Eating out in Japan: at the station

Japan has a long tradition of eki-ben (駅弁) - literally "station packed lunches" - which consist of a tray of Japanese food, typically reflecting the local culinary tradition of the station's region. These are sold at the station or even on the train and are usually eaten cold.

But hey, if you're travelling in Japan for any length of time you get sick of all this traditional stuff and long for a good home cooked meal just like a vending machine would make it. Look no further than Shin Osaka Station.

For between about 300 and 500 yen a shot the discerning travelling gourmet has a choice of eight different "Hot Meals" - or possibly casual frozen ones - at any time of the day or night, except when the station is closed of course, and then you'll have to find a Lawson's with o-den bubbling away on the counter to satisfy your junk-food cravings. From top left:

• niku man (肉まん) - dumplings with a meat filling
• tako-yaki (たこ焼き) - fried octopus in batter
• tai-yaki (たい焼き) a sort of dough in the shape of a fish with a sweet filling
• yaki-soba (焼きそば)
• chicken and potato (チキン＆ポテト) - chicken with chips or fries
• fried potato (フライドポテト) - chips or fries
• hot dog (ホットドッグ) - sausage in a bun
• more hot dog (再びホットドッグ)
• o-nigiri (おにぎり) - rice balls

Seen at Shin Osaka Station, April 2002, on the concourse between the Shinkansen platforms and the JR West lines, if you really want to know.