All Reviews of Ekibenya Matsuri at Gransta Tokyo

How can you take a train trip without an ekiben? For me, it's an essential ritual of traveling by rail! Located inside GRANSTA at Tokyo Station, Ekibenya Matsuri carries specialty ekiben from all over Japan, with everything from seafood and beef to local specialties. Just standing in front of the displays trying to choose leaves you spoiled for choice. Popular varieties often sell out quickly, so if you arrive too late, you might miss out. Although most of the bentos are served cold, Japanese ekiben always pay close attention to color and presentation. Every time I open the lid, it feels like opening a treasure chest, full of anticipation and making my mouth water! Enjoying the scenery outside the window while eating a bento after boarding the train is the perfect start to the journey ahead.

The extremely popular Ekibenya Matsuri inside Tokyo Station is a paradise for train fans and food lovers. It brings together specialty ekiben from all over Japan, with such a wide selection that it can be overwhelming. Although I know most Japanese ekiben are served cold, unlike Taiwan Railways’ hot bentos, I still can’t resist buying one to try whenever I travel to Japan. If you don’t have time to browse in the station concourse, many station platforms also have bento kiosks where you can quickly pick one up.

Also, if you’re taking a sightseeing train, I highly recommend pre-ordering a limited-edition bento. I previously tried a Bungo beef bento on the Yufuin no Mori and a Saga beef bento on the Two Stars 4047, and both left a strong impression. Enjoying a bento with local flavors while riding the train and admiring the beautiful scenery outside the window really is a perfect experience filled with Japanese charm.

You don't have to travel all over Japan—you can see train station bento from regions across the country all in one place at Tokyo Station. There are meat, seafood, and local specialties. Buy one to eat on the Shinkansen, and the whole trip instantly feels more special.

The bento selection is seriously overwhelming—in a good way.
If it’s your first time here, it’s hard to choose.
They’ve got famous regional bentos from all over Japan, so it feels like you’re traveling Japan in one stop.

I stopped by the station and decided to try a bento. Seafood is a popular choice, but since I'm allergic, I went for the karaage chicken bento instead. It tasted great—no wonder it's a long-time bestseller!