To celebrate the 140th anniversary of Japanese station bento, JR-East is holding a poll with 63 regional bento options vying for the title of “Number One Bento.” The poll is open to international travelers, adding international interest to this century-old railway food culture.
TOKYO, JAPAN (MERXWIRE) – This year marks the 140th anniversary of the Japanese “station bento,” and stations across the country are launching commemorative events to awaken travelers’ long-held railway memories with delicious treats. JR East is also holding the “Station Bento 2025 Poll” during the autumn travel season. From now until November 30th, travelers are invited to vote for their “most delicious bento,” with the highest-rated product receiving the title of “Number One Bento.”
This event brings together 63 different station bento boxes from eastern Japan, categorized by main sales region: Northern Tohoku, Southern Tohoku, Koshinetsu, Northern Kanto, Southern Kanto, Tokyo area, and areas outside JR East, allowing travelers to choose according to their itinerary or preferences. This allows travelers to choose according to their itinerary or preferences. The participating bento boxes are divided into “new products” and “reissues,” allowing people to enjoy both creative new creations and revisit classic flavors. Those who vote and complete the questionnaire will also have a chance to win limited-edition souvenirs.
To allow international travelers to participate, JR-East has included an “English voting interface” on its official voting website, hoping to promote station bento culture to more travelers through multilingual promotion.
The origin of station bento boxes is debated, but it is generally believed to date back to July 16, 1885 (Meiji 18), when bento boxes wrapped in bamboo skin and containing two plum-stuffed rice balls and pickled radish were sold at Utsunomiya Station. This is considered the starting point of the station bento tradition.
In 1889, Himeji Station introduced the first double-layered bento box, printing the product name, price, and travel information on the packaging, becoming a symbol of station bento culture. In the 1890s, various regions introduced “local specialty bento boxes” such as sea bream rice, sweetfish sushi, and conger eel rice, laying the foundation for the diverse forms of station bento today.
Station bento reached its peak in the 1970s, with approximately 400 vendors nationwide; however, due to factors such as faster trains, the proliferation of convenience stores, and rising rice and commodity prices, only about 80 remain today. Despite the challenging environment, vendors continue to innovate to preserve this traditional culture.
For overseas travelers, station bento is a must-try on their “Japan travel list.” Among them, the Shinkansen-shaped bento is particularly popular with children. A Taiwanese tourist traveling to Japan with two children said, “Eating bento boxes on the Shinkansen is a novel and wonderful experience. My child is a big fan of the Shinkansen anime, and was overjoyed to buy two bento boxes at once.” An office worker from Itabashi Ward in Tokyo mentioned, “I always look forward to the station bento voting every year because it allows me to discover bento boxes from places I hadn’t noticed before. This year marks its 140th anniversary, and some of the reissues evoke a sense of nostalgia. Voting is a long and difficult process because each one has its own story.”
An office worker from Aomori who frequently commutes by Shinkansen commented, “I think it’s great to see the official English interface. Station bento boxes are a cultural tradition of sharing during travel. If foreign tourists can also choose their favorite bento boxes from their own perspective, it helps us rediscover the charm of station bento boxes. I also hope they can learn about the ingredients and specialties from different parts of Japan through the voting.”
Railways and bento boxes have accompanied travelers for over a century, and station bento boxes have continuously evolved throughout this history. With the peak tourist season approaching, people may wish to choose their favorite station bento during their travels and participate in this delicious annual event to witness the birth of the “first bento”.