Izutsuya to Withdraw from the Station Bento Business at Maibara Station

Izutsuya announced it will end its station bento business on March 20.

The company, established in 1854, has been selling station bentos at Maibara Station since the Tokaido Line fully opened in 1889. Among its famous bentos is “The Story of Kita-Biwako,” wrapped in arabesque-patterned furoshiki and featuring seasonal ingredients in the okowa (glutinous rice).

Izutsuya has always dedicated itself to pondering what truly makes a station bento the ideal travel companion, and what constitutes a unique local bento. “We aimed to deliver products that satisfy with selected tastes and carefully prepared flavors. However, today’s food culture celebrates entertainment and sees the spread of misconceived Japanese food culture, alongside an acceleration in the industrialization of food, which is slowly casting a shadow over the culture of handcrafted foods. We have deemed it inappropriate to continue leaving the Izutsuya DNA-inherited station bentos in such an environment. Furthermore, as Maibara no longer plays a pivotal role as a transportation hub, we believe we have fulfilled our role as operators within the station area, achieving satisfactory business performance. Unswayed by the changes of the times, Izutsuya has chosen the path it believes it should take, and will withdraw from the station bento business on March 20, 2027.”

Note that orders will conclude with the February 28 delivery.