Complete Your Tokaido Shinkansen Trip with PLUSTA: 18 Popular Ekiben and Souvenirs from Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka
If you want to shop efficiently even with limited time before boarding the Tokaido Shinkansen, the in-station shop PLUSTA is a convenient choice.
PLUSTA carries a full range of items needed for a Shinkansen trip, including ekiben, or train station bento, souvenirs, and drinks, and its appeal lies in the fact that many shops are located inside the ticket gates or near platforms, making it easy to stop by right before boarding.
It operates mainly at major stations such as Tokyo Station, Nagoya Station, and Shin-Osaka Station, making it ideal not only for tourists but also for business travelers.
This article provides a complete introduction to PLUSTA, from its features and recommended ways to use it to popular products.
3 Types of PLUSTA to Choose by Purpose
PLUSTA is an in-station shop brand operated by the JR Central Group, offering highly convenient shops for Shinkansen passengers.
It has many locations mainly at major Tokaido Shinkansen stations, including Tokyo Station, Shinagawa Station, Shin-Yokohama Station, Nagoya Station, Kyoto Station, and Shin-Osaka Station, as well as conventional line stations.
The shops are divided into three types according to purpose: the general-style PLUSTA, which also carries daily necessities and drinks; PLUSTA Gift, which specializes in souvenirs; and PLUSTA Bento, which offers a strong lineup of ekiben and light meals.
It is a reliable companion for travelers, providing what they need even during a short stop before boarding.
So Convenient: 3 Appeals of PLUSTA
Before boarding the Shinkansen, have you ever felt that you wanted to buy ekiben or souvenirs but did not have much time?
In moments like that, PLUSTA is a reliable shop that can be used easily inside the station.
A major feature is that many shops are located inside the ticket gates or near Shinkansen platforms, allowing travelers to shop efficiently even in a short amount of time.
Here are three convenient appeals of PLUSTA that help you make the most of the limited time before departure.
1. Open from Early Morning to Late Night
Many PLUSTA shops are open from around the first Shinkansen departures until close to the last trains, so they can be used with peace of mind even for early-morning departures or late-night travel.
A major appeal is that they can be used regardless of the time of day, whether you want to buy coffee or a light meal before a business trip, or pick up souvenirs before heading home.
2. Locations Close to Ticket Gates and Shinkansen Platforms
Many PLUSTA shops are located near ticket gates or on platforms, making them easy to stop by even with only a little time before boarding.
Because they are located along passenger routes, there is no need to go out of your way, allowing you to shop efficiently even when you do not have much time.
3. Travel Essentials and Local Products in One Place
PLUSTA offers a wide range of products, from drinks and ekiben to popular sweets from different regions, limited-edition souvenirs, and Shinkansen goods.
It also sells useful items for long journeys, such as ice cups, as well as daily necessities such as tissues and masks, making it highly convenient because everything you need is available in one place.
3 Representative PLUSTA Shops in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Shin-Osaka
Each PLUSTA shop has different features, so the key is to choose one according to your purpose.
Here are three representative shops at Tokyo Station, Nagoya Station, and Shin-Osaka Station, along with their features.
By choosing a shop that matches how you want to use it, you can shop efficiently even with limited time.
1. Tokyo Station｜A Large Shop with a Wide Selection of Almost Everything
PLUSTA Tokyo Yaesu Chuo at Tokyo Station is a large shop that carries a wide range of products, from ekiben and souvenirs to daily necessities.
The sales floor is spacious and organized by genre, making it easy to compare multiple products while choosing.
It also offers a rich selection of Tokyo souvenirs, and another appeal is that you can purchase standard items such as TOKYO BANANA all in one place.
It is perfect for those who want to get everything they need before departure in one place, as well as those who want to compare products carefully before choosing.
2. Nagoya Station｜An Efficient Shop in Front of the Ticket Gates
PLUSTA Nagoya Chuo at Nagoya Station is located in front of the Central Gate for conventional lines and can be used from outside the ticket gates.
Its shop layout separates the food and drink area from the souvenir area, making it easy to find the products you need and choose smoothly.
Centered on Nagoya souvenirs, the shop also brings together ekiben, light meals, and drinks in one place, allowing you to shop efficiently even in a short time. It is suitable for those who want to prepare everything they need before departure.
3. Shin-Osaka Station｜A Food-Focused Shop with a Strong Ekiben Lineup
PLUSTA Shin-Osaka Shinkansen Central Gate Inside at Shin-Osaka Station is a shop with a strong lineup of ekiben and light meals featuring Kansai gourmet flavors.
Because it is located along the route inside the ticket gates, it is easy to stop by right before boarding.
It offers many filling items such as beef rice and meat-based bento boxes, making it suitable for those who want to fully enjoy a meal during their journey.
You can also choose Osaka souvenirs together with your meal, so enjoy a satisfying shopping experience even in a short amount of time.
9 Popular PLUSTA Ekiben to Buy Before Boarding the Shinkansen
If you want to quickly choose ekiben before boarding the Shinkansen, PLUSTA is convenient.
