Whether your in one of Japan's massive train stations or a tiny outpost in a remote city there is one thing that will remain true. Someone will be selling bento boxes to weary travelers who need some food to eat. Although bento boxes are available everywhere in Japan, and they are also made at home for lunch time meals, some of the most extravagant ones are found at the many train stations that do the country. Some are even made with special foods from the city or region where they are from in order to differentiate them from the rest of the country. It almost becomes a tourist attraction of its own, traveling the country trying each stations unique bento.

Prices generally range from ¥800 to ¥3000 so there is a bento for any budget. The quality of the food is surprisingly good. The simplest bento is just rice, with something on top, its basically a donburi. Others are fairly extravagant with many items in their own little compartments. They are perfect on the train, eat them while enjoying the scenery on a slowly moving local train to the super fast shinkansen.

Train Stations can be massive, like the 15 story Kyoto station

A unagi bento from Tokyo Station

13 Item bento from Kyoto Station

Menchi Katsu sandwich box from Akihabara