There is a delicious bento shop called Hokka Hokka Tei on the way from Utazu Station to the Shikoku Aquarium

On the 9th day of our 10-day, 9-night self-driving trip in Shikoku, we had breakfast at Shodoshima International Hotel before heading to Tonosho Port to catch a ferry back to Takamatsu. After dropping off our luggage at Toyoko INN Takamatsu Hyogomachi, we planned to visit the Shikoku Aquarium.

On the walk from Utazu Station to the aquarium, we came across a delicious bento shop called Hokka Hokka Tei(ほっかほっか亭).

The photo above shows us refueling at a gas station near Tonosho Port, right after returning our rental car to ORIX Shodoshima, before boarding the ferry back to Takamatsu. While waiting for the ferry, we also took a look at one of the Setouchi Triennale art installations nearby, titled “Gift of The Sun”

After arriving at Takamatsu Port, we left our light overnight bags (from our 2-day, 1-night stay on Shodoshima) at Toyoko INN Takamatsu Hyogomachi. Since we’d be staying there that night, we got ready for our visit to the Shikoku Aquarium, taking the JR Yosan Line from Takamatsu Station to Utazu Station.

Our afternoon plan was to visit the aquarium, and from Utazu Station, it’s about a 12-minute walk. Around lunchtime, we passed by a shop with a bright yellow-orange sign featuring large “お弁当” (bento) letters—this was Hokka Hokka Tei(ほっかほっか亭).

It’s rare to see a bento shop like this in Japan, so we were curious about how Japanese bentos compare to the ones we have in Taiwan. Their display window had plastic models of the bentos, which made it easier for us to choose. We ordered their featured Shio Buta Don (Salted Pork Rice Bowl) from the sign at the front counter, and to our surprise, it was incredibly delicious. We also got a Tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet).

The three of us shared the Shio Buta Don, Tamagoyaki, and a Teriyaki Pork Rice Bowl, which we enjoyed in the shop. Everything was so tasty. Later that evening, after finishing our visit to the Shikoku Aquarium, we walked back to Utazu Station and took a photo of the shop’s exterior from across the street. It was our first time trying a bento shop like this in Japan, and it left a deep impression on us.