Starbucks’s presence can be felt around the world, where it has inscribed the idea of iced frappuccinos and syrupy lattes in nearly every corner of the earth. But its first venture outside of North America, where the brand was built and founded, was surprisingly halfway across the world—in Japan’s upscale Ginza district. Being Starbucks’s first international investment, they were faced with the challenge of introducing a new facet of coffee to the Japanese market, transforming the primarily tea-drinking country into one that integrates coffee into its café culture.
Over the years, Starbucks has made its mark as an important figure in Japan’s cafe culture, building the foundation for chain cafés that would later sprout following Starbucks’s success.
Starbucks’s Entry Into The Japanese Market
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Japanese cafés are traditionally called “kissaten,” dimly lit coffee houses where guests can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. These are usually small social spaces designed like bars, which offer counter seating and a few small tables. Smoking is allowed in most kissaten, and the menu typically features simple coffee traditionally made through the Nel Drip method. Over time, kissaten all over Japan have modernized to offer a wider range of coffee options, some integrating alcohol into their menus. Food options range from simple sandwiches to a variety of hot dishes and desserts.
In the 1980s, coffee consumption started to steadily increase in Japan. Another popular chain café, Doutor Coffee, opened its doors in trendy Harajuku, introducing European-style coffee and ambience to the Japanese market. From there, more and more coffee chains began to pop up, making the competition fiercer.
In 1996, Starbucks entered the Japanese market with a flagship store in Ginza. They partnered up with a company called Sazaby League, which proved pivotal in the brand’s ability to localise for a completely different market. Upon entry, Starbucks immediately made big changes from its American counterpart, such as offering smaller sizes, less sugar, and localised flavors by introducing menu items that include locally-loved Hojicha and Matcha.
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Starbucks’s entry into the Japanese market broke the mold of not only the typical kissaten but also other Western-style cafés by bringing in a novel experience in the country’s café scene: customisation. With the ability to customise drinks, customers had the power to add and change flavours to suit their preferences. Starbucks took advantage of the experimental drink selection to further enhance their flavour localisation, jumping on trends and constantly pursuing a younger, trendier audience. Starbucks also deviated from the traditional café ambiance by turning their stores smoke-free, larger, and brighter, appealing to younger and more social audiences.
Since its establishment in Ginza, Starbucks has cemented itself as an important figure in Japan’s coffee scene. It has opened nearly 2,000 stores around the country, including the four-floor Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Tokyo, which includes an in-house coffee roasting factory. Today, the brand continues to expand with innovative customer experiences and well-thought-out stores placed in strategic cultural landmarks.
The Starbucks Japan Experience
Café Culture
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For an international business to succeed in Japan, which arguably has some of the most stringent cultural benchmarks in the world, it must learn to speak with the Japanese audience through careful localisation. While Starbucks is typically known across the world for chatty baristas who know everything about you, from your name to where you went on holiday, the baristas in Japan offer a warm but slightly more distanced service. A notable step away from Starbucks norms, customers are not called by name. Instead, they’re given a number, fully respecting their privacy, and eliminating the drama of misspelt names.
Recently, there has been an increasing demand for laptop-friendly spaces, which makes Starbucks a popular place for people to work and study. While this is generally frowned upon in independent cafés, which foster social spaces through intentional interior design marked by coffee and bar tables instead of bistro tables, Starbucks creates a comfortable environment for people to enjoy their time at a café more freely. Most stores will have individual seats and charging stations, and larger branches also offer communal tables similar to libraries. Free WIFI is generally offered in all stores, although with time limits.
Local Flavours
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Starbucks embraced Japanese taste preferences by deviating from focusing on American favourites, such as the Pumpkin Spice Latte, and introducing menu items that are more aligned with local culture. For instance, Starbucks Japan offers seasonal drinks like the Yaki-imo Kobashi Caramel Frappuccino for fall and the Merry Berry Strawberry Milk for winter, which can’t be found anywhere else in the world. The always-evolving menu with eye-catching drinks allows Starbucks to stay on-trend, regularly making waves on social media. In response, younger customers would naturally flock to try the newest frappuccino, increasing Starbucks’s brand value.
American drinks like the Pumpkin Spice Latte and the viral Pink Drink (officially known as the Strawberry Açaí Refresher) do eventually make their way into Starbucks Japan, but the coffee chain still continues to release drinks specifically formulated for the Japanese market. For its 25th anniversary, Starbucks released 47 frappuccinos made with local specialties from each of Japan’s 47 Prefectures, further elevating its commitment to the Japanese audience.
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The annual limited-edition sakura beverages, which could only be ordered during the cherry blossom season, have also become so popular that they have since been offered in the US and other Asian markets, including South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and parts of Southeast Asia.
It’s not just drinks that pack a punch. Starbucks Japan offers a variety of pastries, sweets, and savory options, all served just as quickly as other international branches. But the food options are highly localised to include local favourites like chiffon cake, mont blanc, and salad wraps.
Brand Merchandise
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Starbucks needed to set itself further apart from the competition, so it became a pioneer coffee chain for introducing brand merchandise to the Japanese market, starting from basic Japan-exclusive merchandise like mugs. They continued to add things to the lineup over the course of the past few decades, adding tote bags, tumblers, and even plushies, elevating the brand’s appeal to the local audience. Japan, as a country, reacts positively to cute merchandise due to a strong gifting culture and widespread domestic and international tourism, so it was a key marketing tactic for Starbucks to further expand its line of products in the country.
