All About Japan All About Japan

Fresh start every Monday!

Better Know Your Bento Boxes

There are many different types of bento boxes that vary in shape and material, each with its own unique history.

Do You Know Your 4 (+1) Bento Types?

Over the decades, this staple of the Japanese culinary culture has developed its own customs and variants. While it’s impossible to count them all, here’s a brief introduction to the most common ones!

4 Ways to Get Bento Delivered in San Francisco

Say sayonara to delivery pizza—these SF restaurants deliver bento straight to you!

Our 4 Favorite Bento Channels

A well-done bento is truly a work of art, and a number of English-language YouTube channels have sprung up with the hope of teaching folks easy techniques for preparing a unique and tasty box.

12 Festive Bento for a Year of Holidays

We’ve compiled a list of 12 bento based on Japanese holidays and festivals, so be sure to mark the dates for these special lunches!

5 Books for Mastering Bento-making

Here are a few bento books that we think you’ll find helpful and inspiring!

All About Bento in Japanese Culture

From moms and their children to university students looking for a cheap meal, bento is a familiar presence at every stage of life in Japan.

Japan's Best Ekiben

Japan's regional cuisine hits the road—er, tracks—with "ekiben," or bento sold at train stations.

5 Ways Bento is Used to Communicate

From motherly love to a meal of vengeance, you can lift up the lid to uncover your message!

Where to Buy Bento Accessories in Japan

While the period before the start of school in April is the hot time for bento purchases, you can pick materials up at any time of the year at specialty shops.

Odate Bentwood Lunchboxes

Odate bentwood, or magewappa, is characteristic of the Odate region in Akita Prefecture.

know-before-you-go