Are you a Starbucks lover? In Japan, you can find Starbucks cafes in some extraordinary places. Unique locations, with a local touch but always the same Starbucks quality. Whether you enjoy a cup of Starbucks coffee or not, these stores are worth a visit for the location!
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The first ‘Sutaba’ in Japan opened its doors in 1996 in Ginza, Tokyo. Since then, it has expanded rapidly throughout the country. In September 2019, Starbucks stores had reached 1,497 while boasting some of the world’s busiest and biggest – two different outlets – located in Tokyo.
The Ginza Matsuya-dori store opened in 1996 as the first Starbucks in Japan. The cafe’s chic exterior and expansive windows set it apart from your typical coffee chain. No wonder it created a national stir when it first opened.
The very first customer at this branch ordered a double-tall latte; a drink exclusively served here.
Starbucks Japan has exploded since initially launching that first shop, with well over 1,000 stores across the country.
While the coffee chain is particularly well-known for its seasonal drinks and merchandise unique to the Japanese market—like Sakura-themed tumblers and Frappuccinos—some stores also deserve special attention.
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Why Starbucks?
While most of them perhaps arguably don’t deserve a second look, tucked away in a train station or shopping mall, when it comes to locating in Traditional areas or cultural districts, Starbucks Japan has excelled at harmonizing their store design with local and traditional culture, creating Insta-worthy, one-of-a-kind spaces in inspiring locations while featuring cutting-edge architecture and design.
Some of these shops are so innovative that you wouldn’t even know it was a Starbucks until you notice the familiar green mermaid logo. To help you find the locations, I’ve put the address below. And make sure to check out their website to find more info.
So here are the 20 most stunning Starbucks in the country, from one set in a heritage house in Kyoto to the Kawagoe outlet that features a Zen garden and beyond.
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Most Unique and Beautiful Starbucks in Japan
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
In February 2019, the fifth and largest (at the time) Starbucks Roastery worldwide was opened in Tokyo, in Nakameguro along the Meguro River. The four-floor complex comprises about 200 sqm with indoor and outdoor seating and is without question, the biggest Starbucks in Japan. The exterior was designed by the world-renowned contemporary architect, Kengo Kuma. The Starbucks community design team created the interior but carefully selected to match Kuma’s modern Japanese architectural style.
Along with the exceptional Reserve, coffee is also tea, Italian snacks and food, and even alcohol.
The industrial-cool interior houses a roasting factory on the top floor, an Arriviamo cocktail bar on the third floor, and a Teavana tea room on the second floor; the ground floor, however, is taken over by the Milanese bakery Princi, famous for its cronuts and focaccia pizza. Take your sakura latte out to the alfresco terrace on the fourth floor for a view of the Meguro river.
As can be expected, this Starbucks is very popular – especially in springtime when the many sakura trees lining the Meguro river are in full bloom! (Check out their sakura-themed merchandise). On the weekend, the waiting time reaches a peak of 5 hours, and it’s necessary to reserve a time in person. But the good news is, once you’ve booked your time, you don’t have to stand in line. Depending on your estimated return time, you can enjoy the Nakameguro neighborhood or even venture into Shibuya. While I would say this is the best Starbucks in Tokyo, if you’re only looking to grab a drink and a rest from sightseeing, there are many other beautiful options to choose from.
Check out our guide to the Reserve Roastery in Tokyo for more on the process and what to expect in the Roastery.
Also Read: Guide to Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Tokyo
Locations: 2-19-23 Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya
Ninenzaka is the traditional area located in Kyoto near Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Here you can find one of the two Starbucks in Kyoto worth a visit. The traditional-looking store opened in 2017 inside a 100-year-old machiya– a traditional townhouse – from the Taisho Period. The store perfectly blends in with the neighborhood’s historic atmosphere, and if it weren’t for the sign (and perhaps the people), you would probably not even notice this Starbucks. For this reason I think it’s the most beautiful Starbucks in Japan.
One year after its opening, this Starbucks outlet received the Kyoto Scenery Award (Kyoto Keikan Sho) for ‘its inspired effort in preserving and combining tradition with contemporary coffee culture.’ Examples of this are two unique features:
- It was the first Starbucks ever to offer tatami floor seating.
- It is the only Starbucks with Noren “暖簾,” the traditional Japanese shop curtain.
The shop retains its original daibei, the wooden wall that forms the outer enclosure. Inside you’ll see three inner courtyards that have been transformed into traditional Japanese gardens. The upper floor is modeled after a traditional Japanese tea house, with the tatami floors, zabuton cushions made from artisanal kimono fabric produced in Kyoto’s Tango area, and the tokonoma spaces displaying beautiful wall scrolls.
Location: 〒605-0826 Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Masuyacho, 349
Read Also: All About Coffee and Tea
Kawagoe Kanetsuki-dori
In 2018, Starbucks opened a store in Kawagoe, in Saitama, the prefecture just northwest of Tokyo. Located on the main shopping street near the wooden tower landmark Toki no Kane, its design perfectly blends in with the many kurazukuri houses that Kawagoe, also known as Little Edo, is famous for.
