In the basement of Seibu Department Store in Ikebukuro, there is a KitKat Chocolatory where many people were visiting for last-minute shopping at the end of the year. Unlike convenience stores, they offer slightly upscale and stylish chocolates. It's recommended to chill them a bit before eating to enhance the luxurious experience. Despite that, the KitKat essence is still present, so KitKat fans should definitely give it a try.

[November 2015 Visit] The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming. I highly recommend this restaurant.

My sister bought me a KitKat supervised by Chef Takagi (^ ^) It was delicious as expected from a high-end product ☆

The 712th visit of a food log reviewer in Tokyo was 3 months ago at Seibu Department Store's basement. One of the shops that had caught my attention for a while. Tokyo Original Assortment. Each flavor comes in a box of 12, priced at 1458 yen including tax. Wow... as expected from chef-supervised KitKat. It's amazing. I have to savor it carefully. Can't give it to anyone else (laughs). Yes, so it's completely a reward for myself. I can definitely feel the difference in aroma and chocolate quality. Sometimes, I feel like it's okay to treat myself to something like this.

Image blog ⇒ "http://kouji328.blog59.fc2.com/blog-entry-3629.html" KitKat "Chocolatory Special Assortment" comes with 4 different flavors, each with 3 pieces. The Tokyo design is exclusively sold at Seibu Ikebukuro, Daimaru Tokyo, and Shinjuku Takashimaya for 1458 yen including tax. The package features the word "Tokyo" in capital letters that stand out depending on the lighting. Other than Tokyo, there are limited editions for Ginza/Sapporo (Daimaru)/Osaka (Daimaru)/Nagoya (Matsuzakaya). The side of the box has the slogan "Have a break, have a Kit Kat". The flavors inside are Strawberry Maple, Pistachio & Raspberry, Butter, and Matcha & Kinako. At 122 yen... well, as a souvenir, it's just about acceptable. However, there seemed to be a place where the chocolate melted and solidified again during the journey back. It's a bit disappointing... KitKat itself is not particularly outstanding, and commercial products are sufficient, right? Happy Turn and Calbee are also losing their novelty appeal, and the end seems to be in sight. Either way, I wouldn't buy it for myself... 62 points. Daimaru Tokyo Store ⇒ "http://kouji328.blog59.fc2.com/blog-entry-3008.html"

It was a topic of conversation a while back, the high-end KitKat shop in the department store basement. I finally tried it after receiving some from an acquaintance. It includes 2 pieces each of I Love Fruits flavors: Strawberry, Raspberry, Yuzu, Passion Fruit, and Blueberry, for about 2500 yen. Also, I tried the Chocolatier Sublime Matcha for 300 yen. It's definitely delicious, as it was supervised by a famous patissier. The Matcha and Fruits flavors have a stronger chocolate taste compared to regular KitKats. The wafer adds a nice texture accent, making it feel like a chocolate-focused treat. However, it's not your typical KitKat in terms of price. It might be better to think of it as a high-end dessert rather than just a KitKat.

On May 20th, 21st, and 22nd, I went on a trip to Kyoto and purchased special snacks for a snack and simple souvenirs, including "Strawberry Maple," "Matcha & Kinako," and "Orange Cocktail Noir," as well as a gift box for 1000 yen. I requested the items to be wrapped in the gift box, but the shop could only provide a plastic bag for carrying. I felt unsatisfied with this and returned home. The next day, I gave the gift box to a friend and enjoyed the remaining snacks on the Shinkansen. While they were delicious, I couldn't understand why they were so expensive. The "Ebisennen" shrimp senbei, with a whole shrimp visible, is worth the price. However, these Kit Kats with strawberry and matcha flavors were not significantly different from regular ones. They seemed to be more about novelty than taste, and the price didn't seem justified. Perhaps they are meant for small gifts when invited for tea, but the cheap box and plastic bag packaging didn't add much value. Even wrapping them in Seibu's wrapping paper would have been better. I understand why this place has low ratings for atmosphere, service, and value for money on Tabelog. I might stick to traditional snacks like "arare" or "karinto" next time.

