I visited Marui Bentou Honten in search of the popular bento box "Hokkimeshi" sold at stations like Minami Chitose Station. The store, located next to the main factory, is quite small with only one glass case and a capacity for one to two customers. Due to the impact of the coronavirus, the "Hokkimeshi" was not available at the store. In addition to bentos, they also offer curry for takeout. I purchased the "Pork Cutlet Roll @313" and enjoyed it in the car. The seaweed-wrapped roll, cut into five pieces, was uneven and some pieces fell apart easily. The ingredients included lettuce, mayonnaise, and pork cutlet, and the rice was not vinegared. The flavor was light and could be enjoyed with soy sauce if desired. I will try the "Hokkimeshi" again after the end of the pandemic. Thank you for the meal.

At the station bento shop on the platform of Minami Chitose Station. The round bento box "Hokki Meshi" is highly popular and difficult to get hold of. This time, I couldn't buy it in the afternoon visit as it was sold out, but I was able to get it the next morning at the opening of the bento shop before boarding the Super Ozora 3. Also, since there is no onboard sales on the Super Ozora, it's a good idea to stock up before boarding (laughs). When you open the lid, you'll see Hokki clam meat on top of seasoned rice. There's a little pickled vegetable in the corner, but in reality, there's almost no side dish to speak of, as the bento seems to be focused on the seasoned rice. When you chew the well-textured room-temperature rice, the richness that overflows is just amazing. Seasoned rice seems to have more umami when it's at room temperature rather than warm. Hokki clam seems to be the perfect ingredient for a station bento. The red pickled ginger that adds a nice accent here and there is also good. If I have the chance to find it on another journey, I will definitely get it.

(Excerpt from a travel diary dated August 25, 1993) U and I run across the footbridge together. At the bottom of the stairs, a station bento cart tries to sell us two leftover bento boxes to help out. "Hey mister, I have two left. Can you buy them to help me out?" "These are sushi, so they'll keep until tomorrow. Oh, you're buying them? Thank you! That really helps. You're buying both? I'm so happy. Thank you. That really helps." I'm a sucker for this kind of situation, so we end up each buying one. I've already forgotten what U bought, but I purchased the salmon sushi recommended by the Railway Writer (Naoki Higashida) for 700 yen. I'll save it for breakfast tomorrow. The station shop probably won't be open around 5 a.m. at Mori Station.

I am currently on a trip to Hokkaido using my ANA miles. I planned to eat Hokki Meshi at Tomakomai Station. However, I found it at Minami Chitose Station, so I decided to have it for lunch while waiting for the train. The Hokki Meshi cost 1,050 yen. It was my first time trying Hokki, and it was delicious with no fishy smell and a chewy texture. The rice was seasoned with soy sauce, which paired well with the Hokki. The pickled ginger and side dishes also complemented the Hokki Meshi very well. I enjoyed it in the waiting room on the platform at Minami Chitose Station.

Lunch this time was the famous "hokki rice" from Tomakomai, known for its JR limited express train sales, and one of Hokkaido's best craft beers, "Akki Red Ale" from Noboribetsu. I purchased a cup of "Daisen" at the JR kiosk in Noboribetsu station. I enjoyed having two cups of Daisen and Akki Red Ale while looking out the window during the train journey. I also bought the famous Hokki rice at Tomakomai station, which was known for its delicious station bento. The taste was a bit strong compared to other famous bento brands, but it was still enjoyable. After transferring at Tomakomai, I headed to Iwamizawa via Sapporo. The taste for some reason reminded me of Scottish folk songs. The journey continued with the "1-day walking ticket" tour. At 4:00 p.m., I departed for Oikaribe, a famous spot for the sunset, on the train bound for Samani. Tomakomai is known for its local bento, which is made in Otaru and brought by truck to be enjoyed by passengers heading to Otaru. You can also buy natural bento at local stations, although the selection is limited. The specialties are hokki rice and salmon sushi, but I didn't see them this time. After buying the bento, I went to "Oikaribe" to see the beautiful sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

[Hakodate Trip Part 1] Originally, we were supposed to have lunch at New Chitose Airport, but the flight was delayed, so we bought boxed lunches and ate them in the car. We chose this place because we had tried the "Shiosa Bento" before. The Hoki rice was definitely delicious, but it might get a bit boring after a while. The Shiosa Bento offers more variety (including the Hoki rice) and is priced almost the same, so maybe that would have been a better choice. Well, you won't know until you try it. I think next time, I'll stick with the Shiosa Bento.

