Amazing variety! My excitement level is through the roof! Should I go for the meat option or try something more Western-style? Maybe turn it into a sandwich? Deciding is so much fun! I ended up choosing the most popular bento with a variety of items inside. It was delicious and surprisingly good! It cost 1100 yen. Sometimes, train station bento boxes are really great!

I'm heading back without even having time to relax in Kansai... But! The only thing I look forward to on the way back is the station bento (boxed meal) (≧∀≦) I wonder why I even came here in the first place... haha. There is also a store called "Ekiben Nigiwai" at JR Shin-Osaka Station. However, by around 5 pm, they are almost sold out... The training went smoothly and it looks like I can catch an earlier Shinkansen train. But I can't choose a bento... So, I decided to buy my favorite "Tanaka no Kakinoha Sushi" ♡ I can't forget the taste of eating Kakinoha Sushi in Nara's Yoshino Town and enjoying it at the deer park. The exquisite saltiness stimulates my appetite and the elegant vinegared rice soothes me. Truly fit for an offering to the imperial family (^_−)−☆ Huh? I thought I bought the mix with sea bream, but it turned out to be salmon and mackerel... But it's incredibly delicious (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵) You can also buy it at "Matsuri" at JR Tokyo Station, and guess what! They even sell the famous Ishikari Sushi from Chitose Airport, so you can buy not just station bento, but also air bento, which makes me really happy (≧∀≦)

It had been a while since I purchased an ekiben (train station bento) at Shin-Osaka Station. There were so many varieties to choose from, but I decided on the Winter Color Bento from Awajiya. It had a great selection of side dishes that paired well with beer. Since it only takes about an hour to get to Okayama, I quickly devoured it. The journey from there to Izumo felt like it would never end (laughs).

I transferred from a local train to a bullet train and felt hungry despite eating at Matsuba. So, I decided to buy an ekiben at a strong-smelling store nearby. I quickly chose a Yamato's persimmon leaf sushi, which was neatly wrapped in a persimmon leaf. It had a refreshing aroma and paired well with the cup sake I bought. The rice in the sushi didn't make me feel too full, so I could enjoy the sake. I finished it before reaching Kyoto, and the sake helped me nap until Nagoya.

I tried the station bento box from Minamiyoken in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture. I had the Silver Flounder Kyoto-style grilled bento box for ¥1470. I was familiar with Kyoto-style grilled dishes made with silver cod or Spanish mackerel, but it was my first time trying it with silver flounder, and it was delicious. The rice was also lightly seasoned and easy to eat.

On my trip to Kansai, I bought a bento box called "Fox Chicken Rice Winter" from Awajiya at Shin-Osaka Station for 920 yen. Awajiya is known for their takoyaki bento, but they actually offer a variety of bento boxes. The Fox Chicken Rice Winter consists of chicken rice with various ingredients on top. The rice is subtly flavored and the chicken meat, including thigh meat and meatballs, is lightly seasoned. The thigh meat is a bit firm in texture with a mild sauce, while the meatballs are well-coated in a slightly sweet sauce. In addition to chicken, the bento also includes lotus root, carrot, konjac noodles, and fried tofu. It has a refined and gentle flavor typical of Kansai cuisine, appealing more to older individuals.

Inside Shin-Osaka Station, there are bento shops both outside and inside the ticket gates. Today, I bought a black wagyu steak and yakiniku bento for 1,350 yen outside the ticket gates for lunch, and headed to Shinagawa. The bento was delicious with plenty of meat. My favorite is the seared steamed conger eel bento, but today's bento was also good. The best part of traveling is definitely enjoying station bento (*´∀`*) Even during work trips, it's always a pleasure to have bento.

Before boarding the Shinkansen, I tried to have a meal at Shin-Osaka Station, but it was so crowded that I gave up. So, I decided to go for a station bento instead! I chose the "Gochisou Maku-no-Uchi @ Tabebento Ekiben Nigiwai Ekimaru" which had white rice and chirashi sushi, quite a funny combination! The bento had plenty of side dishes and left me feeling pretty full. It was a great companion to my beer! Since I had some time to kill before my Shinkansen departure, I enjoyed my meal on a bench inside the station. It was delicious!