【Visit on April 30, 2016】Location: There is a shop in the basement floor of Seibu directly connected from Ikebukuro Station. I visited around 6 pm on Saturday. The basement floor area was moderately crowded, but there were no customers in this shop. KitKat Chocolatory is a specialty shop for "KitKat" supervised entirely by Chef Takagi Yasumasa, who has been involved in KitKat development since 2003 and has discovered new charms of KitKat through the development of numerous supervised products. The explanation states that the shop's name includes "Chocolatory," which is a combination of the words "chocolatier" and "chocolate factory." It seems to be a communication-type shop that provides a new "fun" and "break" by encountering the commitment of a chocolatier and the excitement and fun of a chocolate factory, as a KitKat brand that is deployed in over 70 countries and regions worldwide. I had been curious for a long time, but this was my first purchase. I bought KitKat Chocolatory Sublime Bitter for 324 yen. It is said to be limited to 300 pieces per day at each store. Sublime Bitter uses 66% cocoa couverture bitter and focuses on the acidity of cocoa, as the name suggests, it is bitter. Overall, personally, I prefer regular KitKat and didn't feel like it was worth paying 324 yen to eat. Once is enough. It's good for creating a buzz. Thank you for the meal.

Two years ago, a KitKat specialty store called KitKat Chocolatory was opened, and it quickly expanded to 8 stores nationwide. As expected from Nestle! I only noticed it long after the store was established, as I don't usually buy snacks from convenience stores. The trigger was the long line during Valentine's Day. It surpassed other chocolate specialty stores, and I wondered what made it different from regular KitKats. In short, it's like an upgraded version of the regular chocolate KitKat. It even appears in department store basements, which was surprising. The KitKat Chocolatory Special Strawberry Maple has a long name, but it's indeed delicious. Priced at around 500 yen, the box contains four chocolate bars that can be split into two, totaling eight pieces. The taste is a gentle strawberry chocolate, with a pleasant fruitiness. It's also enjoyable when chilled in the fridge. I couldn't taste much of the maple flavor, maybe due to my stuffy nose from hay fever. It's a safe and delicious treat that can be shared with anyone. I'm curious to try the matcha flavor next time.

Ikebukuro's KitKat specialty store in the department store basement! I always noticed it because there was always a line, but I couldn't buy KitKats. This time when I passed by, it happened to be empty, so I seized the opportunity and bought matcha and strawberry flavors. The packaging is different from the ones sold in convenience stores, it comes in a sturdy box which makes it great for buying as a gift for friends. - Matcha flavor: When you eat it, it has a matcha flavor but the sweetness after it melts is more like kinako (roasted soybean flour) taste. So, in my opinion, it's more like chocolate, but it goes well with tea and has a unique but not overpowering sweetness. It's a recommended Japanese-style chocolate. - Strawberry flavor: The moment you chew it, your mouth is filled with strawberry flavor! But it also has that signature KitKat crunchiness, making it delicious. The aftertaste is also chocolate! It definitely seems like it would go well with milk. If you like strawberries, you'll probably finish it in no time. I was lucky to buy it quickly this time, but I imagine it's crowded on weekends or weekday evenings. If you happen to see it empty, definitely try buying it once.

I received the "KitKat Chocolatory Special" in matcha and kinako flavors. In addition to this, the Chocolatory also offers other products like the sharp and delicate "Sublime," and the "Moresson" topped with almonds and dried fruits. I chose the one that looked most similar to the regular KitKat because I wanted to compare the taste. Inside the box were 4 individually wrapped pieces. When I opened the package, I expected the familiar KitKat, but instead, I was greeted with a soft matcha aroma. The texture was not crispy but rather crunchy, possibly due to the kinako filling. The matcha chocolate coating had a strong flavor, with the kinako coming through in the aftertaste. It seemed like they were trying to respect the traditional KitKat flavor rather than focusing solely on the Japanese theme. If you are looking for a matcha-flavored treat that is not too intense, this could be a good option for you as a personal indulgence.

I had always been curious about KitKat Chocolatory. When I first went to Seibu, there was a long line so I gave up, and the same thing happened on Valentine's Day, but finally I was able to buy it! If there are no events going on, it is recommended to visit on a weekday during the day as it is usually not crowded. The KitKats sold here are quite different from the ones you find in convenience stores or supermarkets. The most popular stick-shaped KitKat (without pre-cut lines) costs 300 yen each. A small box with three pieces costs 400 yen. I bought the matcha flavor and also the bitter type stick-shaped KitKats. The packaging has a luxurious feel to it. The bitter type chocolate is indeed bitter, with a higher cocoa content and less sugar compared to regular KitKats. The matcha and kinako flavor looks like a matcha KitKat at first, but when you eat it, the kinako flavor is actually stronger than the matcha flavor! I enjoyed it since I like kinako. It feels more luxurious and delicious compared to regular KitKats, but I can't pinpoint exactly what makes it different, maybe because the regular ones are already delicious? Haha.