A few days after planning a trip to Hokkaido, I became interested in the "Hokkai Meshi" after watching a TV show about it. I initially thought I wouldn't be able to try it as it is sold at the Minami Chitose Station platform, and I didn't think I could adjust my schedule after arriving at New Chitose Airport. However, I discovered that Minami Chitose Station was right next to the car rental shop, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I hesitated to buy the entrance ticket for the "Hokkai Meshi," but I decided to give it a try. The rice was perfectly seasoned and paired well with the hokkai. The sweetness of the hokkai and the flavor of the dish were delightful. Comparing it to the "Tsubameshi Bento," the hokkai itself felt a bit lacking, but the dish was still satisfying with the addition of clam and bamboo shoots in the rice. It is recommended to enjoy the "Hokkai Meshi" and "Tsubameshi Bento" while taking the Hidaka Main Line from JR Minami Chitose Station to Shizunai and back, enjoying the scenery along the way.

From Sapporo, it takes about 1 hour by highway to reach Tomakomai City. Tomakomai Station, Platto Port Market, and other several shops in Tomakomai City belong to a long-established bento shop. It was founded in 1910. Tomakomai Station was opened in 1892 as a station of the Hokkaido Coal Mining Railway. In 1906, it was transferred to the national railway due to the nationalization of the Hokkaido Coal Mining Railway, and two years later, the Oji Paper dedicated line also started operating. In 1910, the same year as the opening of Tomakomai Station, the Oji Paper Tomakomai Factory also started operations. That was the same year when this "Marui Bento" was founded, a long-established bento shop that has been in business for over 100 years. When I first visited Tomakomai Station, I was surprised to see a huge red and white chimney right in front of the station. I wondered why there was such a mammoth factory in such a prime location in front of the station. However, I realized that the extension of the railway and the development of industry are directly related, which made sense to me. I heard that the salmon sushi from Tomakomai Station is delicious, so I wanted to try it. I bought it and had it at home. The salmon sushi (small) costs 390 yen. Normally, salmon sushi costs 750 yen for 8 pieces, while the station bento salmon sushi is a combination of 4 pieces of salmon sushi and 4 pieces of pressed sushi for 700 yen. This small type includes 4 pieces of salmon sushi and pickled vegetables rolls as a bonus for 390 yen, which is a reasonable price. Station bentos are often priced around 1000 yen, so it's nice to have such a reasonably priced option. This pressed sushi is not just ordinary pressed salmon sushi; it is "smoked salmon" pressed sushi. The vinegared rice is topped with lightly smoked salmon, which has a good fatty texture and a pleasant smoky aroma. The vinegared rice is not too firm or too soft, just right. Sometimes, the vinegared rice in pressed sushi bentos can be too crumbly, but this one was delicious. I heard that they use Oji's smoked salmon, but it was not mentioned on the bento wrapping paper. However, this smoked salmon was also very delicious. I really liked it. Although it is a shop in Tomakomai, I heard that they also sell bentos at Minami-Chitose Station. I would like to try the larger 8-piece set next time I use the station.

One of the enjoyable things about traveling is choosing a "station bento" to enjoy on the train. It's fun to browse through the selection of bento boxes at the station shop before boarding the train, trying to decide which one to get. There are so many options, from ones featuring local ingredients (local gourmet) to classic makunouchi bento, that it can be overwhelming. Marui Bento, a shop in Tomakomai City that sells bento boxes, boxed lunches, and catering, has been in business since 1910, with a history spanning over 100 years. At Tomakomai Station, there is a temporary sales booth set up inside the ticket gate concourse, with foldable tables and chairs. At Minami-Chitose Station, there is a shop on platforms 1 and 2 towards Sapporo. The "Hokkimeshi" bento features rice cooked in clam broth topped with surf clams. Inside the rice, there are clam necks and other ingredients. The "Salmon Sushi" bento, with illustrations by manga artist Hiroji Ooba on the wrapping paper, features neatly arranged smoked salmon pressed sushi. It is seasoned with sauce, so it's recommended to try a few pieces without soy sauce. The "Ikura Bento" is filled mostly with salmon roe, along with scallops, shiitake mushrooms, and mountain vegetables on top of a bed of shredded egg. The salmon roe bursts with flavor when you bite into it.

