[Aomori Prefecture] Tohoku 6 prefecture ekiben boast! Introducing the top 5 recommended ekiben in Aomori Prefecture

Daiwa Consilio
2023.01.06
Last updated: 2024.07.18

table of contents

1 What is Ekiben?
2 Top 5 recommended ekiben in Aomori Prefecture!
3 Here are the stations where you can buy Ekiben in Aomori Prefecture!
4 Is it true that you can buy ekiben on Tsugaru Railway?
5 summary
6 Proud Ekiben from 6 Tohoku prefectures! series

Aomori prefecture's ekiben, which is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Sea of Japan to the west, and the Tsugaru Strait to the north, and the vast Mutsu Bay, is made up of bento boxes made with plenty of seafood.

Many types of ekiben are sold at Hachinohe Station and Shin-Aomori Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen, as well as at Hirosaki Station on conventional lines and Noheji Station on the Aoimori Railway.

What is Ekiben?

There is no specific definition, but if you think about it simply, I think it means ``lunch boxes sold at stations and eaten while boarding the train.''

Ekiben, enjoyed while enjoying the scenery outside the train window, tastes so delicious even when it's cold.

These days, a variety of bento boxes are sold not only inside stations but also around stations, but here we introduce the bento boxes that can be purchased at ekiben shops and kiosks inside stations as ``ekiben.''

Please note that the Ekiben prices listed are tax-inclusive prices as of December 2022.

Top 5 recommended ekiben in Aomori Prefecture!

Aomori prefecture sells many types of ekiben, mainly seafood-based ones, but we have selected five that we particularly recommend.

Tsugaru Menkoi Kaiseki Bento Full of Bites (1,350 yen: Tsugaru Deli)

This bento box includes 24 types of local Tsugaru cuisine in bite-sized pieces, and comes with a menu listing the names and locations of the dishes.

You can snack on Aomori's local sake while looking out the train window, or there are four types of rice dishes, each of which is enough for one small rice ball, making it a hearty meal.

We use Aomori-produced ingredients as much as possible.

Full of fish (1,300 yen: Tsugaru side dish)

As the name suggests, all of the side dishes are fish.

You can enjoy the fish that is familiar to Aomori Prefecture in a variety of ways, including fried, grilled, and made into sushi.

This ekiben is recommended for those who want to eat all the fish caught in Aomori Prefecture. Tsugaru Senai's ekiben can be purchased at Shin-Aomori Station and Hirosaki Station, as well as at Tokyo Station.

Tsugaru side dishes＜Information＞

Name: Tsugaru side dish
Address: 540-11 Hitotsuya, Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture
Phone number: 0173-35-4820
URL: Tsugaru Deli Official Homepage

Google Map

Tsugaru Strait Sea Treasure Ship (1,480 yen: Yoshidaya)

This seafood sushi bento box is filled with steamed sea urchin, salmon roe, and fried eggs, and is sold at Shin-Aomori Station and other locations.

The vinegared rice is made with ``Masshigura'' from Aomori Prefecture, and the dish includes gari (chopped ginger pickled in sweet vinegar), Nozawana, pickled pickled vegetables, and simmered shiitake mushrooms for the chopstick rest.

Hachinohe Kouta Sushi (1,280 yen: Yoshidaya)

Hachinohe Station's specialty pressed sushi uses mackerel and red salmon caught near Hachinohe in the Pacific Ocean.

The bento box comes with a ``bachi'' like those used when playing the shamisen, and you can use it to cut it into the size you like, then dip it in the included soy sauce and eat.

The pressed sushi is well packaged, so it would be a good idea to take it as a souvenir from Hachinohe.

Yoshidaya＜Information＞

Name: Yoshidaya
Address: 1-2-1 Ichibancho, Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture
Phone number: 0178-27-4554
URL: Yoshidaya official website

Google Map

Baccha Gozen (1,290 yen: Akitaya)

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This ekiben is packed with typical local dishes from the Tsugaru region, which has been certified as a ``Tsugaru Cuisine Heritage'', such as minced squid, grilled miso shellfish, boiled cod and butterbur, and pickled herring in soy sauce.

This ekiben is made by Akita-ya, a caterer that used to be a fish shop in Hirosaki City, and you can enjoy the simple taste of Tsugaru.

