Tokyo Station Ekiben Guide: Best 5 Bento Boxes | Ekibenya Matsuri Location, Prices & Heating Tips

The romance of Tokyo travel—Tokyo Station train bento boxes! 🍱 From the most popular menu items at 'Ekibenya Matsuri' which sells 20,000 boxes daily, to where to buy Tokyo Station ekiben without boarding the Shinkansen, prices, recommendations, and tips for heating your bento—everything compiled in one place.

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Hello! This is TokyoMate, your guide to everything about Tokyo travel. 🗼

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Tokyo Station ekiben are called the flower of Japanese train travel.

The scenery outside the window is nice, but ekiben (駅弁, train bento boxes) eaten on your lap are the true romance of Shinkansen travel. 🍱

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At Tokyo Station, over 200 varieties of regional specialty bento boxes from across Japan gather every morning—it’s the mecca of ekiben. However, with so many options, it can be overwhelming to choose at first.

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Today, TokyoMate will comprehensively organize fail-proof BEST 5 ekiben and where to buy ekiben even outside the ticket gates! 😋

1. Ekibenya Matsuri Location & Hours (Inside Ticket Gates)

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If you’re a traveler using Tokyo Station, this is a must-visit spot: ‘Ekibenya Matsuri (駅弁屋 祭) Gransta Branch’. With the concept of “Every day is an ekiben festival!”, you can experience flavors from all over Japan in one place.

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• Location: JR Tokyo Station 1F Central Passage (between platforms 6-7) ※ Inside ticket gates
• Hours: 05:30 ~ 22:00 (Open year-round)
• Features: 150-200 varieties nationwide, live kitchen operation
• How to get there: Follow the 'Central Passage' signs and you'll see the most crowded spot.

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💡 TokyoMate’s Tip (Breakfast)

They open from 5:30 AM! There’s no better place to solve your Tokyo Station breakfast problem before catching an early morning Shinkansen or heading to the airport.

2. 🏆 Fail-Proof Tokyo Station Ekiben Recommendations BEST 5

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Tokyo Station ekiben come in over 200 varieties.

From this overwhelming lineup that’s bound to cause decision paralysis, we’ve selected the BEST 5 menus that perfectly suit Korean tastes with no dislikes.

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🥇 Meat Lovers - Charcoal-Grilled Style Gyutan Bento (炭火焼風牛탄弁当)

• Price: 1,450 yen
• Feature: Self-heating container that warms up when you pull the string! 🔥
• Recommendation: The harmony of chewy beef tongue (gyutan) and stone-cooked barley rice. The most satisfying menu on the Shinkansen.

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🥈 Classic - Chicken Bento (チキン弁当)

• Price: 980 yen
• Feature: Launched in 1964, a national bento loved for over 60 years.
• Recommendation: The combination of karaage + ketchup rice means both children and adults love it without any dislikes.

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🥉 Seafood - Salmon and Ikura Bento (鮭といくら弁当)

• Price: 1,700 yen
• Feature: Packed with popping salmon roe (ikura)!
• Recommendation: Feels like enjoying a seafood rice bowl as a bento. Popular for SNS photos due to its visual appeal.

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🧒 Kids / Souvenir - Shinkansen E7, E8 Bento (新幹線E7系弁当)

• Price: 1,480 yen
• Feature: Actual Shinkansen-shaped container ​​🚄
• Recommendation: Perfect for family trips or as gifts! After eating, take the container home to use as a toy.

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🍖 Value - San-gen-ton Tonkatsu Bento (三元豚とんかつ弁当)

• Price: 1,250 yen
• Feature: A whole thick San-gen-ton pork cutlet!
• Recommendation: The essence of fried food that's delicious even when cold. Maximum satisfaction for fullness vs. price.

🎯 [Bonus] Situation-Specific Ekiben Recommendations

Besides the BEST 5, if you have a special purpose, we recommend these menus.