The café was built to resemble a traditional warehouse, complete with a light-colored wooden exterior made with local cedarwood and a typical tiled roof to match the neighborhood’s nostalgic Little Edo townscape. The white Noren curtains give it a traditional touch and modern sensibility.
You’ll pass the typical counter and into the seating area towards the back. The walls in this area are lined with framed artworks, which are repurposed from fusuma sliding panels commonly used in traditional Japanese homes to separate rooms. The backrest cushions of the benches, on the other hand, are made with Kawagoe tozan, a local kimono fabric that’s been around since the late Edo period (1603-1868). They are held in place by ume musubi-style knotted cords, which create a homey vibe while emphasizing the outlet’s connection to the locale.
Next to the indoor space has a pretty outdoor seating area in the karesansui style, complete with bonsai trees, a stone pathway, and wind chimes for your peaceful coffee break. If Starbucks had existed already during the Edo period, it would have looked like.
With a bit of luck, you might even hear the Tsuki no Kane bell tower nearby, which has been ringing at set intervals since the Edo period. This is a great location for day trips from Tokyo because it’s easily connected by train.
Location: 〒350-0063 Saitama, Kawagoe, Saiwaichō, 15−18
Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando
Around 1,000 cherry trees bloom here, turning the entirety of Asahigaoka Park pink. Entry is free and picnickers are welcome. They even illuminate the cherry trees at night to give the park a more magical feel. There is also a small petting zoo, including baby rabbits and guinea pigs.
Opened in 2011, the Dazaifutenmangu Omotesando store is located along the historic pedestrian street leading to Fukuoka’s famed Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine, which is famous for the god of academics. This Starbucks outlet is another on our list designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma who, as we said above, designed the Reserve Roastery in Tokyo, as well as the National Stadium in Tokyo. And I personally think it’s the most unique Starbucks in Japan because of its innovative design that is unlike anything else on our list
Unlike our last two options on this list with their highly traditional designs, this store’s scheme takes a traditional wooden framework structure and creates an avant-garde art installation.
Those familiar with Kengo Kuma’s work will recognize the outlet’s eye-catching feature, a crisscrossing mass of wooden beams, as his signature style. It comprises 2,000 cedarwood bars, ranging from 1.3m to 4m long and 6cm wide, all pieced together using the traditional kigumi technique, which is the art of interlocking wooden joints without nails.
In the elongated, tunnel-like space, the zigzag-ing sofa seats follow through with the sharp geometric lines, while natural light from the skylight and the windows at the back give the room a bright and airy feel. The wooden design references the traditional surroundings while elevating the townscape with a contemporary edge.
A year after opening in 2012, the store won Japan’s Good Design Award for “enabling (guests) to feel new developments in how wood is used.”
Location: 3 Chome-2-43 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka 818-0117
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Kyoto Sanjo Ohashi
The Kyoto Sanjo Ohashi store operates throughout the year, like any Starbucks. However, it transforms in the summer from May to September. Summer terraces (noryo-yuka) are a common feature in Kyoto. Yuka are decks set up along the Kamogawa and other rivers in Kyoto. They are set up with the purpose of cooling off in the hot summers, thanks to the refreshing breeze and flowing river below.
These decks are installed outside the coffeehouse, allowing customers to enjoy this tradition with a drink!
There are a limited number of seats, so you may have to wait in line on weekends and holidays. Please note that you’ll be added to a waitlist after purchasing your drink.
We recommend visiting in the mornings on weekdays since there are fewer people. In the evenings, the view of the Kamo River is breathtaking, so try visiting during that time too!
While you’re in Kyoto at this time of year, you can also see the opening ceremony on May 25th of a popular event with locals, including maiko & geiko, out celebrating.
Location: 〒604-8004 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Nakajimacho, 113
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Hirosaki Koen-mae
This retro-looking outpost in Tohoku’s Aomori prefecture was the second of three Starbucks stores that opened inside a Tangible Cultural Property – in this case, the Daihachi Dancho Kansha, a former residence of a division commander built in 1917. Located next to Hirosaki Park (famous for its cherry blossoms in spring), the heritage building was adapted into a coffee shop back in 2015. Its interior combines original western-style aesthetics with Japanese design details, such as shoji (paper sliding doors) and classic wall scrolls.The space also features traditional crafts of the area. Two types of light fixtures, for example, are made from local beech wood, processed with a technique called bunaco, where the material is cut into thin strips and coiled. The backrests of the sofas, on the other hand, are covered in a light-blue cloth adorned with geometric patterns embroidered in the Tsugaru style kogin-zashi.
You’ll feel that you’ve slipped back in time to the Taisho Period!
Pictures depicting the history of this Western home are hung on the walls so that you can learn about the memories associated with this place.