Akitaya Co., Ltd.＜Information＞

Name: Akitaya Co., Ltd.
Address: 124-2 Shigemori-cho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
Phone number: 0172-35-8888
URL: Akitaya Co., Ltd. official homepage

Google Map

Here are the stations where you can buy Ekiben in Aomori Prefecture!

From the official website of JR East Tohoku General Service

As of December 2022, you can purchase ekiben at four stations in Aomori Prefecture, and in addition to the recommended bentos listed above, other popular ekiben are also on sale.

We have also added the location of each ekiben shop for your reference.

Shin-Aomori Station (Ekiben shop and convenience store inside the Shinkansen ticket gate, Aomori Shunmikan in the commercial facility attached to the station)

You can purchase ekiben from Tsugaru Sensai, Yoshidaya, Wellness Hakuyoken, etc. Also, while the ekiben we have introduced so far have only been seafood, we also recommend the following bentos.

Yakiniku Darake (1,300 yen): Yakiniku made from beef, pork, and chicken from Aomori Prefecture, served with local garlic and apple sauce.
Towada Barayakiju (1,200 yen): Towada's B-class gourmet dish of grilled beef belly and onions with sweet and spicy soy sauce sauce.

These yakiniku-based ekiben are also popular bentos with many repeat customers.

Hachinohe Station (Shop inside the Shinkansen ticket gate and convenience store in the free passage)

Yoshidaya's ekiben is mainly sold here, but there are many other delicious and best-selling ekiben.

Spilled salmon roe and melted salmon Harasu grilled bento (1,480 yen): Grilled Harasu and plenty of salmon roe
Sea urchin and sea urchin flavor comparison bento (1,580 yen): Enjoy the taste comparison of 3 types of seasoned sea urchin
Large scallop and sea urchin bento (1,480 yen): Large scallop simmered in white soup stock, steamed sea urchin, and rice with a light soy sauce flavor.

These are popular ekiben that sell well.

Hirosaki Station (sold at the free passage)

Five types of ekiben made by Akitaya are sold in the aisles, and you can also reserve them in advance.

Tsugaru Wagyu Bento (1,620 yen): A sukiyaki-style bento made with Wagyu beef from Aomori that melts in your mouth.
Aomori Shamolok bento (1,290 yen): Aomori's specialty Shamolok, boiled in jibuni, goes well with cooked rice.
Aomori chicken bento (1,290 yen): The key to the taste is the special sauce that brings out the flavor and richness of Shamolok.
Igamenchi bento (900 yen): Tsugaru's B-class gourmet squid mince is seasoned with soy sauce and pickled ginger.

These ekiben can be purchased at Hirosaki Station and Akitaya stores in Hirosaki City.

Noheji Station (“Eki Soba Paku Paku” in the station waiting room)

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``Paku Paku Torimeshi (600 yen)'' is made at the izakaya ``Yakitori Paku Paku'' in front of Noheji Station on the Aoimori Railway, and other items such as katsudon, noriben, and onigiri are also on sale.

Yakitori Paku Paku <Information>

Name: Yakitori Paku Paku
Address: 39-29 Kamikonakano, Noheji-cho, Kamikita-gun, Aomori Prefecture
Phone number: 0175-64-8939
URL: None

Google Map

Is it true that you can buy ekiben on Tsugaru Railway?

From the Aomori Prefecture tourist information site

Tsugaru Railway, popular for its winter stove trains, offers four types of seasonal ekiben available for pre-order.

Stove bento (1,150 yen: sold from December to March)
Sakura bento (1,150 yen: sold from April to May)
Dazai bento (1,150 yen: sold from June to August)
Inaho bento (1,150 yen: sold from September to November)

All ekiben are made with delicious rice from Tsugaru, and feature simple flavors such as local dishes and pickles.

Please check the Tsugaru Railway website for the contents of the bento box.

Tsugaru Railway <Information>

Name: Tsugaru Railway Co., Ltd.
Address: 39-39 Omachi, Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture
Phone number: 0173-34-2148
URL: Tsugaru Railway official homepage

Google Map

summary

Aomori Station, which used to be a lively gateway to Hokkaido with transfers to the Seikan Ferry, is now completely quiet, and ekiben sales ended in March 2021.

In addition to the companies introduced here that make ekiben in Aomori Prefecture, there are also Misawa-ya in Misawa City and Kofuku no Sushi Honpo in Aomori City, each of which makes new sushi bento boxes. You can purchase it at Aomori Station.