00:00 [Music]
00:12 Boxed lunches or bento are a way of dining dear to the Japanese heart.
00:17 [Music]
00:18 On long distance trains you'll see people eating ekiben.
00:22 These are a special kind of bento sold at train stations called eki in Japanese.
00:27 [Music]
00:28 The variety is breathtaking.
00:31 Japan is known for its many regional cuisines
00:33 and sampling ekiben as you travel around the country is a great way to discover local specialties.
00:38 [Music]
00:44 This is the Sanriku railway serving the northeastern Tohoku region.
00:50 Most of this line runs along the coast.
00:55 The sea here is noted for the abundance and quality of its fish.
01:03 And that's reflected in this railway's famous ekiben.
01:10 A bed of rice covered with locally caught salmon flakes and a generous helping of salmon roe.
01:18 One of the great pleasures of touring Japan by rail is enjoying a region's ekiben as you watch the scenery go by.
01:28 A two hour train ride southwest from Tokyo will take you to Hakone.
01:34 This mountain hot spring resort is famous for its flowers,
01:38 especially hydrangeas which blossom here in early summer.
01:44 There's a special ekiben sold only in this season.
01:51 Made to be enjoyed while viewing the passing hydrangeas.
02:00 Next let's try Japan's most famous ekiben.
02:06 Sold in Gunma, a few hours to the northwest of Tokyo.
02:14 It all began here at this country station.
02:17 An ekiben made with the finest locally sourced ingredients.
02:21 Toge no Kama Meshi.
02:25 The name comes from Kama, a traditional metal pot for cooking rice, and Meshi meaning meal.
02:32 This ekiben container is shaped to resemble an old style Kama pot.
02:40 We wanted a way to serve piping hot rice in a bento.
02:44 It took many experiments before we finally settled on this style of container.
02:50 Their famous ekiben was first launched 60 years ago.
02:56 The station was already selling tea to travellers in ceramic pots.
03:02 Those pots were designed to keep tea warm during a train journey,
03:05 and someone realised that the same material would keep packed meals hot.
03:11 To develop a design that could be used for bento,
03:14 they worked with ceramic artisans at a traditional Mashiko ware pottery.
03:22 This was the design finally chosen, combining portability and heat retention.
03:29 It feels like eating at home with the food still piping hot from the stove.
03:34 I travelled for four hours specially to eat this bento.
03:39 A packed lunch so famous, people come from the other side of the country to buy it.
03:44 But there's more to its appeal than just the taste.
03:48 I'll take the pot home and it will always be a reminder of this trip.
03:52 These containers are very versatile. They have so many uses.
03:56 For example, I like to grow plants in them.
04:01 They make great planters, and they're an excellent way to carry homemade meals.
04:09 Or how about vases for New Year decorations? The uses are endless.
04:16 If you're seeing Japan by train, be sure to try the ekiben.
04:21 It's a great way to experience the country's many regional foods.
04:26 (Traditional Japanese food)
04:32 (Traditional Japanese food) (Traditional Japanese food)
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