Unique Starbucks in Japan

Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya

“Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya Store” is located on Ninenzaka which leads to Kiyomizudera Temple, a World Heritage Site. The building for this shop is a traditional 2 story Japanese house built over 100 years ago. The main house and the large fence are designated as traditional buildings, and especially the large fence is the only structure left as it was along Ninenzaka Slope.

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A noren (short [split] curtain hung at the entrance) hangs down, and as you go through the restaurant, you will come to a bar counter with a wide inner garden. In each of the 3 gardens of front garden, courtyard and backyard, there is a stone wash basin (Tsukubai). Along with garden stones and the greenery of the trees, it created a traditional garden space with shining light.

There are 3 tatami rooms, “a tatami-mat room”, “a four-and-a-half-mat room” and “back room” on the 2nd floor

Starbucks Coffee Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya
Address: 349 Masuya-cho, Kodai-ji Nanmon-dori Shimogawara Higashi-iru, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City
Opening hours: 8: 00 ~ 20: 00 ※ 6/30 is from 13: 00 ~
Closed: Irregular holiday

Reserve Roastery Tokyo in Nakameguro

On February 28, 2019, “Starbucks Reserve Brokerage Tokyo” opened in Nakameguro, the 5th store in the world and the first in Japan.

“STARBUCKS RESERVE ROASTERY” is a flagship store built by Starbucks, which offers “a special place”. There is a roasting place in the store.
“STARBUCKS RESERVE ROASTERY” is the 5th store in the world to open in Nakameguro. After opening in New York and Shanghai, it opened in Nakameguro, Tokyo.

The exterior of the store is a collaboration with Kengo Kuma, Japan’s leading architect. “Light-colored cedar exterior walls and open terrace seats are used. A wonderful store like an amusement park where both children and adults can enjoy.” he said.
Liz Muller, chief design officer at Starbucks, was in charge of the store.

The building has four stories and all of the floor are run by Starbucks.
It is located by the Meguro River in Nakameguro, behind a large discount store called Don Quixote.

The first thing that comes right in front of you when you enter the store is a big roaster that is like a trunk in the center of the store. The store has a factory as well as the coffee shop. Over 680,000 kg of coffee beans are roasted annually for the Japanese market. This store has a roaster function of roasting about 30 bean bags weighing about 60 kg per day.

There is a main bar on the first floor. There is a bakery on the 1st floor, so you can buy freshly made bread and enjoy it with coffee.

On the 2nd floor, following Shanghai, there is the second “Tiburner bar” where tea and herb tea are served. If you choose the tea leaves blended with the original, they will serve it on the spot.

There is a cocktail bar “Aliviamo bar” on the 3rd floor, which is the first arrival in Japan. At the cocktail bar “Ariviamo” on the 3rd floor, you can enjoy coffee-based cocktails and coffee-flavored alcohol. There is a seminar space “AMU Inspiration Lounge” on the 4th floor.

Address: 2- 19 Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando

“Starbucks Coffee Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya” is located on Ninenzaka, Kyoto. It has a noren and tatami room.

This Starbucks has an impressive wooden structure designed by architect Kengo Kuma. The unique architecture has been well received by people from overseas, and is always crowded with tourists from Japan and overseas.

The wooden structure that continues from entrance to inside of the shop which is the long and narrow. This exterior facing the approach has the power to draw people coming into the store. The theme is “Traditional and modern fusion of natural materials”.

Address: 3 -2 -43, Saifu, Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture

“Kawagoe”

The Kawagoe Kanetsuki Dori starbacks is located near the symbol of Kawagoe “Toki no kane”. The exterior is made of cedar wood from Saitama Prefecture.

This town is famous as a town of storehouses where you can feel the atmosphere of the Edo period and is also called “Koedo Kawagoe”.

There is another courtyard not only in the back of the restaurant, but also in the center, where you can enjoy the Japanese atmosphere.

This Japanese garden has terrace seats, and you can eat and drink while viewing the garden in the courtyard.

There are several artworks displayed in the shop. The sliding screen paintings produced from the end of the Taisho period to the beginning of the Showa period have their original frames removed and are housed in a frame made of Saitama cedar and are displayed as paintings.

Starbucks Coffee Kawagoe Kanetsuki Dori
Address: 15 -18 Saiwai-cho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama
Opening hours: 8: 00 ~ 20: 00

“Kansuri Park” in Toyama

”The Tomiwa Canal Kansui Park” is a park where you can see a widely expanded water and lawn. This Starbucks has a simple design that matches the landscape of the park. The inside of the store is made of wood. From the large window, you can see the park’s symbol “Tianmen Bridge” and hear the chirping of birds.

The place is where Jinzu river used to pass. The Jinzu River is famous for the pollution-related diseases known as “itai-itai disease”. Of course, clean and safe water is flowing now. It is said that the area around this river suffered from floods.So they reclaimed the land to make it straight. And the place where there used to be a river was dammed up and now it’s like a pond.

This shop won the award in the store design contest held by Starbucks in the company in2008. Because of that, people started to call it, “the most beautiful”.

“Kamakura Onarimon” in Kamakura

A shop was arranged from the former residence of cartoonist Ryuichi Yokoyama. There are wisteria trellis, cherry trees and swimming pool left as they were, so you can enjoy the scenery of each season.

Address: 15 11 Onari-cho, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Haneda Air Port

On December 19, 2018, the “THE HANEDA HOUSE” commercial complex opened on the 5th floor of Terminal 1 at Haneda Airport. Starbucks Coffee, a panoramic view of the runway, has opened in a row of stores.

The only place in Japan where you can see the runway from inside is this “Terminal 1 at Haneda Airport: THE HANEDA HOUSE, 5th floor store”.

Besides the runway, Starbucks has its first facility. A smartphone mark on the counter. It’s called the “Qi”. Just place a compatible smartphone here and it will charge wirelessly. It is installed in 11 places, and 16 models such as iPhone series and Galaxy series are compatible.

This is open from 6:30 AM to 9 PM. 10 counter seats and 3 table seats for 2 people are facing the window.

Omotesando Tokyu Harajuku

This slocated in the building called “Tokyu-Plaza Omotesando” which is opposite side of Laforet Harajuku. It’s on Meiji-dori. The concept of this shop is that it has “hanging garden”. It is rare to find a cafe with a park like this in Tokyo. You must have a relaxing time there after shopping!

It is a very comfortable space. There are counter seats, sofa seats, and chairs on the rooftop terrace, and some people sit on the staircase. If there are more than 3 people staying for a long time, a sofa seat would be nicer. Outlet is not available at the terrace seats. There were table seats and counter seats in the shop, and the window seats were available with outlets.


Address: Jingumae 4 -3 -30 Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku, Shibuya-ku
Access:
1 minute walk from Meiji-jingu-mae Station EV exit
7 minutes walk from Harajuku Station Omotesando-guchi
9 minutes walk from the A2 exit of Omotesando Station