How to Travel Japan with Tip-Top Ease via Ekinaka

The majority of common travel woes can be solved at Ekinaka. For instance, if your smartphone needs a charge, you can purchase a charger at the convenience store or kiosk "NewDays." If you’ve got a hankering, you can find standing soba noodle shops on the platform while waiting for a train or buy drinks from vending machines mid-transfer. Doing away with travel troubles is one of the many reasons so many love Ekinaka. Not to mention, if you’ve got a Welcome Suica card from JR East on hand you’re ready for easy payment at Ekinaka, a hack that makes the going that much easier.

Cozy cafes are one thing, but at Ekinaka you’ll even find full on dishes, whether its shops serving Japanese, Western, Chinese, and ramen and more so you can squash an hanger pains and forget having to leave the station. For many, finding full-line up of famously good and even regional eats is what keeps so many coming back. For on-the-go goods, the every popular “eki-ben” (train station bento box) is one beloved bit of goodness that you can find here before jumping on the bullet train.

Ekinaka often houses shops selling local specialties, so that you can pick up any last minute souvenirs right before hopping on the bullet train or train to the airport. Stations that serve as transfer points to major Shinkansen lines or airports often have large shopping areas within Ekinaka, so you'll never have trouble finding a souvenir shop. You may even say there’s so many that it’s hard to choose!

acure vending machines, about 8,000 in total, are primarily located at stations in the Kanto and Tohoku regions. They accept transportation based e-money systems like Suica, making it convenient to quickly purchase items while waiting for your train. Each vending machine offers a different lineup, making it interesting to see what's available during your travels. Acure's original product brand, "Acure Made," features the "Aomori Apple Series" with 100% straight fruit juice, using only apples as ingredients. This tasty little treat is made with an all-proprietary "enclosed press" method, where the apples are crushed and juiced in an oxygen-free environment, eliminating the need for any preservatives. The exact variety of apple changes with the seasons so its one fun little treat to come back and try again and again.

The Ekinaka convenience store "NewDays" offers a wide range of products, from onigiri, bread, and snacks to satisfy the smallest of pangs, to comms gadgets like mobile batteries, and daily necessities like toothbrushes. They also have a top-notch selection of seasonal and local specialty products. NewDays KIOSK, an evolved version of the traditional station kiosk, offers quick bites and drinks that can be enjoyed while waiting for trains or inside Shinkansen. Keep an eye out for campaigns featuring regional limited products. If you find yourself needing or wanting something, your first stop to check is NewDays.

Ekibenya Odori is the spot where you can shop for Ekiben (train station bento boxes) without the rush or hassle. Located on the first floor of Gransta Tokyo, an Ekinaka commercial facility in Tokyo Station near the Yaesu Central Exit ticket gates, it's conveniently positioned for grabbing a box just before boarding the Shinkansen. The store offers a wide variety of choices including traditional Makunouchi bento, pressed mackerel sushi, character bento, Shinkansen-shaped bento, and bento featuring regional ingredients and bites. They also stock the top 10 products from Ekibenya Matsuri Gransta Tokyo Store, Japan's largest Ekiben specialty store, and Tokyo Bento, a combination of flavors from 8 established Tokyo stores. It's a must-visit shop for snagging the best Ekiben, one of the joys of getting around by bullet train.
Not only can you use cashless payments at the counter, but you can also reserve via smartphone and pick up your order, making it possible to purchase Ekiben even when you're short on time.

This ramen shop is the go-to for vegans looking for noodles made without meat, seafood, eggs, or dairy. The visually vibrant menus are packed with vegetables and a flavor some sumptuous you may be surprised its completely plant-based. From reproducing bites with soy meat to various innovations and ideas, T's Tantan is dedicated to creating deliciousness that makes everyone smile. With shops inside Tokyo Station's Gransta Tokyo, Ueno Station's ecute Ueno, and inside the ticket gates of Ikebukuro Station, it's worth a visit when passing through.

Produced by Hakata Ippudo, the famous brand credited with putting local Fukuoka favorite, Hakata Ramen, on the map nationwide. This eclectic Tokyo born-and-bred menu lets you pick and choose your own noodle-tastic adventure from this mix-and-match Tonkotsu ramen menu. The classic "Tonkotsu Ramen" has a basic yet exquisite taste that you can always count on as the original taste. So many know and love this bowl for its famed pork-bone broth, full to the tippy top with umami, sweet and a cleanly finished meaty flavor. There are 10 shops that sit inside JR station walls, including Ikebukuro, Omiya, and Shinagawa Stations, so you can enjoy authentic tonkotsu ramen right in the station.

This restaurant recreates the interior of JR's dining cars that once traveled across Japan. Surrounded by sophisticated interior design, the restaurant offers a photogenic, elegant atmosphere, making it a symbolic dining spot in Tokyo Station. The kitchen, managed by chefs who once worked on dining cars of sleeper trains, serves Western-style dishes that have been beloved in Japan for over 80 years. It's an Ekinaka restaurant that railway enthusiasts should definitely visit.

