A Sweet Escape: Daimaru Kobe’s ‘Kyukyoryuchi Valentine’ Event
Starting January 21st and running until February 14th, 2026, Daimaru Kobe will host its annual ‘Kyukyoryuchi Valentine’ event. This eagerly anticipated occasion brings together a curated selection of chocolates and sweets, focusing on both regional specialties and exciting new trends. Visitors can explore the Main Building’s 9th-floor Event Hall, a special escalator venue, and a vibrant pop-up space on the 1st floor, each offering distinct delights.
This year’s event is structured around key themes: the beloved ‘KOBE Galerie’ showcasing the finest patissiers from Kobe and Hyogo, and the ‘OYATSU’ zone, dedicated to instantly gratifying treats like donuts, financiers, and gelato. A significant highlight is the abundance of Daimaru Kobe exclusive items and brands making their debut, ensuring that every visit uncovers something special.
KOBE Galerie: A Taste of Hyogo’s Patisserie Excellence
The ‘KOBE Galerie’ is a perennial favorite, gathering an exquisite collection of chocolates and baked goods from active patissiers in Kobe and its surrounding areas, including Ashiya. This zone celebrates Kobe’s esteemed reputation as a ‘city of Western confectionery.’
Among the notable offerings is the “10th Anniversary Chocolat Cookie Can” from ORIGINE KOBE, a collective of patissiers from Kobe to Ashiya. Priced at 5,000 yen (tax included), this can contains 34 pieces of diverse chocolate cookies from eight unique chefs, presented in a chic, logo-emblazoned original tin. It’s a true celebration of local talent.
KOBE CHOCO introduces its “Pretzel & Robo Choco Green Can” for 2,160 yen (tax included), combining crispy pretzel ‘wari-choco’ (broken chocolate) with the popular ‘Robo Choco’ known for its charming appearance and authentic flavor. For those seeking unique textures, Trois Dimanche offers “Praline Sandwiches” (4 pieces for 3,270 yen, tax included), featuring fragrant sable cookies filled with homemade praline cream. A special Valentine’s edition introduces a new white chocolate flavor. Midnight Cookie Club by Zicca also presents the “MCC Flower Cookie Can” (7 pieces for 3,240 yen, tax included), an exquisite collection of simple yet elegant sables in a beautiful floral package, with a special chocolate-coated version exclusive to Daimaru Kobe.
OYATSU: Indulge in On-Site Delights
The ‘OYATSU’ section at ‘Kyukyoryuchi Valentine’ is designed for immediate gratification, offering a range of chocolate-themed sweets that can be enjoyed right at the venue or taken home. This year, expect a delightful array of donuts, financiers, and gelatos, many of which are exclusive to Daimaru Kobe.
Delicious Donuts
From THE BAKE, a popular bakery in Kobe’s Kitano district, comes the Daimaru Kobe exclusive “Sugar French Cruller” (280 yen, tax included). This treat features a crispy yet chewy texture thanks to whole wheat flour. .donut offers the “Orange Chocolate Donut” (650 yen, tax included), an adult-flavored creation infused with rum, inspired by local ingredients from Mount Rokko, also exclusive to this event. Atelier Ukai makes its first appearance with new donut creations, including “French Crullers” (3 types, 550 yen each, tax included) and “Croissant Donuts” (3 types, 490 yen each, tax included), available for a limited time.
Freshly Baked Financiers
Making its debut is La Pierre Blanche, a chocolate shop established in Kobe Motomachi in 2005. They will be selling freshly baked “Financier Chocolat” (380 yen, tax included) made on-site, allowing visitors to savor the rising aroma of cacao and its deep flavor. Walking through the halls, one can almost smell the rich, comforting aroma of freshly baked financiers mingling with the deep, complex notes of fine chocolate. It’s an experience that truly awakens the senses.
Refreshing Gelato & Soft Serve
vanilla enlacio, a specialty vanilla store, offers its exquisite “Gelato” (1,080 yen, tax included), where the gentle aroma of vanilla and the distinct flavors of each ingredient shine through. PISTA & TOKYO presents the “Pistachio & Pistachio Soft” (662 yen, tax included), a rich and mellow soft-serve ice cream blended with three types of pistachio paste and topped with chopped pistachios, limited to 150 servings daily.