The train bento at Mizu no Han was ¥1150! Just like its name suggests, it had a nostalgic station bento feel to it! The rice was cooked perfectly, perhaps due to their skillful cooking or the clever design of the wooden bento box? The rice didn't stick together at all, making it a pleasant meal to eat! While the side dishes were simple, they had a rich flavor which made it quite enjoyable. It was delicious! ☆☆

I returned home after my trip to Kansai. To continue enjoying the memories of my journey, I purchased a station bento to take home. I bought it at Shin-Osaka Station this time. The one I got was called "Travel Excitement Bento" for 1100 yen. I enjoyed it with a beer at home. The "Travel Excitement Bento" comes in a square container divided into five sections. It includes two types of rice, chestnut rice and octopus rice, which are typical of Kansai cuisine. The chestnut rice was a bit firm but had a subtle sweetness. The octopus rice had a delicate octopus flavor. It had a nice touch of octopus. The side dishes included Kansai specialties like kushikatsu and takoyaki, as well as grilled fish and simmered dishes, offering a variety of flavors in small portions. Station bentos can come with a large portion of a single specialty item or a variety of small dishes like an ekiben. Having a variety of dishes may be more enjoyable as a beer accompaniment. I had a satisfying station bento and beer drinking experience this time too.

I bought a travel bento box at "Ekimaru She New Osaka" and then explored the station after falling asleep on the train and waking up at Shin-Osaka. The bento box was from a famous shop in Akashi called "Awajiya" and it was delicious. I also found a Haro Kitty Shinkansen bento box at the station for 1500 yen. The bento had a variety of side dishes like hamburger, tamagoyaki, weiner, edamame, and small sausages. The portion size was small but cute. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.

Kansai-style Siu Mai bento. I had heard about it online before, but didn't have a chance to visit Kansai. I didn't know where it was sold either. On this day, I was wandering around Shin-Osaka Station. There were long lines at the bento shops, but nothing really caught my eye. However, I found the Kansai-style Siu Mai bento in the corner. It's a collaboration between Sakai Koen and Maneki Foods. I bought it immediately to try on the Shinkansen. The overall impression is similar to Sakai Koen's Siu Mai bento, but there were extras like grilled mackerel with salt and simmered bamboo shoots, which I assume are from Maneki Foods. Siu Mai, grilled chicken, grilled mackerel, tamagoyaki, and kamaboko - quite a variety of side dishes. The quality and satisfaction as a bento were high.

After finishing work, it's time to head home♪ I decided to try a station bento again after getting a taste during my last business trip. I usually just have a light onigiri on the way home on the Shinkansen, but this time I wanted something more substantial. The shop was the same as last time. Next to the satisfying "Crab Rice Two-Tiered Bento" from before, there was a seemingly sister product called "Octopus Rice Two-Tiered Bento". I'll have to try that another day. I wasn't drawn to the "Beef Steak and Half Kalbi Yakiniku Bento" that was on special. So, I went with the number one popular choice, the "Travel Bustle Special Bento"! Now, on the Shinkansen. When I looked closely at the packaging, it was from Awajiya again, just like last time. Once we passed Kyoto and opened it up, it was great♪ The beef sukiyaki, simmered dishes, and various side dishes were all delicious. There was even squid and sand lance simmered in soy sauce. The rice was octopus rice and red rice with chestnuts on top. Enjoyed it with a beer, so tasty~☆ Couldn't resist! There was a separate packet of Oliver sauce for the kushikatsu, which was a nice touch. I savored each bite, resisted getting another beer, and by the time we arrived in Nagoya, I was pleasantly full. Thank you for the delicious meal~(^^)/ Once again, I was completely satisfied. I've become a fan of Awajiya. I might buy from them again next time. (I want to try other items too...^^;)

After finishing work in Osaka, I returned to Tokyo. I decided to eat a station bento on the way back. I bought it at a place where I transferred from a local train to a Shinkansen. There were rows of bento boxes. I wanted to take my time and choose, but I couldn't. (I'll make sure to have more time next time...^^;) There was a prominent sign advertising a "Crab Rice Two-Tiered Bento" on sale for 950 yen, down from the usual 1,100 yen. The manufacturer was Awajimaya. Their crab rice is famous, so I thought it would be a safe bet and bought it. I got on the Shinkansen and placed it on the table. The outer box was crab-themed!! When I removed the outer box, there was a black plastic two-tiered bento box. The lid had a pattern on it, giving it a luxurious feel. When I opened it, there was crab rice and side dishes. It looked delicious. I dug in. The side dishes included something like beef sukiyaki, ganmo, sweet potato, simmered dish, egg, and salmon neatly arranged. The flavors were not too strong but elegant. The beef sukiyaki and simmered beans were outstanding. It went well with beer. The rice was flavorful and delicious. There were even two crab claws, albeit small. I resisted the urge to get another beer and was pleasantly full. Thank you for the feast. I was very satisfied!

