In the 1940s, there were many shops and people bustling around Iwamizawa Station. At that time, the famous station bento was the kama-meshi sold by Tachiumi Shokai. With the decline of Iwamizawa in later years, the station bento and Tachiumi Shokai disappeared. However, in response to the desire for a revival of kama-meshi, it is now sold at the tourist association. The special feature of Iwamizawa kama-meshi is that the container and lid are both made of pottery, allowing you to make kama-meshi yourself after eating it. When I was young, I made it a few times and the burnt rice at the bottom was delicious. The kama-meshi available for sale comes in three varieties: scallop, chicken, and another type. I prefer the scallop version. It is delicious with two whole scallops simmered in a sweet and savory sauce, even for those who do not like anything other than scallop adductor muscles. It also contains bamboo shoots, quail, and other ingredients, with a thin omelette placed between the rice and toppings. The rice is simple, cooked with soy sauce and dashi, soft in texture, but somehow the plain rice complements the luxurious toppings. The oil from the thin omelette matches well with the rice. They only sell a small amount per day, so you may not be able to buy it if you go in the evening. It costs 1,080 yen and you can also warm it up in the microwave with the pot. The only downside for repeat customers like me is that it's hard to store all the pots at home.

I had some free time and decided to explore a shop at the station. It turned out to be a tourist information center for Iwamizawa, with local specialties on display. I was intrigued by the unique products, such as the Iwamizawa version of Castella cake, and ended up buying one. The shop also offered information on local attractions and wineries, as well as rental bicycles. I recommend stopping by if you're in the area!