Chishang Bento Museum

Bento culture is a dining habit only existing in Taiwan and Japan, and the railway bento is the major reason that draws quite a few foreign visitors to Taiwan. But for locals, it is the Chishang Bento that stays closer to people's life. Sold everywhere in Taiwan, the bento surrounded by four wooden slips boasts the great rice grown in Chishang, Taitung County, and a slice of pork. Open its cover, the heat of rice rises, along with a faint aroma coming from the wooden slips. Chishang, Taitung, features excellent soil and water, a stable climate, an altitude of 250 meters, and a valley terrain that has a wide temperature difference between day and night. Therefore, the rice cultivated in Chishang has a special aroma and texture with a hint of sweetness. That explains why the rice grown in the area was a tribute for the Japanese emperor when the Japanese still ruled Taiwan.

If you're traveling in the East Rift Valley during lunch hours, have an authentic bento at Chishang Lunchbox Museum. Meanwhile, get a better understanding of the rice we usually eat. It would absolutely be a better option than buying some microwave food at a convenience store. Once you reach the entrance gate, you'll see a disused train carriage parked on a section of railroad. You can sit on the nearby chairs, which are the same as the old ones in the train. Without a ticket, you can bring a bento into the carriage to bring back the memories of old commuting days. In the museum, there is a restaurant decorated like a rural house in the past, where you can find round tables and stools, a coir raincoat, and a conical hat. On the second floor, there are a threshing machine and farm tools. There is even a room decorated like a primary school classroom. Bring your bento along, seated yourself in the small class furniture, and enjoy the flavor bit by bit.