Valentine’s Day is fast approaching! Moreover, boxes of delicately wrapped chocolates are popping up all over the city! If it’s your first Valentine’s Day in Japan, you may wonder where to buy the best chocolates for your friends, family, and loved ones. Below I’ve compiled my top recommendations, so last-minute shopping stress is the last thing your mind.

For Chocolate in a Pinch: Supermarkets and Conbini

If you’ve run out of time and need something quick, visit your local supermarket and explore the dedicated omiyage area by the registers. Usually, during Valentine’s Day and other events, supermarkets offer the most popular chocolates at great prices. You can find brands like Mary’s Chocolate, considered a classic in Japan. Just make sure you don’t buy the same box year after year as I did, or your partner will start to notice!

For those who frequent convenience stores, you may have already noticed Valentine’s Day chocolates displayed at the front of each store in the past few weeks. Some conbini even have collaboration chocolates with limited edition tins and boxes that can only be bought on-site! For example, this year 7/11 offers luxe brands like Godiva, Morozoff, and Bonior Kyoto! For about 2,000 yen, you’ll get beautifully wrapped chocolates with a fancy bag included with the purchase! So, if you’re in a pinch for time and need a box of chocolates on the fly, run to the nearest convenience store!

For Niche Chocolate: Plaza, Loft, and Character Shops

If time isn’t an issue, don’t forget to peruse your nearest shopping mall. Here you may find some of the best Valentine’s sweets in the most unexpected places. Plaza and Loft carry hard-to-find international goods year-round however, during the weeks before Valentine’s Day, both stores stock up on some of the cutest and most memorable boxes of Chocolate you can find!

Plaza is best known for its selection of niche chocolates. Here you can find sweets in themes that match your giftee’s hobbies. My favorites include the chocolate carpenter tool set, the towering Riter Mini Meter, and the Perfect Man chocolate. The stationary store Loft is another great place to find fun Valentine’s Day goods. Loft’s seasonal Sweet Sweets Party has collaborated with brands such as Lotte to create a delicious lineup of chocolates and merchandise decorated with its nostalgic 1964 design! Fans of retro packaging will swoon at these tempting treats!

For those wanting to find the perfect character-themed box of chocolates, keep tabs on your favorite store’s website for any announcements on limited releases. If unable to order online, stop by your favorite shop a week or two before Valentine’s Day to snag a themed box. In the past, I’ve had luck finding themed boxes at the Pokemon Center, Sanio, and Kiddyland.

Go the Traditional Route: Brick-and-Mortar Chocolate Shops

 

For fans of traditional chocolate shops, you’re in luck. Tokyo has plenty of fine chocolate brands to choose from. Godiva, one of the most well-known chocolate brands, has quite a few stand-alone stores throughout Tokyo. This year’s Valentine’s Day Collection has an assortment of mouth-watering morsels. Arguably one of the cutest boxes of chocolate to come out of Godiva in years is this 6-piece Animal Crossing box.

Another solid Valentines Day chocolate choice is Lindt, a swiss chocolate brand that has a great selection of decadent truffles that make great gifts for any occasion. This year Lint’s Valentine’s Day selection is packed with tasting sets, gift bags, and classic chocolate boxes. You can purchase from Lindt online, although I enjoy visiting the brick-and-mortar shops. With around 20 shops in Tokyo, you won’t have to trek far to find a great gift.

Don’t forget Depachika

Depachika, or the basement level of department stores, allows you to purchase all your Valentine’s Day treats with the convenience of only having to go to one place! If you haven’t visited the basement level of your favorite department store in Japan, make sure to get yourself over there pronto! These basement levels are similar to food halls. Scattered throughout the floor you’ll find various “mini-shops” or counters selling all different types of sweets and foods! If your Valentine isn’t into chocolate, this is the place to score a chocolate alternative. There’s something for everyone here: cookies, cakes, wafers, Japanese sweets, bento, fancy rice crackers, and more! My favorite department stores include Isetan Shinjuku and Takashimaya Nihombashi.

 

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