Salon du Chocolat
If you love sweets — chocolate in particular — Japan in the weeks before Valentine’s Day is definitely a great place to be. Ever since chocolate makers in Japan managed to make it a widespread tradition for women to give chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day, it’s become an annual event to see chocolates being sold at shops everywhere starting in late January, with numerous special promotions and appearances by “celebrity chocolatiers” to heighten the excitement leading up to the big V-day.
Yes, for chocolate lovers, it’s a blissful time of year — there’s nothing quite like stepping into a department store and seeing a huge space filled with chocolates of all shapes and sizes while being surrounded by the rich, earthy scent of cacao. But now that Valentine’s Day is over, we may be developing a case of the post-Valentine’s blues, so to console ourselves, we’ve put together a collection of photos showcasing some of the most memorable chocolate items we saw this Valentine’s season in Japan.
Many of our readers have probably guessed that Japan has a passion for chocolate. But each year in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, which is when women in Japan customarily give men gifts of chocolate, that passion has a tendency to turn into outright frenzy. Spend time in Japan before Valentine’s Day, and you’ll see countless special chocolate products and dedicated vending areas in every shopping mall and department store. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the Valentine chocolate madness has now officially begun in Japan, and what better place to experience the excitement than Tokyo’s own production of the world’s biggest chocolate festival, the Salon du Chocolat? Join us on a tour of the event and see what all the sweet fuss is about — if you’re a chocolate lover, you just might think you’ve died and gone to chocolate heaven!



Studio Ghibli adds new Kiki’s Delivery Service music box to its anime merchandise shop in Japan
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Popular Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran’s lucky bags are great value for money
KFC Japan opens a Christmas restaurant in Tokyo…but why???
Chinese government’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning has heartwarming non-effect on Yokohama Chinatown
A whole slew of Totoro Christmas cakes are on their way to make the season extra merry【Photos】
Famous Japanese painter’s centuries-old cat artwork proves Japan has always loved felines
Psyduck teapot produced by Japanese craftspeople is here to serve up a headache-soothing cuppa
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Mr. Sato is in fish heaven after tasting the freshly grilled mackerel at a market in Fukui
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
Studio Ghibli stamps lift your spirits with motivational phrases from Totoro
New fish discovered and named “Vanderhorstia supersaiyan” for obvious reasons
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Tokyo hotel lets you make your stay a Sanrio one with special My Melody and Kuromi rooms【Pics】
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
A whole slew of Totoro Christmas cakes are on their way to make the season extra merry【Photos】
Famous Japanese painter’s centuries-old cat artwork proves Japan has always loved felines
Psyduck teapot produced by Japanese craftspeople is here to serve up a headache-soothing cuppa
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Mr. Sato is in fish heaven after tasting the freshly grilled mackerel at a market in Fukui
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
New poster shows live-action Attack on Titan’s Titan, who’s double the size of his anime version
Godzilla-shaped ice cream on sale in Tokyo near the sight his most adorable rampage
Foreign tourist in Japan arrested for having sex on shrine grounds in broad daylight
Big, drunk and furry—Everything you need to know about tanuki (plus a song about their balls!)
Hello Kitty goes back to the ‘90s for Sanrio’s kogyaru schoolgirl collection【Photos】
W.T.F. Japan: Top 5 confusing Japanese hand gestures【Weird Top Five】
Japan’s Shinkansen trains are getting a Super Mario makeover【Pics】