Try Aomori's "Hitokuchidarake" Ekiben! Enjoy the local flavors on your trip!

For tourists visiting Aomori, one of the joys of the trip is enjoying ekiben (train station bento boxes). Among them, "Hitokuchi Darake" is a luxurious ekiben that allows you to savor small portions of Aomori's local cuisine. Its greatest appeal is that you can enjoy Aomori's food culture in just one bento box. It's also perfect for accompanying your Shinkansen (bullet train) journey, and can be purchased not only at Aomori Station and Hirosaki Station, but also at Tokyo Station. This article introduces the story behind the creation of "Hitokuchi Darake" and where you can buy it.

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What is "Hitokuchidarake"? Introducing the extravagant Tsugaru ekiben

Produced by Goshogawara City's "Tsugaru Side Dish"

in Goshogawara City, Aomori PrefectureTsugaru Souzai. Tsugaru Souzai has previously produced many ekiben (train station bento boxes) that incorporate local Aomori cuisine.

everythingbite-sized for easy eating, and every dish is prepared to be eaten in one bite. This makes it easy to eat on the train and ensures that you can enjoy it without getting bored until the very last bite.

During the prototype stage, there were 50 different side dishes!

Hitokuchi Darake was founded in 2016. Originally a delicatessen, it sold 10 types of ekiben, taking advantage of its manufacturing capabilities, but it ran into issues with the costs and time required

So they decided to create a new product by combining the side dishes that were included in each ekiben, but there were 50 different side dishes, which made it look bad. After much trial and error, they decided to put them in a high-quality chocolate box divided into 24 squares, but this time they struggled to choose 24 different side dishes. They chose dishes that were uniquely local and could be enjoyed with alcohol, and finally completed "Hitokuchi Darake."

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I actually tried it! A review of the flavor

Here are my impressions after actually eating "Hitokuchidarake"!

This is what it looks like when you open the lid. 24 different side dishes are lined up neatly

On the lid there was a menu, a towel, and disposable chopsticks. Since it's an ekiben, it's nice that it comes with a towel

Here is the menu. There is an explanation of each side dish, and you can see that they are all made with great care. This time, I will review the menu from the top left!

Let's start with the left half, which features rice dishes, meat dishes, and local cuisine

• The scallop rice
  looks like it would be lightly seasoned based on the color of the rice, but it actually has a fairly robust flavor. It would also be enjoyable as a snack with alcohol.
• Inari sushi
  is a bright red inari sushi eaten in the Tsugaru region. It contains chopped pickled ginger and has a nostalgic, old-fashioned taste.
• Clam rice:
  Aomori Prefecture is, of course, a famous production area for clams. The ginger flavor is prominent, but you can also taste the deliciousness of the clams.
• Wakame Onigiri
  : Rice balls made with young kelp, a favorite of Osamu Dazai. The chewy texture of the young kelp is interesting.
• Kuwayaki
  is a common grilled chicken dish, but it remains tender and easy to eat even when cold.
• Beef Ribs Grilled
  : Bara-yaki, a local specialty of Towada, is characterized by its sweet seasoning. It's a flavor that makes you want rice, but it would also go well with alcohol.
• the pork marinated in
  人気調味料の源タレ味噌味が使われており、ニンニクの風味が強め。
• the Gyugen Tare Roast
  豚みそ漬に続き、源タレを使用されたおかず。こちらもニンニクの風味が強く、お酒も米も進む味付けです。
• Sushiko
  is a traditional Tsugaru dish. Despite its vibrant purplish-pink color, you'll be surprised by its mild flavor.
• Red salmon sushi is
  a preserved food commonly eaten in snowy regions. It has a mild sourness, making it easy for children to eat.
• Pickled Red Turnips
  昔ながらの赤かぶの漬物。箸休めにもってこい！
• mustard
  辛子漬けですが、からしの風味が弱め。ポリポリとした食感が心地いい。

The right half features dishes such as simmered dishes and those made with local scallops

• Miso Oden:
  When it comes to oden in Aomori, ginger miso is a must! It's impressive that they included this on the menu.
• Four types of simmered dishes
  : standard simmered dishes.
• This homemade
  omelet has a dashi (broth) flavor. While it's on the firmer side, the rich flavor makes it a great snack.
• Chrysanthemum salad
  is a staple food not only in Aomori but throughout the Tohoku region. Because it's a blanched dish, you can directly experience the flavor of the chrysanthemum.
• Boiled
  scallops are a specialty of Aomori, and their sweet seasoning makes them a nice palate cleanser.
• Eggplant wrapped in shiso leaves
  is another local dish from Tsugaru. It's usually eaten from summer to autumn, so it's great to be able to enjoy it as a bento box at the train station.
• Fried scallops.
  Choosing fried scallops instead of scallop fritters shows that this is truly a region famous for scallops. It has a different kind of deliciousness compared to fried scallops.
• Chicken
  grilled with salt and a special sauce. Like the kuwayaki, it remains tender even when cold and is very filling due to its generous portion size.
• Pumpkin mochi
  is perfect for when you're craving something sweet. Its simple flavor lets you really taste the pumpkin.
• Kuroishi Yakisoba:
  When you think of Kuroishi, you think of yakisoba, right? The thick noodles coated in sauce are incredibly appetizing.
• scallop
  sushi with vinegar, there was no other vinegared dish, which left me feeling unsatisfied. If I had eaten it with the blanched chrysanthemum greens, it might have made an instant vinegared dish...
• Squid
  cutlets are becoming a nationwide phenomenon. Their size, overflowing from the dividers, gave them an overwhelming presence among the 24 varieties.

Where can you buy "Hitokuchi Darake"?

Hitokuchidarake can be purchased at Aomori Station, Hirosaki Station, and Tokyo Station. It's a convenient place to stop by before boarding the Shinkansen, and is sold at the kiosks and bento corners inside the stations. At Aomori Station and Hirosaki Station in particular, it's popular with both tourists and locals, and it's not uncommon for it to sell out

At Tokyo Station, they are sold to passengers on the Tohoku Shinkansen, making it a rare opportunity to enjoy "Hitokuchi Darake" without having to go to Aomori. However, since the number of tickets available is limited, it is recommended to go early if you want to be sure to buy one

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summary

"Hitokuchi Darake" is a special ekiben that allows you to enjoy Aomori's local cuisine in small portions. This ekiben, developed by Yoshidaya, is imbued with the desire to "share Aomori's food culture with travelers." Packed with 24 different dishes, each bite-sized and easy to eat, it's perfect for traveling. It can be purchased at Aomori Station, Hirosaki Station, and Tokyo Station, so be sure to pick one up when traveling by Shinkansen. Why not savor the flavors of Aomori and deepen your travel memories?

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