[Yamagata Prefecture] Proud ekiben from 6 prefectures in Tohoku! Introducing the top 5 recommended ekiben in Yamagata Prefecture

Daiwa Consilio
2023.01.10
Last updated: 2024.07.18

table of contents

1 What is Ekiben?
2 Top 5 recommended ekiben in Yamagata prefecture!
3 Here are the stations where you can buy ekiben in Yamagata Prefecture!
4 As an extra recommendation, how about "Toge no Chikaramochi"?
5 summary
6 Proud Ekiben from 6 Tohoku prefectures! series

When you hear of Yamagata Station's ekiben, the first thing that comes to mind is Beef Domanchu, which is now popular nationwide.

Is this good on top of the prefecture-produced rice “Domannaka”? This is a bento box filled with beef.

In Yamagata Prefecture, beef is so beloved that it is even used in the local dish of imoni, but there are also delicious rice varieties such as Koshihikari, and here we will introduce Yamagata's delicious ekiben.

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 Yamagata prefecture!

From Matsukawa Bento Shop official website

Ekiben from Yamagata Prefecture, where Yonezawa beef and Yamagata beef are famous throughout the country, are mostly beef-based and are popular for their unique flavors.

In particular, at Yonezawa Station, there are two companies that make ekiben, and there are so many bentos on sale that you'll be spoiled for choice.

Beef Domanchu (1,350 yen: Shinkiniya)

This ekiben was released when the Yamagata Shinkansen line opened, and even if you're not a railway fan, you've probably heard of it.

A bed of fluffy prefecture-produced rice called ``Domannaka'' is topped with moistly stewed beef and minced beef with a delicious special sauce.

The main flavor is soy sauce, but the ``shio'', which is seasoned with minced meat in a salt sauce, and the ``miso'', which is a miso sauce, are also said to be delicious. You can also enjoy different flavors with the tamagoyaki, kamaboko, boiled sweet potatoes, boiled carrots, and herring wrapped in kelp.

Shinkiniya＜Information＞

Name: Shinkinaya
Address: 3-1-1 Higashi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 0238-22-1311
URL: Shinkiniya official website

Google Map

Charcoal-grilled Yonezawa Beef Special Kalbi Bento (1,750 yen: Matsukawa Bento Store)

This ekiben is a bit extravagant and full of volume, with special charcoal-grilled Yonezawa beef short ribs all over the place.

The more you chew, the more the flavor of Yonezawa beef fills your mouth, and the shumai that comes with it is a nice accent.

Reprint edition Yonezawa beef sukiyaki bento (1,300 yen: Matsukawa bento store)

From Matsukawa Bento Shop official website

Matsukawa Bento Shop's popular ekiben, which was sold in 1964, has been revived.

The traditional sukiyaki sauce used at the time is even more delicious, and the local, simple-tasting stews and pickles bring out the flavor of the Yonezawa beef.

Matsukawa bento shop <Information>

Name: Matsukawa bento store (station store)
Address: 2-1-29 Ekimae, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 080-4129-2770
URL: Matsukawa Bento Shop Official Website

Google Map

Yamagata beef beef lunch box (1,280 yen: Moriben)

This ekiben is made with Yamagata beef, which is considered to be a branded beef along with Yonezawa beef, and is deliciously simmered in the traditional sauce that has been used since Moriben's founding.

Kinshi tamago, fried egg, boiled burdock, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and garlic sprouts are included as chopstick rests.

Yamagata specialty Yamagata beef boiled lunch box (1,350 yen: Moriben)

Speaking of Yamagata's sole food, it is ``Imoni'', which is made in a large pot on the riverbank in autumn and enjoyed by a large number of people.

Even within the Tohoku region, the seasoning and meat differ depending on the region, but in Yamagata, the soy sauce-flavored one with beef is the standard.

However, the common thing is that the potatoes are taro, and in this ekiben, you can enjoy the taste of Yamagata beef stewed softly with seasoned taro and special sauce.

Moriben <Information>

Name: Moriben
Address: 17-8 Saiwaicho, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture Mori Bento Department
Phone number: 023-623-1380
URL: Moriben official website

Google Map

Here are the stations where you can buy ekiben in Yamagata Prefecture!

