There was a shop right next to Pokefuta! While I, a serious Pokefuta enthusiast, was taking pictures, Wuta-san went to buy it very smartly (I didn't notice at all and kept taking pictures). I imagined Ikameshi to be much larger than it actually was (size is difficult to capture in photos). I thought the squid would be tough, but it was actually soft and easy to chew...! Is authentic Ikameshi this delicious...?! I thought the rice would be a bit sticky, but it was just the right texture and didn't overpower the squid, making it delicious...! My perception of Ikameshi has changed...! Thank you, Wuta-san!!!! (((orz

The shop "Shibata Shoten" in front of Mori Station in Hokkaido, which has been selling the famous "ikameshi" as a station bento, was born in 1941. The "ikameshi" of Mori, which has been loved as a station bento in Mori Town, Hokkaido, is a product of Abe Shoten, which had a bento shop at Mori Station. In front of the station, Shibata Shoten stands out with its red signboard for "ikameshi". On this day, of course, the "original Mori specialty ikameshi" is unchanged in its packaging, with two in a box, the addictively delicious secret sauce, and tender squid that is tastier than it looks. Thank you for the meal.

Silver wedding celebration trip in Hokkaido - Day 3 ~ The final day that went by in a flash. On the way back to Hakodate, a visit after 21 years. ~ The first "ikameshi" was during my student days over 30 years ago. Taking the overnight express train from Ueno and transferring to the Seikan Ferry, I bought it through the window at Mori Station, a vague memory. ◎ Abe Shoten "Ikameshi" 780 yen ~ In a nostalgic and cute small box, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Was it this small?" and was told, "It has always been this size." I wanted to take a bite of the freshly made, still warm bento, even just one, but I had to resist for lunch at the Hakodate Asaichi. "Ikameshi" after returning home. It was delicious after all, truly delicious. It is the original memory of Hokkaido.

Traveling in Hokkaido. On this day, I took an early morning train from Hakodate Station. Heading north on the Hakodate Main Line, the first stop was Mori Station. This station is where the main line on the mountain side and the branch line on the sea side converge. The reason for getting off at Mori Station was, of course, the famous ikameshi. I have tried the vacuum-packed ikameshi sold as a souvenir before, but I wanted to try it freshly bought on site. Mori Station offers a beautiful view of the sea from the platform. Exiting the station building and turning left, there is a shop here. An old-fashioned building exuding the scent of the Showa era. The first floor seems to be the shop. The signs and banners are all about promoting ikameshi. Inside the shop, it is small and cozy. Besides ikameshi, there are other items for sale, but it's not clear what exactly. It looks like there are also miscellaneous goods on display. The main attraction, of course, is the ikameshi. There are two types available: the boxed lunch and the vacuum-packed version. Since I wanted to eat it on the spot, I purchased the boxed lunch. The price was 780 yen. I bought it and decided to enjoy it in the waiting room at Mori Station. The boxed lunch seemed to be kept warm in a styrofoam container, as it was slightly warm. Opening the lid, there were two small ikameshi. It looked just like the visuals I had seen in the introduction video. The rice was stuffed inside the squid. The rice was slightly mushy and sticky, with a hint of squid flavor. The squid had a good texture and the seasoning was well done. It was a simple yet nostalgic taste of a local specialty. I finally got to eat the famous Mori Station ikameshi on site. As expected, local specialties are best enjoyed at the place of origin.

To put it mildly, I used to hate squid rice. When I transferred to Hokkaido, I decided to try the authentic squid rice there. For some reason, the packaging sparked my appetite, and when I took a bite, it completely changed my opinion about squid rice! It was the real deal and I can't wait to have it again!

Please register for the offline meeting on the official LINE account. LINE official account https://lin.ee/M97scKk It came from Abeshoten. When I asked a quiet man who doesn't talk much, he said, "If you're going to eat it on the same day, go for the one in the wooden box, and for souvenirs, get the vacuum-packed one." I really wanted to try the one in the wooden box, so I ate it on a bench at the station, but... "No delicious food in the famous dish"~~~~~~ LINE official account https://lin.ee/M97scKk Official blog with udon as the main food https://alwaysudon.com/tenmusu-senju-tsu/ Instagram https://instagram.com/alwaysudon/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/techno9353/featured Official newsletter http://alwaysudon.online/mailmagazine/

