In the basement of Tobu Department Store at Ikebukuro Station, there is an onigiri (rice ball) shop with prices ranging from around 170 yen to 270 yen. The prices are moderate for a specialty onigiri store. The taste is rather light and not too salty, making it appealing to women. It might also be recommended for those on a diet. There are various fillings available, so if you're interested, take a look.

I want to eat onigiri~ It's not like the role played by Ashiya Ganjiro as Yamashita Kiyohiga, but I really wanted to eat onigiri, so I decided to get some to go from this shop. I ordered a jumbo meat-wrapped onigiri and a salmon onigiri. To my surprise, the jumbo one wasn't jumbo at all, it was the same size as the salmon one. In fact, the onigiri was so small that it didn't fill me up at all. Could it be that the high cost is due to the rent at the department store?

Located around B1F 10th spot of Tobu Ikebukuro, there is Omusubi Ichiban. As the name suggests, it is a specialty rice ball shop. While they also offer bento boxes and onigirazu, the main attraction here is definitely the rice balls! Inside the showcase, you can find a variety of rice balls. They have classic options like kombu, okaka, and salmon, as well as unique ones like pickled tuna and matsutake mushroom. I purchased the pickled mustard leaf with olive oil and shiso miso rice balls. The pickled mustard leaf with olive oil had a subtle olive oil coating on the rice ball, with the crunchy texture of the mustard leaf standing out more. The shiso miso rice ball was a classic choice, with the rich miso flavor complementing the white rice. The rice balls were slightly on the smaller side, priced around 200 yen each. Considering it's a store in a department store basement, I think it's reasonably priced.

I went to a rice ball shop in Tobu Ikebukuro. Although each rice ball is small, they are quite expensive, but I encountered a time sale. I bought two for 324 yen (tax included). I got the "Cherry Blossom Shrimp Rice Ball" and the "Salmon Rice Ball with Sticky Brown Rice". The regular price for two was over 500 yen, so I got a good deal. The cherry blossom shrimp rice ball looks delicious with fragrant shrimp and cherry blossom salt. The salmon rice ball looks plain, but it tastes gentle with a hint of salt.

Bobobo, I really like onigiri♪ Hello, it's Chi who loves onigiri ( ´ー｀)ﾉ Nice to meet you. In 2019, I am thinking of focusing on rice and its accompaniments. It is located in a corner near the south end of Tobu Department Store B1. I couldn't get the Western liquor I wanted, so I walked past it with my shoulders drooping and peeked inside. "Crispy plum onigiri with mochi brown rice" (180 yen) I love crispy small plums, so this is good ( *´∀｀*)ｂ I guess the brown color is the brown rice, with just a basic knowledge. It must be good for the body, I expect. "Ooba miso onigiri" (170 yen) Sweet miso with a spicy adult aftertaste. Both are small onigiri that are perfect for women. Despite the price, they lacked the deliciousness of the rice and the fluffy texture of the rice balls, leaving only the impression of being expensive...

I have tried various onigiri shops before, and on this day, I decided to try buying onigiri from this shop for the first time, along with one for my wife. The prices ranged from around 170 yen to 270 yen, which I think is reasonable. However, after trying a few different types of onigiri (as shown in the attached photo), I found that the overall balance of rice, salt, nori, and fillings was lacking in impact. The shop's bright signboard raised my expectations, but the onigiri did not leave a lasting impression. My wife had a similar opinion. Compared to the iconic onigiri shops in Tokyo, this shop fell short. In today's onigiri scene, I believe that without a clear concept or distinctive individuality, it is difficult to attract repeat customers. For example, like the onigiri shop Ginza Jyukkoku in Matsuya Ginza. That's it.

The selection of original onigiri and regional specialty onigiri is abundant. The Tobu Department Store basement in Ikebukuro has been gradually renovated over the past two years. The Plaza building's basement floor is now a deli market with many different shops. One of these shops used to be "Onigiri Senka" on the second basement floor of the Plaza building, but it closed due to renovations and reopened as a different brand called "Onigiri Ichiban." It has been almost a year since the opening. The prices are a bit high, and they often offer discounts on items in the evening. I tried some unique onigiri, such as the "Ebi Tempura Onigiri" and the "Soft-boiled Egg Onigiri." They were quite different from traditional onigiri. There was also a "Curry Bread Curry," which was more like a rice sandwich with curry flavor. Surprisingly, it was very delicious. In addition to these unique onigiri, they also offer more traditional options like the "Pork Roll" and the "Shiso and Chirimen Jako Onigiri." The shop has a wide variety of onigiri, and it's always interesting to see what they come up with next. Despite the loud promotion from the neighboring "Torikin," this shop manages to attract customers with its unique offerings.

Another time sale is happening. I love rice balls. Choose two from "Salmon and Roe" and "Shiso Seed Shirimen" for 324 yen (including 8% tax). What a deal!