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🗼 Tokyo Specialty: Fukagawameshi (深川めし) (1,180 yen)

• A traditional Tokyo local bento made with clams (asari). When you want an "authentic Tokyo taste"!

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👑 Gift for Parents: Tokyo Bento (東京弁当) (2,050 yen)

• Contains representative side dishes from 7 long-established Tokyo shops in one box (emperor's feast level).

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🕰 Retro Vibes: Reproduction Japanese Restaurant Tonkatsu Bento (1,400 yen)

• A reproduction of a bento actually sold in the 1970s, hugely popular with railway fans!

3. ♨️ Don’t Like Cold Bento? (Heating Tips)

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Japanese ekiben are characterized by being cooked so the taste doesn’t change even when cold, but if you want warm rice, choose one labeled [Self-heating container (加熱式容器 / ひもを引くと温まる)] on the package! There’s a yellow string on the side of the bento.

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• Usage: Pull the yellow string attached to the side of the bento hard.
• Principle: Lime and water react to generate steam, making it hot like freshly cooked rice in 5 minutes.
• Recommended Menu: 'Gyutan (beef tongue) Bento' or 'Sukiyaki Bento' are usually self-heating types.

4. 🚄 In a Rush! Platform & Gransta (Inside Ticket Gates)

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Too crowded at Ekibenya Matsuri? There are alternatives.

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1. Shinkansen Platform Kiosk (Delica Station)

• Location: On the platform after entering to board the Shinkansen.
• Feature: Limited variety, but all the popular items (chicken bento, sandwiches, beer) are available. Best when time is tight!

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2. Gransta Tokyo B1F

• Location: Tokyo Station B1F Central Exit area
• Feature: Sells department store food hall quality premium deli, sushi, and sandwiches. Go downstairs if you want an upscale meal.

5. 🛍️ "Not Taking the Train!" How to Buy Outside Ticket Gates

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Not boarding the Shinkansen but still want to experience ekiben vibes? We’ll tell you famous spots where you can purchase ‘outside the ticket gates’ without a ticket.

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1. Daimaru Department Store Tokyo B1F

• Location: Directly connected to Yaesu North Exit
• Nickname: "God of Depachika (department store basement)". There's a 'Bento Street' stretching 60 meters.
• Recommendation: 'Meat Yazawa's' premium steak bento (melts in your mouth 🤤)

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2. Precious Deli

• Location: 1F Tokyo Gift Palette (Yaesu North Exit)
• Feature: Sells bento that are classier than convenience stores and trendier than ekiben.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

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Q. Can I eat bento on the Shinkansen or Narita Express?

A. Yes! The charm of Japanese train travel is precisely the bento (ekiben). Each seat has a table so you can eat comfortably. However, note that eating is prohibited on regular subways.

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Q. Can I pay with transportation cards (Suica/Pasmo)?

A. Yes, it’s possible. Cash, credit cards, and IC cards are all accepted, and checkout is very fast.

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Q. Will all menus be available if I go early in the morning?

A. Right after the 5:30 opening, items may still be being stocked, but by 6-7 AM most menus are fully stocked. Popular items like ‘Gyutan Bento’ or limited editions sometimes sell out before lunch, so it’s best to purchase during morning travel.

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⛔ Absolutely Cannot Bring Back! (Not for Souvenirs ❌)

You cannot bring ekiben back to Korea as travel souvenirs.

1. Hazardous Materials: Pull-string heating packs are prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage.
2. Quarantine: Meat products (beef tongue, chicken, etc.) are included, making domestic entry impossible.

※ Be sure to enjoy them deliciously in Japan (on the train or at your hotel)!

Travel excitement doubled with Tokyo Station ekiben! 🍱 Choose your perfect bento at ‘Ekibenya Matsuri’ and create delicious memories.

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After enjoying a savory bento, don’t you crave sweet dessert? Check out the article below for limited edition dessert information only available at Tokyo Station! 👇

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