I traveled far by train to reach "Mori". When you think of Mori, you think of "Ikameshi". It's a familiar dish from the board game "Momotaro Dentetsu". Recently, it has become more common to sell it at train station bento shops and department stores, but those are all vacuum-packed. In Mori, they serve freshly made Ikameshi. In the summer, they sell it on the train platform by reservation, but in other seasons, you can get it at "Shibata Shoten" in front of the station. The production is done by "Abe Shoten", but they don't sell it at the factory. When you leave the station building, you'll see "Shibata Shoten" right in front of you. The nostalgic signboard creates a sense of nostalgia. There are many bikers around, and the benches in front of the store are always occupied. The store isn't too crowded, but it's a hidden gem of a bento shop known to a select few. It's not a highly remote location, but it's definitely a place not many people visit. Inside the store, there's a counter with a mother serving customers. When you receive your order... it's warm! I'm not sure if it's freshly made or warmed under a heater, but it's definitely warm, and the plastic wrap on the bento is foggy. I'm excited at this point. It's the real deal! ● "Ikameshi" ¥780 I opened it in the deserted station and the aroma was delightful. Three pieces of delicious-looking small Ikameshi. Let's dig in. Mmm, this is it, the real Ikameshi. I've only ever had the vacuum-packed ones before, but this is a whole different level. And to eat Ikameshi at Mori Station, it's even better. No additives. Perfectly sweet sauce. Chewy and firm rice. To be honest, at this size, it's a one-bite meal. ...There are also larger sizes available. Well, eating this on a train while looking out the window, that's the essence of the joy of travel. Thank you for the meal. I don't know if I'll be able to come back here again in my lifetime, but I'm glad I got to eat this while I'm alive. Ikameshi, may you live forever. JR Mori Station, may you live forever.

On the second day of my trip to Hakodate, I went around Mount E and had lunch in Morimachi. The sushi restaurant was closed, so I bought a squid rice ball bento at the station. I can't remember the price, but two small squid rice balls cost a little over 700 yen, which I think is quite expensive. It was warm. Despite being a bento, it didn't come with chopsticks, so I assume you're supposed to eat it with your hands. I ate it by holding the toothpick stuck in the squid. The squid was quite tender, and the sauce was lighter than expected, not soaking in much. It's much lighter than the typical image of squid rice. Well, it's delicious, I guess.

You can get the ikameshi bento from Abe Shoten, a regular at the Hokkaido product exhibition, in front of JR Hokkaido Mori Station. Recently, there are many vacuum-packed ikameshi, but this shop's bento is still slightly warm and has a consumption deadline of 23:00 on the same day. There is no eating space inside the shop, so you will have to take it home or eat it on the bench outside the shop.

Afternoon in Hakodate Travel From Sapporo, taking various detours on the back roads, we arrived here with a slight hunger, seeking nostalgic flavors. The Shibata Shoten in front of Mori Station is a shop with a cool atmosphere, and they definitely recommend the "ikameshi." With banners, benches, and signs welcoming us, the staff inside greeted us as well. Naturally, I purchased the ikameshi for 780 yen. Oh, it's warm! Let's enjoy it while looking at Mori Station. There are two ikameshi packed full in the package. Holding a toothpick, I take a bite. The chewy texture of the squid is pleasant. The rice inside is packed tightly. The rice soaked up the flavor of the squid and is delicious. It seems to be less seasoned than in my previous memory, but it's still delicious. I finished it all. Thank you for the meal.

Lunch on April 28, 2019 (Sunday) (1). With my partner. 2nd day of the Hokkaido road trip (8th restaurant). Departed from Onuma Park at 10:18 AM. Drove along the shore of Konuma on Route 43 and joined Route 5, entering Mori Town and then getting onto the Doto Expressway from Onuma Park Interchange. Driving with Mt. Komagatake on the right, we were amazed when we saw Mt. Yotei across the Uchiura Bay. Exited Mori Interchange, passed through Route 5, and arrived at Shibata Shoten in front of Mori Station at 10:43 AM. Mori Station is famous for its station bento, "Ikameshi." I remember buying and eating it when I first visited Hokkaido at the age of 20. The place was still popular as there were people constantly coming in and out. We bought one Ikameshi (780 yen) from the old lady and ate it in the waiting room inside the station. It contained three squids. My first impression upon opening it was, "Was it this small?" The taste was decent and the fact that it was still warm made me happy. The quiet atmosphere of Mori Station was very pleasant, so we bought two platform tickets and went to the platform. On the other side of the platform was the sea, with Mt. Yotei floating in the distance. To the right, there was the huge Mt. Komagatake. We spent some time taking photos before departing at 11:02 AM. In Mori Town, there was a cherry blossom festival going on at the park, with many cars parked. *To be continued*

I came all the way from Hakodate to Mori Station because I wanted to eat the official ikameshi, even though you can buy vacuum-packed ones anywhere now. It was a fun drive along the bay shore, and I arrived in about 2 hours. I was worried that they might be sold out or closed, but luckily they were open. The shop was much smaller than I expected, with only one other customer there. The old man prepared the ikameshi from the fridge for me. I took it home and ate it slowly, and the flavor of the squid was so concentrated that I couldn't help but exclaim how delicious it was in my house. The sticky rice inside was also cooked to the perfect texture to complement the squid. Before I knew it, I had finished eating it. The vacuum-packed ones do give a harder impression, so if you ever have the chance to visit Mori, try the non-vacuum-packed ikameshi.

