Japanese ‘Ekiben’ Bento Boxes to Debut at Zurich Central Station in 2025

A unique collaboration between three renowned Japanese food companies will bring Japan’s iconic “ekiben” bento box meals to Switzerland for the first time.

Hanazen Co., Maneki Foods Co., and Matsuura Shoten Co. have formed the “Ekiben World Team,” a consortium that will introduce a variety of traditional Japanese train station meals to the international market. This exciting initiative will launch at Zurich Central Station from February 6 to 27, 2025.

The “ekiben” is a beloved part of Japanese culture, traditionally sold at kiosks across train stations, where passengers often enjoy these meals during intercity shinkansen train journeys. Each bento box typically features a combination of rice, protein, and vegetables, offering a convenient and nutritious option for travelers.

Shuichi Yagihashi, the president of Hanazen and the chair of the consortium, emphasized that Zurich Central Station was selected due to its reputation as a highly efficient European railway hub.

“Transfers happen quickly at Zurich, with most connections completed within 30 minutes,” Yagihashi explained. “Takeout meals have become increasingly popular due to the fast pace of modern travel, where people don’t always have time to sit down at a restaurant.”

The pop-up store at Zurich will feature six different ekiben varieties, two from each participating company. Hanazen will offer its popular chicken rice dish, Maneki Foods will bring a beef rice option, and Matsuura Shoten will serve shrimp tempura rice balls.

The prices for these meals will range from 12 Swiss francs ($14) to 22.5 Swiss francs each, offering Swiss consumers a chance to try a true taste of Japan.

The companies are committed to sourcing ingredients locally, but they will ship rice from Japan to preserve the authenticity of the meals.

This decision is particularly important as the consortium aims to test how the cold chain process, which is vital for food preservation, impacts the rice’s taste and quality.

Yagihashi further explained that this venture marks the first step toward the consortium’s broader goal of globalizing the ekiben experience. The companies envision eventually exporting frozen bento boxes to countries around the world.

“Advances in freezing technology mean that when these meals are thawed using specialized equipment, they are virtually indistinguishable from freshly made ones,” Yagihashi noted. “Even professionals like us can’t tell the difference.”

This marks an exciting expansion for the Ekiben World Team, which previously launched a pop-up store at Paris’ Gare de Lyon station in 2021.

The move to Zurich is part of the companies’ continued effort to bring the joy of Japan’s famous bento boxes to international audiences, with a focus on convenience, quality, and local preferences.

As the consortium continues its push to take ekiben to the global stage, it is clear that their commitment to authenticity, innovation, and local adaptation will play a key role in expanding the reach of Japan’s beloved train station meals.