This is a shop that opened as the "world's first KitKat specialty store" in January 2014. When it first opened, there were long lines due to Valentine's Day approaching, and many flavors were sold out. Now, with more stores opened and the option to purchase online, you can buy without waiting in line. I bought the "KitKat Chocolatory Special Matcha & Kinako (432 yen/tax included)" for myself and the "KitKat Chocolatory Gift Box Mini" with four flavors for gifts. Inside the box were four KitKat bars. The kinako flavor is subtle, but the matcha flavor is rich. However, considering the price of over 100 yen per bar, I personally find limited edition KitKats from convenience stores more satisfying. Of course, receiving this as a gift would still make me happy. I think I'll try the "Sublime" for 324 yen next time. Thank you for always liking and commenting. Due to changes in the specifications of Tabelog, I am mass-releasing reviews that were about to be left in the photo-only storage, so the comment section is closed.

This is a KitKat specialty store supervised by the pastry chef Yasumasa Takagi. I tried the Matcha & Kinako flavor. They use carefully selected Uji matcha, providing a rich and authentic matcha flavor along with the fragrant aroma of kinako. The matcha flavor is smooth, while the kinako flavor is a bit subtle. Overall, it has a strong impact and feels special. There are many different flavors available, so I would like to try more if I have the chance.

I have to prepare a 500 yen gift for the company's year-end party on December 12, so I was thinking about what to get when I happened to pass by a shop! "Oh, they have a product here that you can't find in Saitama!" I made a quick decision. The price was also cheap, with a box of four pieces costing 432 yen! Although the other reviews were low, I was surprised, but I found it to be a satisfying product with a good taste of chocolate and flavor! Orange Cocktail: The orange scent spreads throughout your mouth, and it's the perfect match with tea. Sakura Green Tea: White chocolate with plenty of matcha inside. Sublime Bitter: A single piece for 324 yen. Both have the familiar wafer inside, and the shape is just like KitKat. It's nice that they come in four separate bags. They still have that KitKat feel! The Sublime Bitter was delicious at the time, but looking back, it didn't leave much of an impression. However, I had eaten a lot in December, so I might need to taste it properly again to appreciate it more. When I do, my rating might go up again. Laugh... Compared to other high-end chocolate shops, it may seem low, but considering the price and the upgrade of KitKat, it is delicious enough. It's located in the basement of Seibu Department Store in Ikebukuro. I also bought Ajari Mochi from Kyoto, and after watching a Turkish movie, I bought Efes beer from Turkey that I drank like water during my trip to Turkey five years ago. It was a very satisfying basement food hall experience. Thank you for the meal.

It's disappointing that they don't wrap it even though it's expensive. If you're going to pay the same price, you might want to try another chocolate shop. I gave a set worth about 2300 yen as a gift to a friend, and later when I asked, "How much do you think one piece costs?" they said, "About 80 yen"... It's delicious, but appearance is important too.

After leaving the watermelon behind, I headed to the opposite side to Seibu Department Store. My destination was this store. It had gained attention for turning KitKat into a high-end brand a few years ago, and I had been curious about it for some time. I had stopped by the Darth Brand Shop in Omotesando Hills last New Year's and really liked it, so I had high hopes for this one too. When I arrived in front of the store, there were various types of products and I had a hard time deciding, but in the end, I chose the "Special Butter" flavor. I enjoyed it at home later. It was like a rich white chocolate, delicious but honestly not as amazing as I had expected. It's a pack of four for ¥432. It's not shockingly expensive, but regular KitKats are delicious enough, and besides the novelty factor, it's not something I would go out of my way to buy. On the flip side, chocolate bars from Meiji or Lotte that are sold for around ¥100 have a pretty high quality, so maybe the taste difference doesn't justify the price gap. Well, I wanted to try it once, so in that sense, I am satisfied.

KitKat Chocolatory is a place I often pass by, whether it's in Seibu Ikebukuro or Daimaru Tokyo, and I've always been curious about it. However, I felt like the prices didn't quite match up to what was being offered, so I always ended up walking past. But then, I read a review by the reviewer sweet sugar, who mentioned that the Sublime chocolates are made using couverture chocolate. As someone who loves Italian Babbi wafers so much that I buy them in bulk, I couldn't resist trying out the newly released Sublime Milk. Even though there seemed to be a few customers lined up, the person in front of me was just browsing. The Sublime chocolates come in three flavors - Bitter, Milk, and White - each priced at ¥300 per piece. It really is quite expensive. I decided to go for the Milk flavor, and it was indeed a luxurious treat with its smooth milk chocolate and wafer. The Bitter flavor, made with couverture chocolate, had a rich and bitter taste that was truly delicious. When you compare it to other high-end chocolates like GODIVA or Pierre Marcolini, which can cost over ¥300 per piece, it seems reasonable considering the quality of ingredients used. It's definitely a sophisticated KitKat for adults.