Location: 1-1 Kamishiroganecho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8207
Toyama Kansui Park
Home to 2,600 flowering cherry trees, Hirosaki Park is considered one of the best cherry blossom viewing locations in the
The Kansui Park store in Toyama was the first Starbucks in Japan to open inside a park. It is commonly called “the most beautiful Starbucks” and is famous worldwide.
Located alongside the Fugan Canal, this 9.6-hectare park is full of nature and is home to a bird sanctuary frequented by wild birds and an outdoor theater. This particular Starbucks sits on the canal’s shore, and a variety of customers spanning all ages – some with pets in tow – stop here to relax and recharge.
Its simplistic design harmonizes with and blends into the nature-rich park. The blue sky and white clouds shine on the store’s glass walls on sunny days.
The park’s scenery can also be enjoyed through the large windows.
The most popular seats in the store are on the balcony, thanks to its river view. Even if no seats are available, you can still soak up the sunlight and feel the breeze on the patio with a drink in hand.
The night view is also exceptional!
Location: 〒930-0805 Toyama, Minatoirifunecho, 5, 富山富岩運河環水公園
Hakodate Bayside
Most cherry blossom spots feature hundreds, if not thousands, of individual trees. Miharu Takizakura is unique in that it is home to only a single tree. What, then, makes this location so special? One of the “three greatest cherry trees” in Japan, this may be the most popular individual tree in the country. The takizakura, or “waterfall cherry tree,” is a weeping cherry tree that is thought to be over one thousand years old. It is located in the hills outside of Miharu Town, near Koriyam City in the Fukushima Prefecture.
Located in Hokkaido’s port city Hakodate, this Starbucks is set in one of the heritage buildings in the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse district, which dates back to the Meiji era (1868-1912). In keeping its original wooden flooring and staircase, the two-story warehouse has managed to preserve and showcase its historic atmosphere.
You can gather around the fireplace from autumn to early spring and sip on a hot latte to warm up from Hokkaido’s harsh winter. All seats offer a great view of Hakodate Bay but head out to the terrace on the second floor if you prefer a slight breeze.
Location: 〒040-0053 Hokkaido, Hakodate, Suehirocho, 24−6 函館西波止場
Izumo Taisha
The Shiroishi River, which flows through the southern part of Miyagi Prefecture, is lined with about 8 kilometers of cherry blossom trees along its embankment, creating a stunning landscape with a backdrop of the majestic snow-capped Zao Mou
The famous Izumo Taisha, dedicated to the Shinto deity of marriage – Ōkuninushi – is one of Japan’s most ancient and important Shinto shrines. Even though its construction date is unknown, it is widely believed that it is the oldest shrine in all of Japan. Next to the Izumo-taisha shrine, you can find a beautiful Starbucks with a beautiful blend of traditional and modern design.
The first floor is designed in a Western-style. The store also has enormous glass windows that reach the floor, enabling a great outside view.
The second floor features some Shinto elements, including wooden tables shaped like traditional magatama beads, lighting designed with the shrine’s shimenawa (woven rice straw ropes – that you can also see in sumo), and a gable roof design that shows the traditional Shinto style characteristic to the area.
When you’re there, make sure to get yourself an Izumo mug. They are designed with an agate pattern and hand-painted by artisans in Izumo. They cannot be purchased online or anywhere else aside from this Starbucks, definitely a great souvenir!
Starbucks Izumo Taisha in Shimane Prefecture is a stone’s throw from Izumo Grand Shrine, a popular spiritual spot for romantic relationships and marriage. The exterior is inspired by traditional Japanese homes with the concept of being a “union between Japan and the West.”
Location: 841 Taishacho Kizukiminami, Izumo, Shimane 699-0711
Fukuoka Ohori Park
The Fukuoka Ohori Park store is the second Starbucks to open in a park, following Toyama Kansui Park.
It even looks similar to the Toyama Kansui Park store on the outside. However, this location has a unique interior that is especially environmentally conscious.
For example, the store makes an effort to “let natural light and reduce the amount of electricity used during the day.” A portion of the tables is also made from custom boards produced by combining used coffee grounds with timber from forest thinning.
Thanks to the many single-person tables, guests love getting some work done inside the Fukuoka Ohori Park store.
Location: 1-8 Ohorikoen, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka, 810-0051
TSUTAYA Books Takeo City Library
Takeo City in Saga Prefecture renovated and reopened the Takeo City Library in 2013. It shares the premises with TSUTAYA BOOKS and Starbucks to appeal to a wide range of readers. You can also borrow and purchase books.
The impressive interior features a high ceiling, large wooden beams, and spectacular bookshelves lined with over 200,000 volumes. These features make it a popular spot with architecture enthusiasts.
Many Starbucks worldwide are located in bookstores, but having one in a library is rare. How about immersing yourself in a world surrounded by the scent of books with a cup of coffee?
Location: 5304-1 Takeocho Oaza Takeo, Takeo, Saga 843-0022
Read Also: English Bookstores in Tokyo
