A curious little beer snack: This sliver of processed cheese is sandwiched between strips of desiccated cuttlefish — a very unlikely combination but surprisingly tasty.
Gotemba was one of the best things we discovered this trip. Like Brandsmart, only way, way cooler.
For Naoki, Gotemba was also a first for him. We didn’t know what to expect. Would it be tragic like Brandsmart with European rejects from 8 seasons ago?
The journey to Gotemba from Osaka was also one of the worst trip ever. First, a train from Shinsaibashi to Osaka, then the Shinkansen to another state. From there, 2 train changes to Gotemba station, and then a shuttle bus to the shops. That’s nearly 4 hours of travel including transit.
What would one do with 4 hours of time to kill on the train? We would have blogged if we got a carriage with a power outlet, but no. We ate and drank so much along the way.
This would also be the first time I discovered the wonderful world of bento boxes and cheap beer.
Naoki's lunch bento
Each of these prettily packaged lunch boxes cost no more than 1,000¥ and taste better than a stupid Subway anytime. The last Sub I had would have been 3 years ago and I doubt it has changed much. It’s difficult to fathom how takeaway food can be this good and cheap and healthier too.
Justin's lunch bento
What would normally be selling only at “premium” restaurants from AUD8.50, this Yebisu in a can cost me just 320¥.
After the statisfying bento lunch and fishy cheese snack, we both dozed off. Only moments later, we were woken by the hostess on the train pushing the food trolley down the aisle. It was going to be a long journey. Eating and drinking is the only way to kill time so we bought sweets and iced tea from the hostess.
Another train station later with 20 minutes to kill, we ordered a 300¥ bowl of ramen each. So tasty and cheap it puts our ubiquitous kiosk ‘meat’ pie to shame. Each bowl made to order.
Ramen in a soy-based broth, topped with chikuwa, vegetable tempura and sliced scallions
Finally, we arrived at Gotemba station. Just one more shuttle bus to the shops. With 15 minutes to spare and no food stalls in sight, I just toyed around a little with my camera.
This coffee and curry shop is now an exhibition space.
I found a series of quirky ‘smoking etiquette’ ads at the station, that I have previously chanced upon on the net just a month ago here and here.
5 hours later, with hands full of shopping and a lighter wallet, we were glad decent food isn’t going to cost us an arm. More train station bento boxes. This would be a pre-dinner snack to keep us going while we made a 3 hour trip to Naoki’s parents’ home in Saitama.
Naoki's dinner bento
Justin's dinner bento
Each bento, I learned, (usually) came with a history on the box. Mine claimed to be a menu designed more then a 100 years ago, by some monk. This monk had exquisite tastes.
Here I am 2kg later, at Tokyo Station, waiting to take this bullet train to Saitama to meet Naoki's parents.