A new way to get your hands on a popular souvenir at Shin Osaka.

There’s a good chance you’re in a hurry if you’re about to hop on the Shinkansen. After all, the bullet train network is generally the fastest option for long-distance travel in Japan, often even quicker than flying since it doesn’t require a time-consuming side trip to an out-of-the-way airport or lengthy check-in process.

And if you’ve got a full schedule of places to go and things to see, speedy snack procurement is also important, so now there’s a special Shinkansen platform vending machine in Osaka offering a popular local-flavor snack.

This bright yellow box at Shin Osaka Station is stocked with Osaka Ikaten, and for the uninitiated bears the in-English explanation that they’re “sea squid cradcker[s].” That might seem redundant, considering the lack of land squid in our world, but the “sea” part is probably included because these snacks are made by Bunkaku Sohonpo, a maker of seafood senbei (rice crackers) that’s been in business since 1899.

▼ Osaka Ikaten

Bunkaku Sohonpo is best known for their flagship Yukari brand of shrimp crackers, and shrimp are among the ingredients for Osaka Ikaten. The main draw here, though, is squid (ika in Japanese), which is accompanied by shiso (Japanese basil). Fans say the combination makes Osaka Ikaten deliciously flavorful, but without any harsh acridity that would give your taste buds mixed feelings about the eating experience.

Bunkaku Sohonpo is actually based in Nagoya, but when fans of their snacks in Osaka began asking for a special version, the company looked to Osaka’s food culture for inspiration. As a city of unabashed hearty eaters, Osaka has a number of foods it’s associated with, but ikayaki was the one that Bunkaku Sohonpo felt it could best honor with its particular kind of expertise. While in most parts of the country ikayaki simply refers to grilled squid, often served sliced and skewered, Osaka ikayaki is a little different, looking more like a folded squid dumpling or pancake.

Since its debut 11 years ago, Bunkaku Sohonpo’s Osaka Ikaten has become a popular souvenir among travelers in Osaka, and the Shin Osaka Station vending machine, which went into service last month, makes it even easier to pick up a pack either as soon as you arrive in the city or right before you leave. The machine is located on the platform shared by Lines 25 and 26, near where Car 9 of the Shinkansen trains stop, and offers a 12-pack of Osaka Ikaten for 950 yen (US$6) (cashless payment only). And if you’re looking for more unique vending machines in the same station, there’s another one just one platform over.

Source: PR Times
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: PR Times, Bunkaku Sohonpo, PR Times (2)
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