Chocolate Tourism in Japan
Many of the best chocolatiers in the world have flocked to offer their wares in Japan. Indeed, many have made Japan their only overseas base! Not to be outdone, a number of excellent local chocolate makers compete for the sweet tooth of the Japanese.
OSAKA
Palet D'Or
Location: Inside the Osaka Garden City shopping complexAddress: Herbis Plaza Ent 4F, Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan
Type of experience: chocolate cafe and boutique
Details: The Palet D'Or cafe offers a range of chocolate tasting set menu items, including chocolate cakes and handmade chocolates, and chocolate drinks, both hot and cold. Their boutique next door sells an even wider variety of chocolates to take away.
Note: The website is only available in Japanese
TOKYO
100% Chocolate Cafe
Address: Kyobashi 2-4-16, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, JapanType of experience: specialist chocolate cafe
Details: The 100% Chocolate Cafe is run by Meiji, a large chocolate company that has its HQ in the same building. It offers various sponge cakes (with a choice of fresh chocolate frostings), chocolate cakes, chocolate icecreams, a chocolate tasting set, chocolate drinks and 56 varieties of chocolate, including 22 single-origin chocolates, individually boxed and colour-coded. The longest wall of the cafe is decorated with tubs filled with the 56 chocolate varieties.
Note: The website is only available in Japanese
External reviews: SuperFuture
Michel Chaudun
Address: Matsuzaka Ginza B1, 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, JapanType of experience: chocolate cafe and boutique
Details: Michel Chaudun, the Paris chocolatier, has a chocolate boutique and cafe tucked tidily away in a corner of the basement of the Matsuzaka Ginza department store. This is one of only two places to buy his chocolates outside of Paris (and the other is also in Tokyo!). The cafe offers four kinds of thick chocolate drinks, a wide variety of chocolate cakes, fondant chocolat dishes and other goodies.
Note: The website is only available in Japanese
Wako Chocolate Salon
Address: Ginza 4-4-5, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, JapanType of experience: specialist chocolate cafe
Details: Wako department store operates a stand-alone chocolate cafe, serving chocolate-themed treats from icecreams to cakes and drinks. Their chocolate workshop is on the premises, sending the smell of fresh chocolate drifting across the cafe.
Note: The website is only available in Japanese
ELSEWHERE IN JAPAN
Shiroi Koibito Park Hokkaido
Location: Sapporo, HokkaidoType of experience: chocolate factory, cafe and park
Details: Shiroi Koibito are a famous white chocolate/biscuit confection from Hokkaido. Visitors to the park can view the factory in operation, and children can participate in chocolate and cake-making workshops. The Chocolate Lounge cafe serves chocolate fondue, chocolate drinks and icecreams in an antique surrounding. There is also a rose garden with a mechanical clock that operates a procession of wind-up dolls once an hour.
Note: The website is only available in Japanese