Its appeal lies in the fact that shops are located inside ticket gates or near platforms, allowing you to purchase smoothly as part of your travel flow.
Tokyo Station, Nagoya Station, and Shin-Osaka Station each offer popular ekiben that let you enjoy the flavors of their respective regions.
Here are three carefully selected popular ekiben available at PLUSTA at each station.
Find a dish that will make your travel time more enjoyable.
3 Popular Ekiben at Tokyo Station
Tokyo Station offers a wide selection of ekiben, from seafood options to classic makunouchi bento, making it appealing for those who want plenty of choices.
They can be purchased at PLUSTA shops inside the ticket gates or near platforms, making them easy to pick up smoothly before boarding.
Here are some especially popular items selected from the many ekiben available.
1. Shinagawa Shellfish Bento, a Seafood Bento Rich in Shellfish Umami
This bento is inspired by Shinagawa, an area that has long had a close connection with the sea.
It features shellfish rice made with plenty of shellfish, including scallops, clams, asari clams, shijimi clams, and scallop adductor muscles.
2. Fukagawa Meshi Clam Rice Bento, a Classic Dish with Edo Flavor
This dish features rice full of the umami of asari clams, topped with simmered asari clams and grilled conger eel.
The set also includes items such as bettara-zuke pickles, which is another nice touch.
3. Nihonbashi Makunouchi Bento, Packed with Edo Food Culture and Many Side Dishes
This makunouchi bento is packed with side dishes, centered on salted grilled coho salmon.
It is an assortment inspired by Edo food culture, including tempura and simmered asari clams.
3 Popular Ekiben at Nagoya Station
Nagoya Station offers ekiben that let you casually enjoy Nagoya specialties.
Its appeal lies in the ability to easily taste local flavors such as hitsumabushi, grilled eel over rice, and miso katsu, pork cutlet with miso sauce.
They can be purchased at PLUSTA shops on Shinkansen platforms or inside the ticket gates, making it easy to choose efficiently even in a short time.
Here are popular ekiben that let you feel the character of Nagoya.
1. Hitsumabushi-Style Futomaki Roll, an Easy Way to Enjoy Hitsumabushi-Style Flavor
Nagoya specialty hitsumabushi is turned into a nori-wrapped sushi roll.
Enjoy it as it is first, then change the flavor with grated wasabi and Japanese pepper.
2. Plump Shrimp Tempura Tenmusu, a Bite-Sized Taste of a Nagoya Specialty
This rice ball wraps shrimp tempura seasoned with cooking sauce in salted rice and nori seaweed.
Enjoy this Nagoya specialty together with the accompanying kyara-buki simmered butterbur.
3. Dera-Atsui Miso Katsu Bento, with Rich Miso Sauce That Stimulates the Appetite
This is a bento featuring Nagoya specialty miso katsu.
Thick-cut loin tonkatsu made with Sangen pork pairs perfectly with a Hatcho miso-based sauce supervised by the long-established Nagoya yoshoku, or Japanese-style Western restaurant, Nadai Tonkatsu Yachiyo Ajisei.
3 Popular Ekiben at Shin-Osaka Station
Shin-Osaka Station offers many ekiben packed with Kansai gourmet flavors.
They are characterized by high meal satisfaction, with hearty meat-based bento boxes and local menu items.
They can be purchased at PLUSTA shops inside Shinkansen ticket gates or on platforms, making them easy to stop by right before boarding.
Here are popular ekiben that let you fully enjoy a meal while traveling.
1. Naniwa Mansai Bento, a Luxurious Bento That Lets You Enjoy Kansai Flavors All at Once
This bento brings together the best of Osaka and Naniwa gourmet foods.
It includes local menu items such as takoyaki octopus balls, beef kushikatsu deep-fried skewers, and red pickled ginger tempura.
2. Omi Beef Rice Bento, a Luxurious Bento for Savoring the Umami of Brand-Name Beef
This luxurious bento uses Omi Beef, a brand-name beef from Shiga.
The beef is finished fragrantly with charred soy sauce, creating a light yet rich flavor.
3. Charcoal-Grilled Beef Kalbi Rice Box, with Fragrant Sauce and Beef Umami
This hearty yakiniku bento has an appetizing charcoal-grilled aroma.
By finishing the beef kalbi over charcoal, guests can fully savor the umami of the meat.
9 Popular PLUSTA Souvenirs You Will Definitely Want to Take Home
When choosing souvenirs before boarding the Shinkansen, the key is to understand the characteristics of each station.
Tokyo Station, Nagoya Station, and Shin-Osaka Station each differ in product selection and ease of choosing, so you can use them according to your purpose.
Here are three carefully selected popular souvenirs from each station.
3 Popular Souvenirs Available at Tokyo Station
Tokyo Station offers a wide variety of souvenirs.
Its selection ranges from classics to trending items, making it suitable for those who want to compare several products before choosing.
Here are especially popular souvenirs selected from the many available options.
1. TOKYO BANANA Original Flavor, a Classic Sweet Popular for Its Fluffy Texture and Gentle Sweetness
TOKYO BANANA is a hugely popular classic Tokyo souvenir.