Ekiben from Yamagata Prefecture are sold at major stations on the Yamagata Shinkansen.

At each station, you can purchase bento boxes from Shinkiniya and Matsukawa bento shops in Yonezawa City, and Moriben in Yamagata City, but the types may be limited depending on the station, and this is said to have the most types. The station is Yonezawa Station.

Yonezawa Station (store inside the station building, ekiben store on the down platform, Shinkiniya direct sales store in front of the station)

Most types of bento from Matsukawa Bento and Shinkiniya are sold at shops inside the station.

Shinkiniya has a direct sales store in front of the station, and you can purchase it there as well.

Akayu Station (convenience store inside the station building)

You can buy Shinkiniya ekiben such as ``Beef Domannaka'' at NewDays in the waiting room of the station building, but be careful as the variety and quantity are limited.

Yamagata Station (station convenience store, "Souvenir Shop Yamagata" inside the station)

From the official website of JR East Tohoku General Service

Ekiben are sold at NewDays, which is located on the Metropolitan Yamagata passageway in S-PAL Yamagata, and at Omiyage Doro Yamagata, which is located near the waiting room.

The main ekiben is from Moriben in Yamagata City, but you can also buy ekiben from Yonezawa.

Shinjo Station (convenience store inside the station, adjacent "Mogami Bussankan")

From the official website of Shinjo City, Yamagata Prefecture tourist information

In addition to selling bento boxes from Shinkiniya and Matsukawa Bento Shop at NewDays inside the station, you can also pre-order the following original bento boxes at Mogami Bussankan next to the station.

Yamagata beef sukiyaki bento: Lots of Yamagata beef with sukiyaki-style seasoning
Mogami Colorful Bento Kamigyo Monogatari: Shinjo-produced rice “Tsuyahime” packed with local ingredients

Mogami Products Center <Information>

Name: Mogami Bussankan
Address: 1-2 Tamoncho, Shinjo City, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 0233-28-8886
URL: Mogami Products Center

Google Map

As an extra recommendation, how about "Toge no Chikaramochi"?

View this post on Instagram
Onisan's Ekiben, a post shared by Eki Soba Diary (@kojimagyar185)

Toge no Chaya's ``Toge no Chikara Mochi'' is not an ekiben, but it is sold standing on the platform at Toge Station on the Ou Main Line, just like old ekiben.

It is sold to coincide with the time when local trains on the Ou Main Line stop at Toge Station, and it costs 1,000 yen for 8 pieces of red bean paste mochi. Standing at the stalls gives you a sense of the good old days of train travel, and it's a scene you'll want to preserve forever.

Tohoku Rokken trivia media: NEFT

[Yamagata Prefecture] Standing sales at stations that continue today | What is Yonezawa City's hidden specialty "Toge no Chikara Mochi"?

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/6959

Do you know about stand-up sales at stations? As the name suggests, standing sales is a style in which bento boxes and other items are sold on station platforms by vendors wearing banju (banju) around their necks. I'm sure some of you have seen it in old movies. There are some places where this station's standing sales still continue. This is Toge Station on the Ou Main Line, located in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. The Touge Chikaramochi that is sold there is a hidden specialty of Yonezawa City and has become one of the pleasures of train travel. In this article, we will introduce Chikaramochi from Toge. Daily life at Toge Station From Fukushima Station in Fukushima Prefecture, the Ou Main Line...

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Pass Chaya Chikaramochi＜Information＞

Name: Toge no Chaya Chikaramochi
Address: 848 Osawa, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
Phone number: 0238-34-2301
URL: Pass Chaya Chikaramochi

Google Map

summary

When JR East discontinued on-board sales in 2019, there was a time when ekiben were no longer sold at Shinjo Station, which used to carry ekiben from Yamagata Station and Yonezawa Station, but now, including local ekiben, etc. It is being revived.

Due to the development of the Shinkansen, the number of stations that sell ekiben is decreasing nationwide, but ekiben, which creates the atmosphere of travel, is something we would like to preserve for the future.