Yeah, loved them on my first Japan trip - until I discovered other great food options, like food stalls at fish markets, tiny noodle shops, or sushi places where the chef makes sushi in front of you.

My own experience with bento was quite frustrating, because the first bento box I ever tried in japan had some kind of smoked(?) squid - amazingly tasty. No other bento I tried since ever came close - so at some point, I stopped trying.

Aren't the same bento boxes available at supermarkets etc. for about half the price anyway?