Ekiben

The train system in Japan is amazing. It is clean, on-time, and extensive. Even when it is difficult, the station staff are helpful when they can be and clear when they cannot be. 

On the subway, there is no eating or drinking - a change for those of us who eat breakfast on the T most mornings. But for longer trips, many strains offer meals to be purchased for eating on the train. These are ekiben: train station (eki) bento (ben).

Here's my railroad themed ekiben from Nikko to Tokyo (plus a yuzu beer):

And my seasonal ekiben from Kyoto to Tokyo:

Colin's Kyoto-Tokyo meal came with a chemical heating pack that warmed his gyuudon but not his tsukemono (pickles)!