A select shop for souvenirs and bento operating in three areas of Gransta Tokyo – the Central Passage Area, North Passage, and Kyobashi Street Area. The shop name, points at this spot’s penchant for hot items sure to add a little pizazz to your life, just like the brilliant flair from Hanagata-style actors on stage. Souvenirs include classic favorites like Tokyo Banana and Tokyo Hiyoko, as well as new brands of sweets and HANAGATAYA-exclusive Hanagata Souvenirs, offering a selection filled with Tokyo's local charm. This is also a great spot for picking up bento and snacks for the bullet train.

Gransta in Tokyo Station, the largest Ekinaka commercial facility operated by JR East, gathers various specialty shops, cafes, and restaurants from all over Japan. Inside you’ll find Gransta Tokyo, with shops both inside and outside the ticket gates, Gransta Marunouchi, and Gransta Yaesu North and Gransta Yaesu, located outside the gates. Each section is lined with its own set of incredibly worthwhile shops.

This Ekinaka commercial hub is packed to the gills with fun little discoveries. Inside you’ll find shops selling beloved items from each region, so you can find local specialties and souvenirs. "ecute" often includes restaurants and cafes, making it a great place to take a break or enjoy authentic gourmet during shopping. As the atmosphere of shops and facilities in ecute varies from station to station, it's interesting to compare the different ecutes. Visit the following seven stations' ecutes when you have the chance.

Tokyo Station, Japan's gateway, is arguably the best place to enjoy Ekinaka in Eastern Japan. All the facilities previously mentioned, such as Gransta, ecute, perfect souvenir shops like HANAGATAYA, the Ekiben shop Ekibenya Odori, and the vegan menu at T’s Tantan are located within Tokyo Station's Ekinaka. The Ekinaka of Tokyo Station alone offers enough to enjoy a whole day of shopping, gourmet dining, and souvenir hunting. As it's a hub connecting to the Tohoku, Hokuriku, and Tokai regions by Shinkansen and to various areas in Tokyo and Kanto by train, many tourists and travelers pass through Tokyo Station. If your next trip bring you through Tokyo Station, make sure to set aside time to enjoy the Ekinaka that waits inside.

Easily accessible from the airport, Ueno Station is a hub for tourists visiting Ueno, known for its zoo, museums, art galleries, famous Ueno Park with its cherry blossoms, and the bustling Ameyoko Shopping Street. Ueno Station houses NewDays, Acure vending machines, and ecute. ecute Ueno is located on the 3rd floor inside the station and on the 1st and 2nd floors outside the park exit. It's known for its design reminiscent of an art museum lobby and its deep connection with the local cultural facilities. There are many restaurants and cafes in ecute, perfect for a break or waiting for the bullet train. With plenty of shops like HANAGATAYA to buy souvenirs, it's recommended to stop by after touring Ueno and pick up unique local gifts.

Shinagawa Station, less than 30 minutes from Haneda Airport, is another frequent stop for Tokyo tourists. Not only is it accessible to popular Tokyo destinations like Asakusa, Shibuya, and Shinjuku within 30 minutes, but it's also a terminal station for the Tokaido Shinkansen, making it rich in Ekinaka facilities. ecute Shinagawa features cafes, restaurants, cosmetics, and general goods shops, perfect for both gourmet dining and shopping. You can also pick up last-minute souvenirs at HANAGATAYA or enjoy authentic Tonkotsu ramen at "TOKYO Tonkotsu BASE MADE by Hakata Ippudo."

A major terminal station boasting about 3.5 million passengers daily, served by lines like the Yamanote, Chuo, Keio, and Odakyu lines, connecting to Tokyo and its surrounding tourist destinations. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that almost every tourist in Tokyo will visit Shinjuku Station at some point. Its complex and vast interior can even confuse locals. Its Ekinaka facilities are well-developed, with 13 NewDays stores just inside Shinjuku Station. Near the South Exit, there's Kusuri STATION, selling medicines including cold remedies, painkillers, and stomach medicines, as well as painkillers sold overseas. With translation devices available, it's accessible even for those who don't speak Japanese. Outside and inside Shinjuku Station, the commercial facility NEWoMan, catering to all women living in a new era, offers a variety of shops selling quality items and dining options.

As the departure and arrival point for Akihabara, a globally famous hub for anime, manga, and other subcultures, Akihabara Station offers an experience like none other. The subculture charm is even evident in its Ekinaka, such as Ken Ele Stand Akihabara Store, a capsule toy shop for adults with over 150 types of Gachapon machines - a feature unique to Akihabara Station. Akihabara is also known as a gourmet city, and its Ekinaka reflects this with features like food courts and Various kinds of milk can be enjoyed at the Milk Stand. Even within Ekinaka alone, you can enjoy authentic gourmet experiences.