Let’s be honest. When a new farming sim comes out, many players want to ask the most important question first. Is there romance, and if so, who can I marry? And when a game delivers on the romance, the next question is always… how do I win the love and affection of my chosen beau?
Our Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar romance guide will answer all of those questions for you. We’ve got the full list of marriageable characters, plus everything you need to know to start your shared life in Zephyr Town.
**This walkthrough is currently in progress. It was last updated on 01/04/2026**
Table of Contents
How Many Romanceable Characters Are in Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar?
Grand Bazaar features a total of 12 romance candidates. 11 of them got special pre-release trailers, but the 12th candidate is a secret surprise. The candidates are evenly split between 6 bachelors and 6 bachelorettes, but players can romance any character regardless of their chosen gender and pronouns.
The list of romance options includes the 10 characters featured in the original Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar on Nintendo DS, plus 2 new additions. So if you want to revisit a relationship with your nostalgic favorite, you can do that. Or you can try to find love with someone new.
How to Get Married in Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
To get married in Grand Bazaar, you will need to purchase a Blue Feather, own the Double Bed house upgrade, and see all the heart events with the desired character. Once you have given the feather, the wedding will take place.
How Do You Romance Characters in Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar?
There are several ways to increase your friendship and ultimately lean into romance with your chosen marriage candidate. Here are the main ways to increase friendship points:
- Dialogue Options: During certain conversations with marriage candidates, you’ll be able to pick from different options – choose the one they like best to raise friendship more quickly! The right choice is usually pretty clear, in our experience.
- Character Events: Keep an eye on the map for pink exclamation point icons. These indicate characters that have special cutscene events, which will give you a chance to earn friendship points.
- Giving Gifts: Like any farming sim, Grand Bazaar lets you raise your friendship by selecting the right gifts for your soon-to-be spouse. Our guide can help you pick the perfect present to earn their heart!
All Romance Candidates in Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
Arata
| Birthday | Winter 17 |
| Likes | Hearty Meals |
| Favorite Color | Blue |
| Dislikes | Sour Flavors |
Arata arrives a few days into Grand Bazaar and takes up residency in the Mountains until Autumn. He is easy-going, likes to work out, and will never say no to a hot meal. He moves in with Samir after Autumn 11 of Year One.
Arata Heart Events
Introduction
1 Heart Unlock Request
2 Heart Event
3 Heart Unlock Request
4 Heart Event
5 Heart Unlock Request
6 Heart Event
7 Heart Unlock Request
Marriage Proposal
- Head to the mountains between 6 AM and 6 PM any day but Saturday
- Make sure your Bazaar Rank is at Level 2
Speak with Arata and answer using the following:
Good Response: “Sounds fun!”
Negative Response: “I’ll pass.”
After reaching a full heart with Arata, his progress will lock. Speak to him and recieve the quest “Teach a Man to Fish”.
To complete this quest, catch 10 fish and then speak to Arata again. This will complete the quest and unlock his heart progress.
- Head to the mountain area between 9 AM and 6 PM any day but Saturday.
Speak with Arata again, and you will be given the chance to respond with the following:
Good Response: “Just wanted to give it a shot!”
Negative Response: “Good Question…”
After reaching three full hearts with Arata, his progress will lock again. Speak with him to recieve the quest “Howling Hunger.”
Bring Arata three 1-Star Poached Eggs. This recipe can be purchased as a dish from Cafe Madeleine for 421G. It requires one egg and one container of Soy Sauce.
After delivering the poached eggs, Arata’s progress will unlock.
- Head to the Sunnywood Hotel between 9 AM and 4 PM on a Monday, Thursday, or Friday.
- Samir will have to be at 2 Hearts to trigger this event
- You will need to see “Arata’s Accommodations” be going to the Blue Windmill by Gabriel’s from 12 PM to 6 PM on a Sunday after Arata has three hearts.
You then have the chance to pour milk first or last. Both will count as a good outcome.
Once you reach the fifth heart level with Arata, his progression will lock. Speak with him to get the quest “The Big One”.
You will need to catch a Guardian Fish. This will require a Gold or Orichalcum Fishing Rod or better. There are a total of 8 Guardian Fish in Grand Bazaar, but you only need to catch one.
- Koi – Winter by the Yellow Windmill Waterfall
- Peacock Bass (Orichalcum Rod) – Winter in Equestrian Park ponds
- Shining Fish (Orichalcum Rod) – Autumn in the mountain hilltop ponds (No wind from 12 PM to 5 PM)
- Northern Pike (Orichalcum Rod) – Autumn outside of Gabriel’s house
- Black Carp – Spring or Autumn around the Yellow Windmill waterfall
- Grass Carp – Summer or Autumn around Gabriel’s house
- Catfish – Spring or Summer in the town plaza during stormy or rainy weather from 6 PM to 5 AM
- Wels Catfish (Orichalcum Rod) – Spring in the mountain entrance bridge river
Bring Arata the fish to get the Mellow Beehive Lamp for your Bazaar Stall. His heart progress will unlock.
