Turning Yokohama into a "Chocolate City." VANILLABEANS, a craft chocolate specialty store from Yokohama, announces the new urban vision: "Choco-Hama Metropolitan Plan: Making Yokohama a Chocolate Beach."

Chocolate Design Co., Ltd. (CEO: Masahiro Otsuki, Headquarters: Yokohama City), which operates the Yokohama-based craft chocolate specialty store VANILLABEANS, has announced a new urban vision to evolve Yokohama into a "Chocolate City": the "Choco-Hama Metropolitan Plan: Making Yokohama a Chocolate Beach." Through this vision, we aim to realize a society where everyone can find happiness through chocolate.

What is the "Choco-Hama Metropolitan Plan"?

VANILLABEANS, a craft chocolate specialty store from Yokohama, proposes a completely new form of city under the slogan "CHOCOLATES MAKE YOU HAPPY!" It is called the "Choco-Hama Metropolitan Plan: Making Yokohama a Chocolate Beach." The "Choco-Hama Metropolitan Plan" is an urban vision to turn our hometown of Yokohama into a "Chocolate City." VANILLABEANS is now taking action to build a system where everyone involved with chocolate can be happy.

"Choco-Hama Metropolitan Plan" Pledges ① Develop chocolate beaches in Yokohama. ② Use chocolate for all building materials. ③ Install faucets that dispense hot chocolate. ④ Power the city using cacao mass fuel. ⑤ Issue and operate a local currency called "Cacao Coin."

See the full scope of the "Choco-Hama Metropolitan Plan" here: https://youtu.be/G_v8Ky-jDsQ

Win a new product currently under development!

To realize the "Choco-Hama Metropolitan Plan: Making Yokohama a Chocolate Beach," VANILLABEANS is currently developing a new product called "CHOCOLAT -ON THE BEACH-." We will present this new product to 10 people chosen by lottery from those who support and share (follow & repost) the "Choco-Hama Metropolitan Plan."

We believe that your actions as a chocolate lover will create a bright future for Japan and a happy world. Come on, let's turn Yokohama into a chocolate beach!

Campaign link: https://x.com/vanillabeans_mm *The giveaway campaign is real*

Background, CEO interviews, and more to be released sequentially

We plan to release information sequentially on our social media and a special page on our online shop, including the background of how the "Choco-Hama Metropolitan Plan" was born, an ambush interview with the CEO about future prospects, and behind-the-scenes footage of the chocolatiers developing the new "CHOCOLAT -ON THE BEACH-" product.

Official Social Media X: https://x.com/vanillabeans_mm (@vanillabeans_mm) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanillabeans_official/ (@vanillabeans_official)

Official Online Shop Special Page Official Website: https://www.vanillabeans.yokohama/view/page/choco-hama Rakuten Ichiba Store: https://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/vanilla/choco-hama.html

* April 1st is April Fools' Day. *

While the "Choco-Hama Metropolitan Plan" is an April Fools' project, we are currently developing "CHOCOLAT -ON THE BEACH-." It might actually become a product based on your feedback!?

Please support and share (follow & repost) the "Choco-Hama Metropolitan Plan."

Social Media Hashtag [#ChocoHamaMetropolitanPlan]

About VANILLABEANS, a craft chocolate specialty store from Yokohama

VANILLABEANS was established in 2000. Starting with online sales, it is now a Yokohama-born craft chocolate specialty store that is particular about its cacao, currently operating multiple physical cafes, primarily in the Minato Mirai area of Yokohama.

Our signature product, the raw chocolate sandwich "Chocolat" made with fair-trade chocolate, has received numerous accolades. In 2023, our popular gift item, the "Chocolat 8-piece box," won the highest Grand Prix award at the Japan Food Selection, and in December 2024, it was selected as the No. 1 selling raw chocolate cookie sandwich in department stores and specialty shops (*). (*) Survey by GMO Research & AI, Inc., results from January to December 2023.

We have been engaged in sustainable initiatives for many years. By setting aside a portion of our sales, we have previously built a combined elementary and junior high school in Ghana, and we continue to conduct projects and build systems that make everyone involved with chocolate smile. Currently, a cacao tree-planting and cultivation support project is underway in the Republic of Ecuador. In June 2025, we made our third courtesy visit to the Embassy of Ecuador in Japan.