New Yorkers are going to be treated to a bounty of Japanese food and culture this March as Japan Week, a public-private partnership that promotes Japanese culture, food and beverages to encourage travel to Japan, announced that Japanese Restaurant Week will take place in New York City from March 4 to 18 with 35 restaurants participating.

This year’s theme will be the regional cuisines of Japan and many of the participating restaurants will be serving “ekiben” bento boxes that include local Japanese dishes. Ekiben are sold at railway train stations in Japan and by replicating local dishes from 21 prefectures, these restaurants will enable guests to take a culinary tour of Japan while still in the Big Apple. Their prices range from $12 to $25. The bento boxes will also be available for purchase at Grand Central Terminal during Japan Week on March 19 to 21.

Throughout Manhattan, the participating Japanese restaurants, in alphabetical order, are Aburiya Kinnosuke, Aki on West 4th, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Cha-An, CURRY-YA, Donguri, Greenwich Grill, Go Go Curry, Hakata Tonton, Hakubai / Kitano Hotel, Hasaki, Hatsuhana, High-Collar, Kubo-chan Ramen, Kyotofu, Marumi, Megu Midtown, Misoya, Ootoya, Rai Rai Ken, Restaurant Nippon, Robataya, Ronin, Sakagura, Sake Bar Decibel, Shimizu, Soba Koh, Soba-ya, Sunrise Mart, Sushi Ann, Sushi Azabu, Sushiden Madison Ave., Sushiden 6th Ave., Tori Shin and Wasan. Additional details on the menu items and pricing will be posted to japanweek.us.

More Japan tourism and travel information, including brochures, will be available at each participating restaurant to enable diners to learn more about the regions of Japan where the dishes and beverages they are savoring originate. In addition, diners will be encouraged to upload photos of the food and drinks enjoyed during Japanese Restaurant Week to Japan Week’s Facebook page, and share short essays about their experience at the restaurants and express their desire to visit Japan in person.

Delta Air Lines, which has a nonstop New York to Tokyo flight, will award one complimentary round-trip New York to Tokyo airline ticket to the most inspiring essay writer. Founded in 2012, Japan Week is a cooperative effort between the Japan Tourism Agency and diverse businesses.