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Yamaguchi, the city of chocolate! Chocolate gourmet food that you can walk around, including matcha and crepes

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Yamaguchi City, which can be reached in about 30 minutes by Shinkansen from Hiroshima and Fukuoka, is the city of chocolate! A must-see for chocolate lovers! This time we will introduce chocolate gourmet food that you can enjoy around Yamaguchi Station.

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What is the city of chocolate?

In 2018, Yamaguchi City ranked first in Japan in terms of annual spending on chocolate, and as a result, Yamaguchi City is promoting town revitalization using chocolate.
The point is that you can enjoy various chocolate products not only at chocolate shops but also at various shops.

When you get off at Yamaguchi Station, which is about 25 minutes from JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station, the Shinkansen terminal, you will find the ``Yamaguchi Central Shopping District'', a shopping street lined with restaurants, cafes, general stores, supermarkets, and more. Introducing chocolate spots that you can enjoy in the shopping district!

1. Harmony of matcha and chocolate “Seikoen Tea Shop Sabo Machinakaan”

A tea shop with a history of over 90 years. We purchase and sell carefully selected tea from various tea producing areas such as Kagoshima Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Kyoto Prefecture. Hojicha, which has a fragrant flavor made from roasted green tea, is also a popular product.

There is a Japanese-style cafe next to the tea shop. You can add crunchy chocolate topping to your signature matcha soft serve! It's an item that isn't on the menu. Please make a request to the store.

In addition, there are a variety of Japanese-style desserts, such as the ``Matcha Set'' with sweets and the ``Matcha Mini Parfait.'' Many people were taking a break that day in a relaxing space.

"Seikoen" Click here for details

2. Authentic Belgian taste “Leonidas Yamaguchi store”

Leonidas Yamaguchi store is a chocolate specialty store that opened in 2022. "Leonidas" is a chocolate specialty store founded in Belgium in 1913 and has expanded to countries around the world. We always sell about 50 types of chocolate, and in the fall and winter we sell about 1.5 times as many types.

Sold by weight, price 100 grams = 1,706 yen<br>
Sold by weight, price 100 grams = 1,706 yen

When you enter the store, you'll see rows and rows of beautiful chocolates. Made with 100% cocoa butter, we deliver fresh products delivered by regular airmail from Belgium every week.

``Orangette'' (pictured in the back left) is a popular product, which is made by wrapping candied and thinly sliced ​​orange peel in bittersweet dark chocolate. A mature sweet that goes well with alcohol.

You can buy from 1 piece, so feel free to try out what you're interested in.

“Leonidas Yamaguchi store” Click here for details

3. Chocolate as a souvenir “Specialty Shop Yamaguchi-san”

If you want to buy souvenirs in the shopping district, go to "Yamaguchi-san"! We have a large selection of souvenirs from Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Recommended products using chocolate include the crispy baked chocolate ``Premium Excellent Chocolat Yamaguchi'' (photo on the right) and the ``Kanmon Gateau Chocolat Pie Cake'' (photo on the left).

There are also products that use summer mandarin oranges, which are famous as a specialty of Yamaguchi Prefecture. ``Haginatsumikan Orangette'', which matches the bitterness of summermandarin with the sweetness of chocolate, is a popular product that only appears in the fall and winter. We also have white chocolate and matcha chocolate, so we recommend comparing them.

4. Chocolate sweets that go well with tea “Hachaya”

Hachaya sells a variety of teas, including green tea, Japanese black tea, and domestic herbal tea. There are also products blended and roasted by the owner. It seems that many people purchase the tea and sweets together.

“Ikimachi Shokora” is a popular product that only appears in winter. With the theme of ``Japanese-style craft chocolate that goes well with Japanese tea,'' the rich chocolate melts in your mouth and is topped with Japanese-style ingredients.

Unique flavor combinations such as "white chocolate and red beans" and "rich cheese and yuzu" are recommended as souvenirs. Please enjoy it with Japanese tea. The package has a Japanese pattern that feels like Japanese paper and is very cute. It's sure to be a great souvenir!

There is also a cafe space next door where you can drink tea. The menu offers a variety of warming items, including ``Milk Tea'' (400 yen) made with matcha and hojicha, and ``Today's Matcha'' (800 yen), which comes with Japanese sweets.

"Hachaya" Click here for details

5. Historical crepe shop “Domani”

“Domani” will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2022. This is a coffee shop that has been popular in the shopping district for a long time.

The couple went all over the country eating and researching the crepes, which come in over 100 different combinations! You can choose toppings and create your own original crepe. In addition to chocolate-based products such as ``Chocolate Banana'' and ``Chocolate Banana Custard,'' you can add chocolate topping for 50 yen, so please try arranging it to your liking.

You can take out, but we also recommend inside, which has a relaxing atmosphere. There is also a full menu of food such as hamburgers, pasta, and pizza.

"Domani" Click here for details

What is “Yamaguchi Central Shopping District”?

A shopping street is a street where shops are gathered. "Yamaguchi Central Shopping Street" is a shopping street with a long history that combines seven areas into one. It has been loved by Yamaguchi residents for a long time, with department stores, supermarkets, restaurants, beauty salons, bookstores, and other stores necessary for daily life.

A manhole with a Yamaguchi motif!<br>
A manhole with a Yamaguchi motif!

In summer and autumn, you can enjoy three festivals: the Yamaguchi Gion Festival, the Yamaguchi Tanabata Lantern Festival, and the Yamaguchi Tenjin Festival. To go to the Yamaguchi Chuo Shopping District, transfer from JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station and get off at Yamaguchi Station, which takes about 25 minutes.

Yamaguchi City tourist information site “Nishinokyo Yamaguchi”

"Nishinokyo Yamaguchi" is a site that introduces tourist information about Yamaguchi City, including tourist spots, experience information, accommodation, and gourmet food. Please refer to it!

Yamaguchi City tourist information site “Nishinokyo Yamaguchi”

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Yamaguchi City, where history, culture, nature, hot springs and many attractions and encounters await. ー Stroll while feeling the vestiges of Ouchi culture ーLet's walk Hagi Okan, the historic road ーGoing to see SL Yamaguchi ーLeisurely enjoy Yuda Onsen Enjoy the great nature of the Chugoku Mountains to the north and the Seto Inland Sea to the south. When you visit a place to which you are drawn, See it, feel it, and experience it. Let's go on a trip to Yamaguchi where you can spend your time as you please.

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