Tsuboya Bentobu
A Toyohashi-based Japanese ekiben and inari-sushi maker founded in the Meiji era, operating station shops and restaurants around Toyohashi Station.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
Tsuboya Bentobu (壺屋弁当部) is a Japanese food company based in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, best known for its ekiben (railway station boxed meals) and its signature Inari Sushi. The business traces its origins to the late Edo/early Meiji period, when its predecessor ran a shipping-agent house and a ryokan (Japanese inn) near the old Tōkaidō route by the Toyokawa River. Anticipating the arrival of the national railway, the family moved toward the station area and opened Tsuboya Ryokan; when Toyohashi Station opened, the company was authorized to operate inside the station, and from the late Meiji period it began selling Inari Sushi. In the Taishō era the food business separated from the inn and was named Tsuboya Bentobu, and in 1936 the limited partnership company Gōshi Kaisha Tsuboya Bentobu was formally established. The company's core business is the manufacture and sale of ekiben and related foods, together with station-area food service. According to its own corporate profile, its activities include operating within JR Central premises and business tie-ups with other JR companies, manufacturing and selling ekiben, selling ekiben and noodle dishes inside Toyohashi Station, and selling noodles outside the ticket gates at Toyokawa and Gamagōri stations. Its Inari Sushi is distinguished by a strongly seasoned, very sweet fried tofu (abura-age) simmered with plenty of zarame sugar and a broth that has been kept since the product's launch, with skilled craftsmen simmering the tofu thoroughly and rice balls being formed by hand every day. Over the decades Tsuboya Bentobu has released a long series of ekiben and sushi products, including Shiosai Okonomi Zushi, Mikawa Ro Bento, Anago Zushi, Kani Chirashi, Aji Meguri Irako, Dōchū Omusubi, Sansai Matsutake Meshi, Hirekatsu Bento, Tedzutsu Hanabi, Hanamatsuri Bento, Shiosai Chirashi, World Gourmet, Sanshoku Inari, Okonomi Inari, and the Iida Line Shin Hikyō Bento. It has also expanded its retail presence, opening Inari Sushi specialty shops under the name "Tsuboya" in Nagoya department stores such as Matsuzakaya, Maruei, Meitetsu Melsa, Nagoya Mitsukoshi Sakae main store, Meitetsu Department Store, and Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi main store in Tokyo. The company remains a private, family-style limited partnership company (gōshi kaisha) headquartered in Toyohashi, with Hiroshi Matsuo named as its representative. It continues to operate its main store and station businesses, and in recent years has carried out renewals of its Toyohashi Station udon operation and the Toyohashi Tsuboya Station Building. It also publishes notices about price revisions, reflecting its ongoing commercial activity.
History
The history of Tsuboya Bentobu is closely tied to the development of Toyohashi Station and the Tōkaidō railway. In 1888 (Meiji 21), the predecessor business operated a shipping-agent house (kaisō donya) and a料理 ryokan near Toyohashi on the old Tōkaidō at Funamachi, serving boatmen and travelers going up and down the Toyokawa River. Anticipating that the opening of the national railway's Tōkaidō Main Line would cause the old Tōkaidō route to decline, the family moved toward the station area and opened Tsuboya Ryokan. In 1889 (Meiji 22), following the opening of Toyohashi Station the previous year, the business was authorized to operate inside Toyohashi Station. From the late Meiji period it began selling Inari Sushi. In the Taishō era, the food business separated from Tsuboya Ryokan and was founded as Tsuboya Bentobu, with a store in Hanada Chūō-chō. In 1936 (Shōwa 11), Gōshi Kaisha Tsuboya Bentobu was established. In 1945 (Shōwa 20) the business was destroyed by war damage and was rebuilt after the war. In 1961 (Shōwa 36) a new company building was constructed in Toyohashi Shirakawa-chō. In 1964 (Shōwa 39), with the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, shops