First-Time Appearances from Renowned Brands
This year’s ‘Kyukyoryuchi Valentine’ also welcomes several brands to Daimaru Kobe for the very first time, bringing international flair and acclaimed craftsmanship.
Jean-Paul Hévin, founded in Paris in 1988 and a recipient of the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France (M.O.F.) award, debuts with his “Bonbon Chocolat 6 pieces Coeur de Paris” (3,456 yen, tax included), featuring four limited-edition chocolates in a Paris-themed sleeve, and the popular “Truffle 9 pieces Gold” (4,266 yen, tax included), known for its light ganache and rich cacao powder.
Criollo introduces “Japonais-Franco” (8 pieces for 3,888 yen, tax included), a new chocolate set themed around the fusion of Japan and France, created with the sensibility of a French chef and carefully selected Japanese ingredients. SOILCHOCOLATE & MAMEIL brings its “Nama Chocolate Macaron 6 types” (6 pieces for 3,700 yen, tax included), a culmination of over a year’s development by a bean-to-bar chocolate brand. Yokohama Vanilla, recognized by Guinness World Records™ for the most financiers sold in 12 hours, offers its “Salt Vanilla Financier” (6 pieces for 2,160 yen, tax included), made with 100% domestic wheat for a moist interior and crisp exterior.
1F POP-UP: MAISON CACAO’s ‘Bon Voyage’
On the 1st floor, a special pop-up by MAISON CACAO, a raw chocolate brand from Kamakura, will be held from January 21st to February 14th. Their 2026 theme, “Bon Voyage,” encapsulates the sights, scents, and flavors of travel in their collection. This is the only place in Kansai to experience MAISON CACAO’s Valentine’s collection at Daimaru Kobe, making it a must-visit.
Exciting Events to Enhance Your Valentine’s Experience
Tasting Bar: Discover Your New Favorite Chocolate
From January 21st to January 31st (12:00-17:00 daily), a “Tasting Bar” will be set up on the 1st floor next to the Main Stage. Here, visitors can sample individual chocolates from various brands, including Rêve de Bijoux, Nakamura Chocolate, Silsmaria, and Frédéric Blondeel. Customers who purchase a tasting set will also receive a 300 yen shopping voucher usable at participating stores, offering a fantastic opportunity to discover new flavors.
‘Kyukyoryuchi Valentine’ with Gourmet YouTuber ‘Usamogu’
Known for their love of ‘an-butter’ (red bean paste and butter), gourmet YouTuber ‘Usamogu’ will be adding extra excitement to this year’s event with a series of activities on January 24th:
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Recommended Chocolate Video: Usamogu’s YouTube channel will feature a video showcasing recommended chocolates from ‘Kyukyoryuchi Valentine,’ with a chance to get a special coupon for January.
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Live Food Report Public Recording: At 2:00 PM on January 24th, Usamogu will conduct a live food report on recommended sweets at the 1st-floor Main Stage, with the recording to be streamed on their YouTube channel.
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Original Sticker Present: On January 24th, the first 200 customers who spend 3,000 yen (tax included) or more on a single receipt at the 9th-floor ‘Kyukyoryuchi Valentine’ venue will receive an exclusive Usamogu original sticker.
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Autograph & Photo Session: Customers with the original sticker can participate in an autograph and photo session with Usamogu at 3:30 PM on the 1st-floor Main Stage.
This year’s ‘Kyukyoryuchi Valentine’ at Daimaru Kobe is poised to be a vibrant celebration of confectionery, blending local traditions with international innovations. It’s a testament to Kobe’s enduring status as a culinary destination, offering unique sweet experiences that are sure to delight visitors and perhaps even inspire future trends in Japan’s beloved Valentine’s culture. For more details on the event, please visit the official Daimaru Kobe website: https://www.daimaru.co.jp/kobe/topics/valentine2026.html.
