Founded in 1966, “Chikusen” is a catering restaurant specializing in handcrafted dishes made carefully, one by one, using local ingredients…

Founded in 1966, “Chikusen” is a catering restaurant specializing in handcrafted dishes made carefully, one by one, using local ingredients.

The locally sourced bento boxes include seasonal bento, makunouchi bento, Enshu specialty bento, and Hamana Lake eel bento, among others.

Including hors d’oeuvres, the menu offers around 100 different items.

For 58 years since its founding, the second-generation owner, Mr. Akihiko Kimata, has preserved the restaurant’s traditional flavors.

Following the founder’s motto, “Taste is Heart, Seeking True Deliciousness,” he delivers the best of Enshu’s local ingredients to many people through his carefully prepared bento boxes.

Chikusen’s Commitment

“Hamamatsu is blessed with mountains, rivers, lakes, and the sea, offering a wealth of delicious seasonal ingredients throughout the year,” says Mr. Akihiko Kimata, second-generation owner of Chikusen.

Hamamatsu offers a rich variety of delicious local ingredients, from eel and seafood like shirasu and fugu from the Enshu Sea, and oysters from Lake Hamana, to meats such as Mikkabi beef, Hamanako Mochi pork, and Kosai pork, as well as vegetables like onions, komatsuna, and Unagiimo.

Mr. Kimata is committed to using local ingredients because he wants people to appreciate the excellence of Hamamatsu’s food.

By actively incorporating these local ingredients into his “locally sourced” bento boxes, he aims to share the richness of the region’s produce with as many people as possible.

In addition to ingredients, Chikusen also pays close attention to seasonings, using many products from local manufacturers.

Top left: Torii Sauce Top right: Powdered Hamana Natto Center: Powdered Hamana Natto

Chikusen’s flavors are supported by delicious local seasonings, including Torii Sauce, full of vegetable umami; Hamana Natto from Yamaya Soy Sauce, said to be one of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s secrets to longevity; salted koji made using the traditional method from Kato Soy Sauce; and Tengu Sansho from Haruno Town, which lets you enjoy the full bounty of nature.

Hamamatsu’s Famous Karaage Bento
Enjoy four distinct flavors: Torii Sauce, Hamana Natto from Yamaya Soy Sauce, salted koji from Kato Soy Sauce, and Tengu Sansho from Haruno Town.

Popular Bento Box Rankings

Chikusen offers a wide variety of bento boxes, and here are three of the most popular choices.

1st place – Makunouchi Bento: Yaramaika Gozen

This Makunouchi bento offers a well-balanced selection of fish, meat, and vegetables.

2nd Place – Enshu Specialty Bento: Enshu-nada Shirasu Bento

Fresh shirasu (whitebait) caught at Maisaka Port is generously served over rice, with Hamana Lake nori adding a flavorful accent.

This bento lets you enjoy the aroma of the sea.

3rd Place – Hamamatsu Power Food: “What Happened, Ieyasu? Battle of Mikatagahara Bento”

This bento features Hamamatsu Power Foods—seasonal ingredients from the Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana area that once supported Tokugawa Ieyasu.

It includes Hamamatsu vegetables with Mikabi beef sukiyaki and Koshu wine beef yakiniku.

Both are so delicious that it’s impossible to declare a winner in this culinary battle!

A Hot Topic Bento! “Tono’s Select: 2023 Hamamatsu Festival Samurai Parade Commemorative Bento”

This special bento was supervised by Mr. Jun Matsumoto, the lead actor in the 2023 NHK historical drama “What Will You Do, Ieyasu?” (Dōsuru Ieyasu).

It was originally prepared as a treat for participants in the samurai parade at the Hamamatsu Festival, and has since been adapted into this much-talked-about bento!

The main dishes feature Hamamatsu’s signature power foods—eel, shirasu (whitebait), and Mikabi beef.

This bento is a delicious way to experience the excellence of local ingredients.

Chikusen Flavors Delivered Nationwide ☆ “Shizuoka Festival Bento” Gourmet Delivery

Launched in 2019, the Shizuoka Festival Bento is a frozen bento series made with delicious ingredients from across Shizuoka Prefecture.

Thanks to the latest freezing technology, these bentos are flash-frozen at –30°C, preserving their freshly made taste and quality even when reheated in the microwave.

Just heat for three and a half minutes at 600W, and you’ll have a piping hot, delicious bento ready to enjoy ☆

The series also features donburi bowls topped with Shizuoka’s finest ingredients, such as oysters and eel from Lake Hamana, conger pike and shirasu (whitebait) from Enshu-nada, Mikabi beef, and splendid alfonsino.

They make the perfect gift—or a special treat for yourself!

Starting this fall, the lineup will welcome a new addition: a pork bowl made with Kosai Pork, a specialty of Kosai City.

Order “Shizuoka Festival Bento” and other gourmet selections here: https://www.chikusen-shop.com/

A Message from President Mr. Kimata

We have been committed to using more local ingredients and providing healthy, delicious catering bentos for our community.

We strive to support the health of our community by offering catering bentos that are not only delicious but also nutritionally balanced.

Chikusen aims to be a beloved local bento shop and will continue to dedicate itself to creating healthy and delicious bentos that actively incorporate Hamamatsu’s signature power foods.

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How did you like it?

This time’s spotlight features Chikusen, a long-established catering bento specialist.

Be sure to check out their official website!

Chikusen Co., Ltd.

■ Hamakita Store

Address: 4257 Uchino, Hamakita-ku, Hamamatsu-shi

Phone: 053-586-5123

FAX: 0-53-586-6046

■ Hamamatsu Office

Address: 1-25-13 Johoku, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu-shi

Phone: 053-472-9623

Hours: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Orders accepted 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM)

How to Order

Bentos must be ordered at least 3 days in advance, with a minimum of 5 per item.

Phone: 053-586-5123

Order hours: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Official website: https://www.chikusen.jp/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiku_sen/ 

Photo credit: Chikusen