In Japan, there is a culture called “bento.” A bento refers to a meal style that is portable and contained in a box. It might sound a bit strange when put into words.
It is synonymous with a lunch box, but Japanese bento come in a wide variety of types, and there are many places that sell them.
Additionally, Japanese people often bring bento to school or work in containers called “bento boxes.” Commonly, the term “bento” refers to the food inside these bento boxes, but it also refers to any portable meal contained in plastic or other types of containers, as shown in the picture.
When you visit Japan, I would like you to enjoy Japanese food at restaurants, but I also encourage you to actively try bento!
Note that I am excluding kitchen cars from this explanation. Although the meals served from kitchen cars are also defined as “bento,” they might slightly deviate from the concept of Japanese bento that is known overseas.
First, let’s explain where you can buy bento.
【Places to Buy Bento】
● Convenience Stores and Supermarkets
Bento are sold at convenience stores and supermarkets nationwide. In particular, you can sometimes buy them at half price if you go to a supermarket just before closing time. It is common to buy bento at convenience stores and supermarkets in Japan, with prices ranging from 500 yen to 1000 yen, and there is a wide variety available. If your accommodation doesn’t have a microwave, ask the store to heat it up for you! It’s more delicious when warmed up!
● Department Store Food Floors (Depachika)
We also explain depachika in this article. The prices are a bit higher, ranging from around 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen depending on the product. The quality of ingredients is significantly higher. Many bento can be eaten as they are without reheating, so when purchasing, use Google Translate to ask the staff, “Do I need to heat this?” Depachika bento are exquisite.
● Stations where Shinkansen or Limited Express Trains Stop
These bento are categorized as “ekiben.” We also explain ekiben in this article. Ekiben are often eaten on Shinkansen or limited express trains during travel, frequently using local ingredients. If you come across ekiben, I recommend trying them at least once.
● Bento Shops
These are shops specialized in take-out bento. In terms of variety, they probably offer the most compared to convenience stores, supermarkets, and depachika. When you enter the store, you will see a display of bento and side dishes, but if you want something freshly made, you can order it, and they will cook it for you on the spot. Chain stores often have menus with photos, so you can order while looking at the pictures!
Let me introduce a few famous chain stores! These are nationwide chains.
There are also other places where bento are sold, so explore the town and look for them. Some restaurants operate as izakayas at night and sell bento during the day!
Next, let me introduce some popular types of bento in Japan! As mentioned earlier, there is a wide variety of bento. The ones introduced here are just a few examples.
【Types of Bento】
It contains a variety of side dishes. There are no fixed rules for the side dishes included, so they vary depending on the store.
Noriben is a bento with a layer of rice topped with nori (seaweed) that has been dipped in soy sauce, and then various side dishes are placed on top. The side dishes can vary slightly depending on the store, but common items include tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet), karaage (fried chicken), isobeage (seaweed-wrapped tempura), fried white fish, and croquettes. As shown in the picture, tartar sauce is often added, but it may be available for an additional charge. The combination of white fish and tartar sauce is excellent.
The main dish is karaage, with a few side dishes included. Karaage is explained in this article. It goes well with rice!
The main dish is hamburger steak, with a few side dishes included. Hamburger steak is explained in this article. It’s as satisfying with rice as karaage!
Besides these, there are many more types of bento available, so try exploring beyond the shops that sell them!
As a bonus, I’ll also introduce homemade bentos and bento boxes that Japanese people take from home.
The typical types are single-tiered and two-tiered. The variety of side dishes varies from person to person. People often include their favorites or leftovers from dinner. When I was a student, my mother used to make and bring me lunch.
This is called a character bento, where characters are depicted within the bento. The photo shows Santa Claus! While not everyone makes character bentos, some people who are passionate about bento-making enjoy taking on the challenge.
Bento boxes are sold at supermarkets, furniture stores, home centers, and other places. Here are some examples:
Buying one as a souvenir and trying to make your own original bento when you return home could be fun!
Oharaimachi and…
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