I’ve written about ekiben or “train station lunch packs” before, but had to do a piece on these luxurious gourmet ekiben from Kyoto Station!
My most recent bullet train trip was from Kyoto to Fukuoka, and while doing my usual shopping for a delicious ekiben meal to eat on board, I came across a very interesting outlet. Instead of stocking up on the typical food stores from within the Shinkansen station gates, I shopped outside the gates in Kyoto Station‘s main shopping complex. That’s when I found a gourmet store selling higher-class, more luxurious ekiben meals!
Succulent Gyukatsu Set
I simply couldn’t resist the gyukatsu or “beef cutlet” ekiben pack, featuring delicious fried beef cutlet smothered in savory, sweet demi-glacé sauce.
Accompanying the delicious meat were assorted vegetables, boiled egg, mashed potato, steamed rice, and pickled radish.
Designed to be eaten at room temperature as to not cause scents for the passengers on the bullet train, it was as good as a non-heated bento box meal could be!
Hamburg Steak & Fried Ebi
Other options for these gourmet ekiben meals include hamburg steak and fried ebi or “shrimp.” Other than the proteins, the rest of the ingredients were the same as the gyukatsu set. Again, this was an incredibly delicious meal despite being eaten cold, and you can certainly taste the increased quality of ingredients when compared to the standard platform ekiben.
A Luxurious Trip!
Couple these gourmet ekiben meals with some nice beverages and perhaps something sweet for dessert, and you have yourself a luxurious Shinkansen trip ahead of you!
Nothing beats the smooth momentum of Japan’s bullet trains blitzing through the scenic landscapes in the countryside, much like an airplane without turbulence.
Plenty of leg space, recliner seats, and a gourmet ekiben will have you feeling like business class, and combined with the window view and you’ve got yourself dinner and a show!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!