Ekiben (駅弁, railway bento) are a specific type of bento boxed meals, sold on trains and at train stations in japan. they come with disposable chopsticks (when necessary) or spoons. ekiben containers can be made from plastic, wood, or ceramic. many train stations have become famous for their ekiben made from local food specialties (tokusanhin). ekiben were first sold in railway stations in the late 19th century, and developed at a time when meals on train were necessary during a long train journey. the popularity of ekiben reached a peak in the 1980s, but declined as air travel became more affordable and trains became faster. however, numerous types of ekiben can still be purchased at sta...

Source: Wikipedia