were opened on the up and down platforms, and a drive-in was opened in Toyohashi city. In 1967 (Shōwa 42), sushi restaurants were opened in Nagoya department stores (Matsuzakaya, Maruei, Meitetsu Melsa). In 1970 (Shōwa 45), a store opened in the Toyohashi Station Building. In 1979 (Shōwa 54), Shiosai Okonomi Zushi was developed and sold, and a Shinkansen 15th anniversary commemorative bento was launched. In 1980 (Shōwa 55), Mikawa Ro Bento was launched. In 1981 (Shōwa 56), Anago Zushi and Kani Chirashi were launched. In 1982 (Shōwa 57), Aji Meguri Irako was launched. In 1983 (Shōwa 58), Dōchū Omusubi was launched. In 1984 (Shōwa 59), Sansai Matsutake Meshi was launched. In 1986 (Shōwa 61), Hirekatsu Bento was launched. In 1987 (Shōwa 62), Tedzutsu Hanabi was launched. In 1988 (Shōwa 63), Hanamatsuri Bento was launched and Shiosai Chirashi was developed and sold. In 1992 (Heisei 3), World Gourmet was launched. In 1997 (Heisei 9), Toyohashi Station and the Toyohashi Station Building were renewed and reopened. In 2001 (Heisei 13), an Inari Sushi shop named "Tsuboya" opened in the Nagoya Mitsukoshi Sakae main store, and Sanshoku Inari was launched. In 2004 (Heisei 16), Okonomi Inari was launched. In 2006 (Heisei 18), an Inari Sushi shop named "Tsuboya" opened in the Meitetsu Department Store. In 2007 (Heisei 19), an Inari Sushi shop named "Tsuboya" opened in the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi main store. In 2011 (Heisei 23), the Iida Line Shin Hikyō Bento was launched. In 2015 (Heisei 27), the main factory of Gōshi Kaisha Tsuboya Bentobu was relocated. In 2019 (Heisei 31), the udon shop inside Toyohashi Station was renewed and reopened. In 2020 (Reiwa 2), the Toyohashi Tsuboya Station Building was renewed and reopened, and original products have been sold as appropriate since then. The company notes that Toyohashi is located in the southeastern part of Aichi Prefecture at the base of the Atsumi Peninsula, and that the Mikawa Port west of Toyohashi is known as one of Japan's leading automobile import/export ports. It also notes that Toyokawa Inari, one of Japan's three great Inari shrines, is located there; because the first president of the manufacturer, founded in Meiji 22, was a devoted believer, Inari Sushi was born. Toyokawa Inari is also famous as a deity of prosperous business. Inari Sushi is named after the fox, the messenger of the Inari deity, which is said to love abura-age (fried tofu); tofu abura-age came to be offered to the Inari deity, and because it mainly uses that tofu abura-age it came to be called Inari Sushi or Kitsune Sushi, familiar to ordinary people. The origin of Inari Sushi is said to date to the Tenpō famine.
- 2006
Opens Inari Sushi shop "Tsuboya" in the Meitetsu Department Store.
- 2004
Launches Okonomi Inari.
- 2001
Opens Inari Sushi shop "Tsuboya" in Nagoya Mitsukoshi Sakae main store; launches Sanshoku Inari.
- 1997
Toyohashi Station and the Toyohashi Station Building renewed and reopened.
- 1992
Launches World Gourmet.
- 1988
Launches Hanamatsuri Bento; develops and sells Shiosai Chirashi.
- 1987
Launches Tedzutsu Hanabi.
- 1986
Launches Hirekatsu Bento.
- 1984
Launches Sansai Matsutake Meshi.
- 1983
Launches Dōchū Omusubi.
Products and positioning
Traditional Toyohashi taste and ekiben culture, centered on hand-made Inari Sushi with a long-kept simmering broth.
Inari Sushi
Signature product with strongly seasoned, very sweet fried tofu simmered with plenty of zarame sugar and a broth kept since launch.
Shiosai Okonomi Zushi
Developed and sold in 1979.
Mikawa Ro Bento
Launched in 1980.
Anago Zushi
Launched in 1981.
Kani Chirashi
Launched in 1981.
Aji Meguri Irako
Launched in 1982.
Dōchū Omusubi
Launched in 1983.
Sansai Matsutake Meshi
Launched in 1984.
Hirekatsu Bento
Launched in 1986.
Tedzutsu Hanabi
Launched in 1987.
Hanamatsuri Bento
Launched in 1988.
Shiosai Chirashi
Developed and sold in 1988.
World Gourmet
Launched in 1992.
Sanshoku Inari
Launched in 2001.
Okonomi Inari
Launched in 2004.
Iida Line Shin Hikyō Bento
Launched in 2011.
Sources3 sources
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