Bento box lunches are a good value for the money. Many travelers contemplating travel to Japan are dismayed by the high cost of dining. The bento box lunch is a compact container of food for a fixed price. The smart tourist enjoys nutritious meals and save funds at the same time.

The Japanese lunch box has a long tradition in Japan. In the past, field workers, warriors and travelers carried their meals in containers. The bento box was a convenient way to carry food.

Today’s bento box is a simple and convenient way to have meals away from home. There are multiple courses, each in a separate section, in one box. They are eaten at work, school and picnics. Think of the value meal from McDonald’s without the calories.

The major staple of the bento box is rice. There are sections of vegetable, and meat or fish. A piece of fruit, strawberry, pineapple or tangerine, for dessert completes the meal. There is a sushi bento available consisting of seafood and rice. The sushi bento may contain tuna, crab, squid, salmon or eel. Also, Chinese or Western style bento box lunches are for sale.

Bento boxes can be found everywhere. The department stores, and supermarkets and convenience stores(7Eleven, Lawson, etc.)carry these delicious and attractive meals. The convenience stores are open twenty-four hours and will microwave the bento. Also, many restaurants offer a bento takeout for all meals not just for lunch. Ekiben, station bento, are available at train stations and on the train itself.

Going to Japan on a budget, remember bento boxes as an option. They are a great way to sample Japanese cuisine as they contain a variety of foods cooked different ways.

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