's many regional foods.

04:26 (Traditional Japanese food)

04:32 (Traditional Japanese food) (Traditional Japanese food)

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