Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and that means chocolate is out in stores all around Japan. This is the time of year where girls (in Japan) go crazy buying chocolate for the men in their lives, and crazy is an understatement. We, of course, have seem to have made it an annual tradition to join in the craziness with a trip to the Takashimaya department store in Yokohama to see the expensive chocolates and try the free samples.
Since Friday was off, we actually headed out that day. It turned out to be the coldest day of the year here, with snow actually falling from the sky. It was almost (but not quite) enough to keep us from our day in Yokohama. When we got there, it was surprisingly not ridiculously busy – only stupidly crazy busy.
We checked around and found a lot of good chocolate. Layla was in super-excited mode as she has a bit of a sweet tooth and loves eating stuff off sticks (toothpicks, in this case). I think we checked out every booth. There was some really cool looking chocolates in some of them, but the prices were enough to scare any sane person away. I’m sure they still sold a bunch this weekend.
Chocolate shaped like crepes!
After battling the insanity, and even taking part of it as Tamie bought a few things, we went shopping for a bit and then for lunch at a small cafe. Chelsea’s Cafe has a decent clubhouse sandwich, for anyone in the neighbourhood looking for such a place. I only mention this because I’m always looking for such a place but never remember them when we find one. Decent sandwich shops in Japan are few and far between.
On the way home, we jumped on a crowded train. We were standing near the door and as we pulled into a station, I noticed two seats open up. We headed over to grab them and some dude from the other door quickly swooped in and took one just as Layla and Tamie were about to sit down. He must have been so tired from moving so fast that he then proceeded to “fall asleep”, not noticing the 3 year old kid wondering why some guy took her seat. Layla eventually sat ON Tamie, crowding the exhausted man. Two stations later he got off.
Doesn’t he look tired?
Saturday we headed to Isehara for a chocolate party that Tamie, Layla and Hamster had been planning. Everyone pitched in and bought some chocolates for all to share… it was ridiculous. And fantastic. Everyone indulged, including Tamie’s parents, but no one could compete with our little 3 year old. Layla out-ate everyone, sampling chocolates from every box before making second and third rounds to the boxes she liked.
Chocolate Party! In full swing!
It was a great time, but not one I think we’ll repeat for a while. We took home more chocolate than I know what to do with, although I’m sure none of it will go to waste… like I said, Layla’s got a bit of a sweet tooth… and as surprising as it might be to some, so do I… I’m sure we’ll find some way to dispose of it. =)
