Eki-ben Returns to Aomori Station; Limited-Time Sales Begin October 1 The star of the show is “sujiko,” a symbol of Aomori’s joyful dining experiences!

~Revisiting Memories of Aomori’s Food and Travel: A Pilot Project to Reimagine the Culture of Station Bento~

2026.09.24 09:30

JIMOBEN SHOTEN(合同会社あおなび・青森県青森市)

JIMOBEN SHOTEN (Aonavi LLC, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture) will begin selling the limited-time, limited-quantity station bento “Aomori Sujiko Meshi” starting Thursday, October 1, 2026, at locations such as the East Exit concourse on the first floor of Aomori Station.The sales period runs from Thursday, October 1, 2026, to Saturday, October 31, 2026.

“Aomori Sujiko Meshi” features “sujiko”—one of Aomori’s iconic culinary traditions—as its star ingredient, encapsulating the region’s food, way of life, and memories of travel in a single bento box.

This sale is not merely the launch of a new ekiben. Under the theme of “Reimagining Aomori Station Culture,” it is a pilot project aimed at reimagining the ekiben culture of Aomori Station—which once welcomed and saw off travelers—for the modern era.

青森すじこめし

Aomori Sujiko Meshi

■Eki-ben had disappeared from Aomori Station…

In the past, ekiben were one of the joys of travel. People would buy a bento at the station before boarding the train and eat it while gazing out the window. They would savor the unique flavors of the region along the way. Ekiben were not merely “meals”; they were also a way to bring home the culture and memories of the places they visited.

However, today—not only at Aomori Station but everywhere—the environment surrounding ekiben has changed dramatically. As travel styles have evolved—with the Shinkansen, expressways, air travel, and private cars—opportunities to experience ekiben firsthand have become scarce.

At Aomori Station—the main station in the prefectural capital—the display case for station boxed lunches featuring Aomori specialties had stood empty since 2019, a sad reality.

So we thought: Aomori still has culinary treasures that haven’t been fully shared with travelers. If that’s the case, let’s reinterpret them as an ekiben and bring them back to Aomori Station. That’s how “Aomori Sujiko Meshi” was born.

現在の青森駅

Aomori Station Today

■This Was the Star!

The star of “Aomori Sujiko Meshi” is sujiko. In Aomori, sujiko has long been a beloved local delicacy, and the prefecture even boasts of having the highest consumption of sujiko in Japan. On the other hand, many people outside the prefecture are unfamiliar with “sujiko.”

That’s why, for this ekiben, we’ve placed sujiko squarely in the spotlight as the star, rather than a supporting role.

The rice is “Masshigura,” a variety grown in Aomori Prefecture. Centered around salted red salmon sujiko, the bento combines ingredients that evoke Aomori’s culinary culture, such as pickled Japanese mountain yam, glazed carrots, and dashimaki tamago (rolled omelet).

Our goal wasn’t simply to create a “bento packed with typical Aomori ingredients.” We aimed to create a bento that allows those who eat it to imagine the land of Aomori, even if just a little. And a bento whose taste you’ll want to talk about even after you return from your trip.

すじこがあれば、それで満足

If it has salmon roe, that’s enough

■ The “JIMOBEN” Philosophy

We view ekiben (station boxed lunches) as “invitations to regional culture.” Even foods that are commonplace for locals may represent a cultural discovery for travelers.

“Aomori Sujiko Meshi” is one attempt to create that encounter.

For this sale, we’ll have people who actually use Aomori Station try it and gauge their reactions. It’s not just about whether it sells—

“What about Aomori will leave a lasting impression on travelers?”

“Does the ekiben have the power to convey local culture?”

are also key objectives of this project, which is why we’ve named this initiative “JIMOBEN.”

JIMOBENのロゴ

The JIMOBEN Logo

■Bringing the culture of “ekiben” back to Aomori Station

Eki-ben are meant to be eaten while traveling. That is precisely why flavors that are taken for granted by local residents can become “travel memories” for travelers.

We hope that “Aomori Sujiko Meshi” will become a new travel memory for those who visit Aomori. Starting with this pilot project, we will explore the potential of delivering local food cultures—which are deeply rooted in the region—to travelers in the form of ekiben.

This was the star of the show! Why not make an Aomori ekiben one of the highlights and memories of your trip to Aomori?

青森すじこめしとパッケージ