- Head to the mountains between 9 AM and 6 PM any day but Saturday.
- Have three hearts with Samir
Speak with Arata, and you will be giving the following dialogue options. Neither has a bad outcome:
“I’ve fallen in love with you.”
“You’re a great friend.”
Depending on which you pick will decide whether you begin dating or stay friends with Arata. There are no penalities to either answer.
After reaching 7 hearts with Arata, his progress will lock. Speak with him to obtain the quest “Gonna Need Rice!”
Bring Arata a 5-Star Bowl of Rice and recieve 10 Guardian Bait. His progress will unlock.
- See all three heart scenes
- Have 4 hearts with Samir
- Own the Double Bed
- Give Arata the blue feather between 6 AM and 6 PM on any day besides Saturday.
Gift Guide
Top Gift: Unadon
Loved Gifts: Any meals with curry, fish, Cooked Rice, and Hot Milk
Hated Gifts: All pickles, tea, herbs
Derek
| Birthday | Summer 12 |
| Likes | Bugs |
| Favorite Color | Red |
| Dislikes | Salads |
During the day, Derek works at the cafe. He’s a cheerful, friendly soul who helps keep the local kids on the right path by meeting them at their level.
Gift Guide
Top Gift: Cream Croquette
Loved Gifts: Any rice meals, beetles, and curry (sans Egg Rice Bowl and Curry Bread)
Hated Gifts: Salads, pickles, fish
Diana
Birthday: 22nd of Autumn
Diana is the agent sent to survey the Bazaar and oversee it’s progress as the player attempts to bring it back from the brink. She is a serious, goal-oriented individual with a big heart. While she comes across as intense the first few meetings, it is revealed that she has a good deal of emotional investment in Zephyr Town’s success.
Likes: Sweets, Red
Dislikes: Greasy Foods
Freya
Birthday: 25th of Autumn
Sweet and driven, Freya is more soft spoken than many of the other female characters in town. She is also a bit difficult to track down. It’s best to catch her at her house around mealtimes.
Likes: Beautiful things, Red
Dislikes: Tempura
Gabriel
Birthday: 28th of Winter
Gabriel is Zephyr Town’s resident artistic soul. He is often found painting out on the town, or hard at work on his latest project in his workshop.
Likes: Sweets, Yellow
Dislikes: Pickled foods
Jules
Birthday: 20th of Autumn
Jules is a book enthusiast and Zephyr Town’s local teacher. He lives with his brother, Derek, near the town center. He is something of the “dandy” character in Grand Bazaar, with a gentlemanly personality.
Likes: Fragrances, Blue
Dislikes: Sweets
June
Birthday: 12th of Winter
June can be a bit reluctant to chat when you first meet her. She is a fashion master who is very close to Sophie. The two seem to have something of a romantic involvement with each other.
Likes: Dessert or tea, Blue
Dislikes: Fish
Kagetsu
Birthday: 5th of Spring
The Shrine Maiden of grand Bazaar, she is shrouded in mystery and can only be reached once the pink portal opens in the Mountains. She has no interest in people, and is completely dedicated to her work at the shrine.
Likes: Simple food, Blue
Dislikes: Intricate dishes
Lloyd
Birthday: 3rd of Autumn
Lloyd is a traveling merchant who stops by Zephyr Town to participate in the Bazaar. He gifts you a hatchet when he first arrives in town. He is academic and obsessed with gemstones and minerals. He eventually opens the mineral shop at the Bazaar.
Likes: Elaborate meals, Blue
Dislikes: Quick bites
Maple
Birthday: 14th of Autumn
Maple works at the Sunnywood Inn in town. She is clumsy and sweet, delighting in any sweet treat you bring her. She is one of the easier romances, and her storyline is straight fluff.
Likes: Sweets, Red
Dislikes: Spicy foods
Samir
Birthday: Winter 26
Samir arrives in Zephyr Town on Autumn 11 of year one. He is introduced via a cutscene, and knows Arata. He is haughty and aloof, and appears to be of some sort of royal importance in his original home. Arata is introduced as Samir’s bodyguard upon arrival.
Likes: Home cooking, Yellow
Dislikes: Fancy meals
Sophie
Birthday: 16th of Spring
As the Mayor’s daughter, Sophie does her best to greet everyone in town. She is generally cheerful and always happy to help out. Sophie gifts you your scythe early on in the game.
Likes: Light, refreshing foods, Yellow
Dislikes: Spice
Locked Heart Progression in SoS: Grand Bazaar
Players will find, after spending some time with each of the characters in Grand Bazaar, that heart progression will lock from time to time. This is typically due to a Heart Quest. When players reach a new heart level, a quest or story requirement will activate. Progress on heart levels can’t continue until that quest has been completed.
Additionally, progress can be blocked by a quest requirement from another character. This means that players have to spend time advancing the social requests and levels of NPCs all around town, instead of focusing on romanceable characters.
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