At Tomakomai Station, I bought an ekiben (train station boxed meal) called "Kani Chirashi" because the popular "Hokkigai Shiosaibento" was sold out. The crab meat was lightly seasoned, and the side dishes like Nameko mushrooms, mountain vegetables, and kelp were cooked slightly sweet, creating a well-balanced meal overall.

Marui Bento in Tomakomai was established in 1910 and can only be purchased at Tomakomai Station and Minami Chitose Station. I decided to buy one at Minami Chitose Station and enjoy it at New Chitose Airport. Even though it was already past 10 o'clock, the popular bento was almost sold out. - Shiosaibento (1100 yen): The most popular bento with 5 different types of seafood - hokki rice, salmon sushi, grilled salmon, soy sauce marinated salmon roe, and deep-fried tsubu. The hokki was soft and from Tomakomai, and the rice was cooked with carrots, bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, and gobo. The salmon was smoked salmon from Prince Salmon. - Funka Bay Scallop Bento (900 yen): This bento, introduced around 2000, was recently renewed. It includes 4 large scallops from Funka Bay, shrimp, kombu from Nemuro, and daikon radish pickled in haskap berries. The rice is cooked with mountain vegetables, carrots, konjac, and more. The scallops were delicious. This bento, made with Hokkaido ingredients, can also be reserved. This bento became the perfect way to end my trip.

I traveled by JR train and got off at Minami Chitose, where I picked up a bento box that I had reserved in advance at the main store in Tomakomai. It was a luxurious combination of hokki rice, grilled fish, fried fish balls, ikura salmon sushi, and star player's special. When I spread the bento on the table in my reserved seat, my heart raced with excitement. It was truly delicious. While the bento from Kanshokan was also tasty, this one felt more like a proposal that catered to the common people. Initially, I thought of just getting the hokki rice, but this bento allows you to enjoy a variety of flavors. Please give it a try!

A delicatessen, catering, and bento shop in Tomakomai City. Established in 1910, boasting over 100 years of history. One of the station bento offerings is the Hokkaido specialty Fukabachi Bay scallop bento, featuring scallops as the main ingredient. The bento includes four large scallops seasoned with broth on a bed of shiitake mushroom rice. Other ingredients include shrimp, kelp, and pickles, enhancing the Hokkaido essence. While having additional ingredients would make it even more delicious, the bento is enjoyable even without them. Although not extremely voluminous, the bento is filling due to its concentrated contents. While it may be on the pricier side for a bento, it is considered affordable for a station bento.

I was back in Sapporo for the year-end homecoming and decided to take a short trip. I used the JR Hokkaido One-Day Walk Ticket (Unlimited rides on local trains in the Doohokkaido region) to travel to Muroran by local train. I deliberately avoided taking the rapid train and enjoyed a 4-hour journey from Sapporo to Muroran. I had planned to have breakfast at a cafeteria in Tomakomai's wholesale market, with fresh scallop rice bowl or scallop curry as my first choice, but unfortunately, it was closed. As my second choice, I discovered the "Hokki Meshi" from this round bento (\1,000). After graduating from university, I had lost touch with scallops, but Tomakomai is known for having the highest scallop landings in Japan, with "Tomakomai-produced scallops" even being a registered trademark. I was excited to try it. During a short transfer at Tomakomai station, I went out of the ticket gate to use the restroom. Then, I went to the shop to look for "Hokki Meshi," but it was not there. I felt a bit disappointed, but when I passed through the ticket gate again, I noticed a corner selling bentos. I immediately went there and found various appealing bentos like the Ikura Bento (\1,100) and the Northern Bento with crab, sea urchin, and scallops (\1,000). However, I stuck to my initial choice and purchased the "Hokki Meshi" (\1,000) along with a beer. I then headed to the train on the platform. Since there were not many passengers, I had a four-seater box seat all to myself. I enjoyed my beer and Hokki Meshi. When I opened the lid, I saw scallops on top of the seasoned rice. During this season, scallops are delicious as they are firm from the cold seawater. The bento made with two scallops was very satisfying.