I visited on a regular day. It's a station bento shop located inside Shin-Osaka Station. Among the various options, I ended up buying a pork cutlet sandwich! The bread was a bit dry, but the cutlet was tender and delicious. Next time, I want to try the beef tongue bento that caught my eye. Thank you for the meal! :)

It's been a while since I traveled using the Shinkansen... At the "Ekiben Nigiwai" inside the East ticket gate of Shin-Osaka Station, where a wide variety of ekiben from all over the country are lined up, there awaits a quite challenging decision. I think I'll go with the "Mizunoen Hakkaku Bento," which may seem plain but is a bit pricey. The plain appearance is undoubtedly due to the sesame onigiri pressed into a barrel shape. However, the side dishes are a refined combination of traditional Japanese cuisine. There's grilled fish, maybe sea bream? And chicken, squid, and a variety of flavors to enjoy. Simmered edamame and taro, sweet white kidney beans, and vinegared dish of namasu. Steamed shrimp, kamaboko, thick rolled omelette, slightly tangy simmered eggplant. While younger people may find the lack of fried food and impact disappointing, for old-timers like me, the absence of junky flavors and the subtle dashi taste are appealing. The wooden container absorbs just the right amount of moisture, enhancing the taste of the plain salted sesame onigiri as you chew. Unfortunately, my long canned beer was no match, and I ended up relying on the overpriced beer sold on board. If there was a version of the Mizunoen Hakkaku Bento that only included the side dishes, like at other ekiben shops, it might become a hit among the older generation. I was also impressed by the siu mai bento I encountered in Yokohama in the past, but this Osaka Hakkaku Bento also left a strong impression. I still feel that long-established ekiben are like sumo wrestlers, top-notch.

Before boarding the last Nozomi 64 bound for Tokyo, I stopped by. It was already past 9 pm, so all that was left was persimmon leaf sushi and a pork cutlet sandwich. I decided to try the persimmon leaf sushi, a specialty from Nara that I had never tried before. Inside, it had mackerel and salmon, with the aroma of persimmon leaves adding a nice touch to the flavor. It was a delicious product with a great taste and aroma.

On Thursday, August 12th, I had lunch on the Shinkansen train at "Ekiben Nigiwai" inside the JR Tokaido Main Line Shin-Osaka Station. I decided to try a local Osaka bento box instead of the various bento boxes from all over the country. I chose the popular "Yakaku Bento" from Minamiawaji's famous Mizurouken, which has been a long-selling item since 1975. The bento box contained a variety of dishes such as simmered chicken, red fish with miso, squid with sea urchin, and shrimp simmered in soy sauce, along with vegetables like taro, green beans, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and more. The Kansai-style seasoning was light but flavorful, bringing out the natural taste of the ingredients. It was absolutely delicious! After the meal, I enjoyed UHA Mikakuto's "Mapy Wasabi Mix" and a Suntory Highball. The experience was satisfying and enjoyable.

When I was working as a tour guide, I often did loading at the Thunderbird's intermediate station. I couldn't resist buying the Echizen Kanimeshi sold at Shin-Osaka. I have a fond memory of enjoying this bento on the train. The crab-shaped container contains crab rice. The rice, cooked with soy sauce and dashi, is topped with pieces of crab meat. I sprinkled some nori from the bag and enjoyed it with the spoon provided. The rice with a subtle dashi flavor brought back nostalgic memories. I would love to travel by train again with a bento in hand.

JR Shin-Osaka Station 3rd floor, inside the ticket gates for the local lines, is "Ekimarche Shin-Osaka," a shop specializing in station bento boxes. Opened in 2015, this is one of the largest bento shops within Shin-Osaka Station, offering a wide variety of bento boxes. They also conduct live demonstrations with great enthusiasm. This time, I chose the "Yakkaku Bento" from "Suiryo-ken," which has made a comeback after several years. The dishes offered here aim to recreate traditional Osaka cuisine. While not necessarily modern, they are visually appealing and have delicious broth. The taste brings back memories of old train journeys.