Frequently asked questions

-What do the “S”, “M”  “L” and “XL” sizes for the bento boxes mean?

Size S indicates bento boxes with a holding capacity smaller than 500ml. They are appropriate for children or people with small appetites. They can also be used for snacks or as a supplementary bento box.

Size M indicates bento boxes with a holding capacity between 500 and 780ml. Many of them have two compartments, one of which is designed to hold rice (or another carbohydrate such as pasta.) Size M boxes are appropriate for most adults and older children. 

Size L indicates bento boxes with a holding capacity between 780 and 1000 ml. These are bento boxes for people with hearty appetites. If this still seems to small for you, consider the XL sized bento boxes...!

Size XL bento boxes are boxes intended to be used by 2 or more people, though of course they could be used by a single person for a very generous lunch! They are ideal for picnics, parties and so on. 

-How are the prices of Bento&co products calculated?

Bento&co deals directly with the manufacturers or artisans who make the products sold on the website. We don’t deal with middlemen or intermediaries as is sometimes the case with some other online shops or sellers on auction sites.
We make an effort to keep prices as low as possible, despite the bad currency exchange rates in effect currently when it comes to the yen. Our prices are very close to the prices at which the same products are sold in shops in Japan.

-Can you tell me more about shipping and delivery costs, and customs tariffs?

You can find all the information on the Shipping and Delivery page.

-In what currency are the prices on Bento&co listed? 

All prices on Bento&co are listed in Euro. You can easily calculate the approximate amount in your own currency in Google Search, by entering for example "30 euro in usd" (for US dollars) in the search box. Here's an example. We've also added a handy link to the Google Currency Converter on each product listing page. 

-Where are you located? Where will my order be shipped from?

We are located in the beautiful Imperial City of Kyoto, Japan, and your order will be shipped directly from here. (Read more about us.)

-Are the bento boxes you sell of high quality?

Oh absolutely! All of the bento boxes we carry are made in Japan, by highly skilled artisans with many years of experience. (See a blog post by Thomas (in French only, unfortunately!) of a bento factory  tour here.) Please note that some of the bento accessories we carry are designed in Japan and are manufactured elsewhere, to exacting standards. 

-What are the bento boxes made of? Are they safe? 

We clearly indicate what the boxes and accessories we sell are made of in the product descriptions. Everything is absolutely food-safe (they have very strict regulations here in Japan!) However, please pay attention to the Care instructions, especially whether they are microwave or dishwasher safe or not. Do not attempt to try to microwave a bento box unless it is indicated as being microwave-safe! 

-I'm trying to avoid plastic containers. Do you have non-plastic alternatives? 

We carry several non-plastic bento boxes. Check out our durable metal (especially the stainless steel) bento boxes, as well as our beautiful wooden boxes. Most of the latter kind are works of art as well as being practical bento boxes! Note that stainless steel boxes usually have a thin leak-resistant silicone seal around their lids, which makes them very practical. Some stainless steel boxes have plastic side containers and/or lids. 

-Can bento boxes be re-heated in a microwave oven?

Some bento boxes are microwave-safe, and some are not. This all depends on what material the bento box is made with. This is indicated in the product description for each item. We also include instructions in English with each box. 

-Why don't you carry more bento boxes with cute characters such as Hello Kitty on them, or anime/manga designs? 

We have nothing against cute-kawaii characters (see our nesting Miffy box set as an example). However, our first priority is quality, and so far we really haven't been able to find many character or anime-themed bento boxes that meet our exacting standards. Too many such boxes are made of inferior materials that may get damaged easily. We prefer to offer our customers boxes that are practical, easy to maintain, long-lasting, beautiful, and preferably made in Japan by manufacturers and artisans with standards that are as high as ours. 

-Do you offer discounts? 

Yes we do! If you order at least one bento box from Bento&co, and then send us (or post online and send us the link for) a nice photo of a bento meal that is packed in a box you purchased from us, we will send you a 10% discount code good for your next Bento&co purchase! (Please note that the discount code is valid for up to one month after it is issued, and can only be used by the person to whom it is issued.)

-Where can I find recipes for bento boxes?

We have listed some of our favorite bento related sites and blogs, as well as some bento cookbooks in English and other languages, on our Links page.

-Is there a Bento&co community?

Yes, of course! You’ll find us on Facebook. You can also follow us on Twitter.