5 Romantic Japan-Inspired Valentine's Day Ideas

Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate love, but it’s easy to get tired of the same old traditions. If you’re looking for some more unique romantic ideas, consider having a Japanese Valentine’s Day this year! Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day alone or with a partner, these 5 Japan-inspired ideas are perfect for having a great Valentine’s Day at home!

Gift Japanese Snacks:

If you want to keep things classic but give them a fresh twist, gift yourself or your partner some delicious Japanese snacks! Heart-shaped boxes of chocolate can get boring and don’t always feel like the most thoughtful gift. If you want something more unique and higher quality, some snacks from Bokksu are a great idea! The Classic Bokksu Box is a fun option that offers a variety of different Japanese snacks, and it also comes beautifully packaged. This offers you or your partner a more exciting experience than the typical box of chocolates would. You can also purchase Japanese chocolates and other snacks individually, and if you and your partner are of drinking age, consider picking out some Bokksu snacks and creating your own wine pairing!

Cook a Japanese Meal:

There’s a reason why they say that the way to the heart is through the stomach, so consider cooking a Japanese meal for Valentine’s Day! This could be a nice surprise for your significant other, or it could be a fun activity that you do together. You could kick off the day by surprising your partner with a Japanese style breakfast-in-bed, or you could cook a fancy Japanese dish for dinner and set the table with candles and flowers to replicate a fine dining experience! If you really want to make the entire day special, consider doing both! This is also a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day alone, so find a recipe for your favorite dish and treat yourself to a home cooked meal!

Make Honmei Choco:

Honmei choco means “true love chocolate” and it is traditionally given by women to their romantic interest on Valentine’s Day in Japan. Because these chocolates are meant to be so meaningful, some women will make them by hand rather than buying them from a store. This could be a sweet Valentine’s Day activity to enjoy with your partner, and best of all, it ends with getting to eat the delicious chocolates that you made! You can look up a special recipe, or just make things up as you go along and have fun. Creating your own flavors and decorating the chocolates yourself will make them even more special!

Watch a Romantic Japanese Movie:

Whether you’ll be spending Valentine’s Day alone or cuddled up with a partner, you can’t go wrong with watching a romantic movie, and there are a lot of great Japanese films for the holiday! If you enjoy animated movies, Your Name is a very popular one that includes body-swapping humor along with a sweet, romantic plot. The Studio Ghibli movie Whisper of the Heart is another great option for Valentine’s Day, featuring a beautiful love story and incredible artwork. If animated movies aren’t really your thing, there are a lot of other romantic Japanese movies to choose from, like My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday or Heavenly Forest. The list is endless, so if you’re looking for a new romantic movie to watch this Valentine’s Day, a romantic Japanese movie is a great option!

Create a Japanese Onsen Experience:

A hot bath is a great way to relax and take care of yourself, which makes it a perfect Valentine’s Day activity. Although your bathroom isn’t exactly an onsen, or Japanese hot spring, with a few special touches and some imagination, you can create your own Japanese onsen experience at home! Onsen are known for their many health benefits due to the presence of sulfur and other minerals in the water. To recreate this at home, pick up some bath salts of your choosing to make your bath revitalizing and more luxurious. If you really want to treat yourself, you can even buy a yukata, which is a light cotton robe that is typically worn at an onsen before or after bathing. Consider playing some white noise or nature sounds to make your environment as peaceful as possible, and enjoy your at-home onsen experience! This is a great way to spend a Valentine’s Day alone, or a perfect surprise for your partner!

There are a lot of Valentine’s Day gifts and activities out there, but if you are looking for something more unique, these Japan-inspired ideas are a fun and romantic way to enjoy the day! If you or your partner loves Japan, these Valentine’s Day ideas are perfect, and best of all, you don’t have to leave your house!