The specialty of Morimachi, "ika meshi," can be bought at events like the Hokkaido Fair in vacuum-sealed packs. However, what you can get here is freshly made ika meshi with the expiration date on the same day. It may seem a bit unusual to buy it here, but I bought three of them for around 800 yen each. I caught a 7:30 pm flight home, so I informed my family in advance that they would have a very late dinner. We arrived home at 10 pm and warmed them up in the microwave. The sweet and salty seasoning was just right, and the squid was tender and juicy. The vacuum-sealed ika meshi is a bit firmer, but there's definitely a difference. I'm glad I bought them on-site, and my family enjoyed them too. I bet they would have been even more delicious if we had eaten them right away on the spot.

This is a review of my trip to Hakodate. I had some business to attend to at Mori Station, and while I was there, I decided to buy the famous station bento called "Ikameshi". There is a building near the station with a retro Showa-era vibe, and it has "Ikameshi" written on it, so it's easy to spot. The Ikameshi cost 780 yen, and due to recent squid shortages, the price has gone up. I bought a warm Ikameshi, although I originally wanted to eat it warm, I ended up having it as a late-night snack. When I opened the package, I found three plump Ikameshi. With each bite, the rich flavor of the squid broth spread in my mouth. The chewy texture of the sticky rice paired perfectly with the squid. This bento can still be enjoyed even when it's cold. Lately, you can find Ikameshi at station bento shops in the Kanto region as well, but being able to buy it at the actual store made it a memorable part of my journey.

I get off at Mori Station on the JR Hakodate Main Line. The view of Mount Komagatake from the footbridge is truly breathtaking. Right by the station, there is a shop called "Shibata Shoten". The faded bench by the entrance, the stove chimney, the frosted glass windows – it's like a movie set from the Showa era. The famous "ikameshi" can be bought here, not at a department store's product exhibition, which is quite a special experience. By the way, "Shibata Shoten" is just a sales outlet, and the actual manufacturer is "Ikameshi Abe Shoten" located about 400m away. When you actually hold it in your hand, you realize that it's smaller than what you had imagined. The unchanged packaging design from its debut era tugs at the heartstrings of those who love the Showa period (laughs). Opening the lid reveals two plump squid stuffed with rice. Taking a bite, the squid slices cleanly revealing the savory rice inside. The glossy sweet and savory flavor, the chewy rice full of umami – it's the epitome of simplicity, a minimalist aesthetic that you can feel. Thank you for the delicious meal! (^^)

Memo 2017-O-0189-1260: This is a review of a restaurant in front of JR Mori Station in Morimachi, Hokkaido. I visited this place before lunchtime to buy "ikameshi" as I had some time before the soba restaurant I planned to visit opened. I had received "ikameshi" from here as a gift before and it was delicious, so I had always wanted to buy some if I passed through Mori. The store had a lot of "ikameshi" displayed, giving it a touristy feel. However, when I arrived, there were no people inside or around the store, and I couldn't even find where the "ikameshi" was. I briefly thought they were sold out and closed, but a kind man who came out reassured me that they still had some. I bought two and kept them in a bag with ice packs in my car as I planned to eat them in Sapporo later. That night, after a long drive, I had them as a snack with some drinks. The "ikameshi" here was small but had a gentle flavor, making it perfect for a drink. The glutinous rice inside was packed with the flavor of squid, making it delicious. The chewy texture was also enjoyable. It made me want to travel by train again and try it as a traditional station bento.

I remembered looking at photos from my trip to Hokkaido, so I wanted to share with everyone! From Hakodate Station to Mori Station, you can take a special express train and arrive in less than an hour! The main purpose of my visit was to try the famous squid rice bento, which has won many awards at bento competitions. It comes in a cute square box and is so exciting to see in person! The squid was small but had a thick and firm texture, and the rice inside was a mix of two types, creating a perfect balance. The sweet and sour sauce added to the deliciousness of the dish! I highly recommend trying this authentic local flavor!

At the Hokkaido local product exhibition, they were selling squid rice dishes made in each region where the exhibition was held. So, I had been thinking about trying the squid rice at Mori Station if I ever had the chance. I still have images on an old SD card from that time, which was quite a while ago. Despite the fact that this business trip was in April, I remember it being a disaster because of the hailstorm. I was surprised to see that, apart from the business hotel in front of Mori Station, there were no buildings higher than three stories (at that time). When I arrived at the station, I bought one squid rice for myself, ate it right away in the hotel, and it was delicious. So, I went back to the shop to order some as souvenirs. When I bought them and brought them back, all five were devoured in an instant. It's a very fond memory.

It is also the most popular station bento in the country.

A box about the size of a large palm with three pieces of squid rice. The squid is flavorful and delicious. It would be even better if it were a little cheaper.