Inside the soft, fluffy sponge cake is smooth banana custard cream made by carefully straining bananas.
The sweet, gentle aroma of banana spreads throughout your mouth.
2. TOKYO BANANA Brulee Tart, with an Appealing Crisp, Fragrant Brulee Finish
TOKYO BANANA Brulee Tart offers an irresistible crisp and creamy texture.
A cream scented with banana custard and a smooth, bittersweet caramel sauce are tucked inside a TOKYO BANANA-shaped chocolate tart.
It is a special TOKYO BANANA treat finished with a crisp brulee surface over flame.
3. Tokyo Tamago Gomatamago, a Japanese-Western Sweet Combining Rich Sesame and White Chocolate
This cute egg-shaped sweet wraps black sesame paste and chestnut sesame bean paste in castella sponge and coats it with white chocolate.
The visual impact of the jet-black sesame filling appearing from the egg shape is also striking.
3 Popular Souvenirs Available at Nagoya Station
Nagoya Station makes it easy to purchase Nagoya specialties.
Standard products are carefully selected, making them easy to choose without hesitation even in a short time.
Here are carefully selected popular souvenirs that let you feel the character of Nagoya.
1. Yukari Shrimp Crackers, a Classic Nagoya Senbei Packed with Shrimp Umami
This is one of Nagoya’s representative specialties.
Using tradition and techniques dating back to the Edo period, fresh shrimp meat is carefully grilled to create a deeply fragrant flavor.
2. Akafuku Mochi, an Ise Specialty with Soft Mochi and Refined Bean Paste
Akafuku Mochi is shaped to represent the ripples of the Isuzu River, which flows through the sacred grounds of Ise Jingu Shrine.
It is a historic Ise specialty with more than 300 years of history.
3. Ogura Toast Langue de Chat, a Fragrant Sweet Inspired by a Nagoya Specialty
This thin langue de chat cookie is inspired by Nagoya specialty Ogura toast.
Its Ogura-an sweet red bean paste-flavored chocolate and crisp texture are what make it popular.
3 Popular Souvenirs Available at Shin-Osaka Station
Shin-Osaka Station offers a lineup of unique Kansai-style souvenirs.
Its appeal lies in the variety, from sweet to savory items, allowing you to choose according to your taste.
Here are carefully selected popular souvenirs.
1. Takopatie, with a Light Texture and Addictive Sweet-Savory Flavor
This sweet was created by a pastry chef in pursuit of the traditional Osaka flavor of takoyaki.
In addition to classic takoyaki flavors such as sauce, aonori seaweed flakes, and bonito flakes, it also uses walnuts, caramelized sugar, and other pastry chef-style touches to create a flavor you have never experienced before.
2. Milk Manju Tsukigesho, a Japanese Sweet Bun Rich in Butter and Milk
This smooth, gentle milk manju is made with white bean paste blended with Hokkaido-grown kidney beans, enriched with flavorful condensed milk and plenty of Hokkaido butter, then baked to a moist finish.
3. Osaka Ikaten, with the Fragrance and Umami of Squid
This seafood senbei rice cracker combines the rich umami of fresh wild squid with the refreshing aroma and color of Japanese-grown green shiso.
It is a product that lets you experience the true flavor of Osaka.
3 Tips for Comfortable Shopping at PLUSTA
Even with limited time before boarding the Shinkansen, a few small tips can make shopping smoother.
Here are three tips for using PLUSTA more conveniently.
1. Make One-Stop Purchases Before Boarding
Since ekiben, souvenirs, drinks, and daily necessities can all be purchased in one place, it is efficient to buy everything together before entering the ticket gates.
By preparing the items you need during your trip in advance, you can relax after boarding.
2. Save Time with Cashless Payments
PLUSTA accepts credit cards, transportation IC cards, and various types of e-money, allowing smooth payment.
By using self-checkout or contactless payment, you can make purchases quickly even when the shop is crowded.
3. Check Products in Advance
If you check product availability and shop information in advance on official websites such as JR-PLUS, you can choose without hesitation on-site.
Because this helps you shop efficiently even with limited time, it is worth using as part of your preparation before departure.
Frequently Asked Questions About PLUSTA
Q
Is tax-free shopping available?
A
Tax-free service is available at PLUSTA Tokyo Yaesu Chuo. It is not available at all shops, so checking in advance is recommended when visiting other locations.
Q
Can I use credit cards?
A
Yes. They can also be used together with transportation IC cards.
Q
Can I buy ekiben at any time of day?
A
Items may sell out depending on the time of day, so purchasing earlier is a safer choice.
Summary
PLUSTA is an in-station shop where travelers can shop efficiently even with limited time before boarding the Shinkansen.
Its appeal lies in its high convenience, with shops located inside ticket gates or near platforms, allowing travelers to pick up ekiben, souvenirs, drinks, and more all at once.
Because PLUSTA operates at major stations, including Tokyo Station, Nagoya Station, and Shin-Osaka Station, it is easy to use in any area.
When you want to make effective use of the few minutes before departure, be sure to use PLUSTA.