At the 46th Original Famous Station Bento and Nationwide Delicious Food Fair at Keio Department Store in Shinjuku, I bought a bento for 1100 yen. It features premium ikura from the bountiful seas of Hokkaido, served generously with simmered scallops, shiitake mushrooms, mountain vegetables, and golden-threaded egg. The ikura bursts in your mouth, making you smile. This round bento has a long history, dating back to 1910 when it started selling station bentos at Tomakomai Station. In addition to this "ikura bento," the fresh surf clam and broth-infused rice, "hokki meshi," is also delicious and highly recommended! Last purchase date: January 18, 2011.

"First Visit in April 2021" I visited "Marui Bento," a bento shop that produces bento boxes sold at JR Tomakomai Station and Minami Chitose Station. I knew they also sold bento boxes at their main store, but I never had the chance to stop by. On this day, I was planning to get a bento box for takeout due to the pandemic, and I was heading to the popular bento shop "Jinbei" in Tomakomai when I noticed the sign for Marui Bento. I made a U-turn and headed to the store. When I entered the store, I was surprised by how small it was. The entrance door opened into a space that was less than a tatami mat in size, and inside, there were packed side dishes lined up in the showcase on the left. I wondered if these were samples. I had been thinking about getting a tonkatsu bento at Jinbei, so I found a tonkatsu bento in the case and ordered it. The staff took out the pack from the showcase, turned around, and started scooping rice from a thermal jar. Ah, so that's how it works... I thought to myself. Looking around the store, I learned that for other bentos like curry, they start making it after you order. I took the bento and moved to a nearby park's parking lot to check the contents. Inside, there were two pieces of tonkatsu as the main dish, along with pasta, shredded cabbage, tamagoyaki, and potato salad as side dishes. The volume of tonkatsu was a bit lacking, but considering the price of 550 yen, it felt like a good deal. Jinbei, which I mentioned earlier, sells a tonkatsu bento for 660 yen, and overall, I personally prefer Jinbei. However, if you prioritize price, Marui Bento is also a good choice. If you're interested, I recommend giving it a try. --------------------------- - 554 yen (Tonkatsu bento 550 yen / Plastic bag 4 yen) - Food/Taste 3.5 / Service 3.0 / Atmosphere 3.0 / Value for Money 3.5

I was walking with the help of a map when I saw a sign for a bento shop. I needed a bento today, so I decided to buy one here. There was a convenience store that had closed down nearby, so I was relieved that this place was still open. I entered the shop around 12:30 on a Sunday. I ordered a hamburger bento (486 yen). The bento arrived quickly. I paid in cash. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Wife: "I'm going to make pickles in the afternoon, so please buy a bento box for lunch." I arrived at 11:30, no one in line before or after me. There weren't many options for bento boxes. I chose the hamburger and minced cutlet. The side dishes were pre-made, so they just had to scoop the rice and it was ready! It would have been nice if they could have heated it up for me. They accept meal tickets. Hamburger bento box for 486 yen, minced cutlet bento box for 486 yen. Thank you for the delicious bento box!

Established in 1910, Marui Bento is a long-standing bento shop in Tomakomai known for its signature dish, "Hokki Meshi." Tomakomai is famous for being the best source of hokkigai (surf clam) in Japan. They cook fresh hokkigai from the nearby sea using their unique technique to make it tender, then mix it with Hokkaido rice, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and other ingredients in the clam broth. Finally, they top it off with thick slices of hokkigai. The surf clam has a great texture, and the rice soaked in clam broth has a delicious balance of umami and sweetness that makes you want to eat bowl after bowl.