Valentine's Day in Japan

Valentine’s Day (February 14th) is celebrated in Japan every year not just by couples, but also between friends and families.

The one thing about Valentine’s Day, in Japan, that is probably uncommon in other countries is that women give presents to men. The custom of a woman or girl giving chocolate as a gift to a man or boy that they like started around the 1950s in Japan. While the holiday is thought to be somewhat romantic, there are also many people who give chocolate to their colleagues and bosses regardless of gender or romantic feelings. This is considered as the “obligatory chocolate (Giri-choko)” and the feelings behind it is of maintaining a good relationship with people who take care of you.

Japan also celebrates “White Day” on March 14th one month after Valentine’s Day which is a chance for men to give back to women with nice gifts. Traditionally on this day if a man likes a woman who he previously received chocolate from, he would give her a present three times the value of the chocolate (or present) to show that he reciprocates her feelings.

You can also purchase some of these chocolates mentioned below online via Amazon Japan.

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Recommended shops to buy Valentine's Day Chocolate

Starting from the end of January, sections of department and retail stores have pop-up shops selling an assortment of chocolate gifts. During this time, many luxury chocolate brands are also sold in unique packaging. Even if you don’t plan on giving them for a gift, these high quality specialty chocolates are only seen once a year so it recommended that you give them a try yourself.

In Department Stores (like Mitsukoshi, Isetan, Marui, etc.) Valentine’s Day sweets from many popular brands and sweets shops are displayed nicely in glass cases. It can be fun to stop by a department store, if you have time, just to observe the cute and creative sweets made especially for Valentine’s Day. If you are unsure about where to find Valentine’s chocolate, we recommend you to go to your nearest department store for a wide selection.

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DelRey

Ginza Store: Ginza MC Building 1F 5-9-19 Ginza Chuo-ku Tokyo

http://www.delrey.co.jp/

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JEAN PAUL HEVIN

Isetan Shinjuku Store: Isetan Shinjuku Honten B1 3-14-1 Shinjuku Shinjuku-ku Tokyo
Omotesando Hills Store: Omotesando Hills Honkan 1F 4-12-10 Jingumae Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Tokyo Mid-town Store: Tokyo Mid-Town Galleria B1 9-7-4 Akasaka Minato-ku Tokyo
Mitsukoshi Ginza Store: Ginza Mitsukoshi B2 4-6-16 Ginza Chuo-ku Tokyo

http://www.jph-japon.co.jp/

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LADUREE Paris

Ginza Store: Ginza Mitsukoshi 2F 4-6-16 Ginza Chuo-ku Tokyo
Shinjuku Store: Shinjuku Lumine 2 1F 3-38-2 Shinjuku-ku Tokyo
Yokohama store: 2-18-1 Takashima Yokohama-shi Kanagawa pref.

https://www.laduree.jp/

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LA MAISON DU CHOCOLAT

Shinjuku Odakyu Store: Odakyu Hyakka-ten Shinjuku Honten B2 1-1-3 Nishi Shinjuku Shinjuku-ku Tokyo
Aoyama Store: 3-10-8 Kita Aoyama Minato-ku Tokyo
Marunouchi Store: Shinkokusai Building 1F 3-4-1 Marunouchi Chiyoda-ku Tokyo
Matsuya Ginza Store: Matsuya Ginza 1F 3-6-1 Ginza Chuo-ku Tokyo
Roppongi Hills Store: Roppongi Hills West Walk 2F 6-10-1 Roppongi Minato-ku Tokyo

http://www.lamaisonduchocolat.co.jp/ja_jp/

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Leonidas

Omotesando Store: 5-2-15 Jingumae Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Akasaka Store: 3-9-18 Akasaka Minato-ku Tokyo
Ginza Store: 2-4-2 Ginza Chuo-ku Tokyo
Daikanyama Store: 1-35-14 Ebisu-nishi Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Azabujuban Store: 3-10-2 Azabu-juban Minato-ku Tokyo
Ebisu store: 1-7-11 Ebisu Shibuya-ku Tokyo

http://www.leonidas-alex.jp/

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Lindt

Ginza Store: 7-6-12 Ginza Chuo-ku Tokyo
Omotesando Store: 3-5-22 Kitaaoyama Minato-ku Tokyo
Shibuya Store: 1-25-6 Shibuya Shibuya-ku Tokyo

http://www.lindt.jp/fs/lindt/c/valentines

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Mitsukoshi

Nihombashimuromachi Store: 1-4-1 Nihombashimuromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Ginza Mitsukoshi Store: 4-6-16 Ginza Chuo-ku Tokyo

https://www.mitsukoshi.mistore.jp/

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PERRE MARCOLINI

Ginza Store: 5-5-8 Ginza Chuo-ku Tokyo
Shibuya Store: Shibuya Hikarie ShinQs B2 2-21-1 Shibuya Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Shinjuku Store: NEWoMan Shinjuku 5-24-55 Sendagaya Shibuya-ku Tokyo

https://pierremarcolini.jp/

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Tokyo Midtown

Address: 9-7-1 Akasaka Minato-ku Tokyo

http://www.tokyo-midtown.com/jp/

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You may be also interested in reading:

・International Supermarkets in Tokyo

・Online Grocery Shopping in Japan

・Amazon Japan: How to Shop and Order in English