Must-Visit Starbucks Stores in Japan
Starbucks’ influence in the Japanese coffee scene and its image as a relatively luxurious coffee chain are evident in the number of uniquely designed storefronts placed in culturally important locations. While trekking up to a centuries-old shrine or admiring the vestiges of historical monuments around the country, you might come across some amazing renovated buildings that, upon closer inspection, are impressive Starbucks stores that resemble the surrounding environment.
With over 1,600 stores around Japan, there are more than a handful of Starbucks branches that stand out from the rest, catching the attention of those who love collecting niche travel experiences. While touring Japan, we recommend checking out this list of incredible Starbucks stores.
Starbucks Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya (Kyoto)
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Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya is a Starbucks store in a renovated hundred-year-old wooden teahouse, traditionally called a “machiya.” Blending perfectly into Kyoto’s historical district, this Starbucks carefully preserved the centuries-old facade of the original building, posting only subtle branding to hint at its presence while carefully blending into the undisrupted landscape, filled with similarly structured buildings from the Taisho era.
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Even the experience of entering the building was thoughtfully preserved, as customers would have to pass through a traditional “noren” curtain (often found in hot springs and ramen shops in modern-day buildings) to enter the store. Inside, the hallway is narrow, which is a characteristic of buildings in Kyoto. There are only subtle traces of Starbucks’s branding, from the fish scales on the stone floor to the washed-out painting on the wall by the bar counter.
A traditional moss garden can be admired from behind a glass window. Seating is particularly unique: You can choose modern amenities such as bar counter seats and coffee tables on the first floor, while the second floor allows you to enjoy food and drinks with the pleasure of tatami seating.
Image Credit: TimeOut
Ninenzaka Yasaya Chaya offers a menu similar to that of other Starbucks stores in Japan. But during the New Year celebrations, the store sometimes sells “fukudama” (lucky ball) inside gachapon-like balls that house lucky charms in the shape of animals. Do note that this branch is one of the most highly visited by tourists, so be ready for the possibility of a long wait for entry.
Starbucks Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando (Fukuoka)
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The Dazaifu Tenmangu, nestled in Fukuoka, is one of the most important Shinto shrines in the world, acting as the head of over 12,000 Tenjin shrines in Japan. Visited by millions of tourists and locals alike, the surrounding area has become a historical district, filled with shops selling traditional food and wares, from craft onigiri to bullfinch carvings and omamori, to more modern cafés and gift shops.
Surprisingly, one of the most impressive structures in the district is a Starbucks built by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. The storefront features an eye-catching facade built with more than 2,000 cedar beams, which were intricately woven to create an interlocking pattern reminiscent of latticework, which is commonly used in traditional Japanese architecture. While the store is small, the imaginative design gives the impression of depth, offering a sense of visual luxury along the path to the sacred shrine.
Inside this iconic Starbucks Japan store, you can order typical menu items, including standard caramel frappuccinos and limited seasonal beverages, offering a much-needed reprieve from the trek to and from the shrine. They also sell Fukuoka-exclusive merchandise, and sometimes release goods that can only be found in the Dazaifu branch.
Starbucks Hirosaki Park (Aomori)
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By the outer moat of Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region, you’ll find a beautiful structure that resembles a home built upon the foundations of European architecture. The building is a registered tangible cultural property originally built in the 1910s and belonged to a high-ranking officer of the Imperial Japanese Army.
It has since transformed into a Starbucks branch, welcoming the influx of visitors who frequent Hirosaki Castle. This Starbucks is an especially popular spot during the cherry blossom viewing season, autumn foliage, and winter, when evening illuminations turn the café into a romantic destination.
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Starbucks dutifully maintained vestiges of the historically relevant site, with minimal branding on the exterior of the property, designed to blend with the building’s facade. The inside of the café was renovated to incorporate modern conveniences and a café-like ambiance, while also maintaining elements of the original interior design.
For instance, you’ll find both washitsu (Japanese-style rooms) and youshitsu (Western-style rooms) inside the property, which was a concept popularised during the Taisho era. The divisive interior structure pays homage to the store’s history as a home, radiating a sense of intimacy in each room.
Starbucks Sengan-en (Kagoshima)
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One of the most beautiful Starbucks coffee shops in the world is located in Sengan-en, a traditional Japanese garden that belonged to the influential Shimazu family, a samurai clan that once ruled the Kagoshima Prefecture. Just a few meters away from the Japanese landscape garden, which houses a curation of preserved architecture, you’ll find a white, fairytale-like building that starkly contrasts with the nearby Japanese beauty.
Starbucks Sengan-nen is a registered tangible cultural property with a distinctly European facade, boasting elements of Western-style architecture, from the arch of the doorway to the comfortably-sized balcony and white-tiled exterior. More experienced eyes will notice that the roofs are covered with Japanese-style tiles, forming a beautiful fusion between Western and Japanese cultures.
Image Credit: Visit Kagoshima City
The interior of the store offers a glimpse into bits of the Shimazu family heritage, including the family crest that sits proudly by the entrance. Some key design points include paneled ceilings and a bar counter with a pattern inspired by “Satsuma Kiriko,” a form of Japanese glass-cutting that originated from Kagoshima Prefecture. Much of the store is furnished with locally-made furniture and decor that blend with the vintage atmosphere, but elements of modernity can also be seen throughout, such as the seating structure, which includes smaller tables and larger communal spaces like most Starbucks branches.
Starbucks Dogo Onsen Station (Ehime)
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Dogo Onsen Station, an important landmark in Ehime Prefecture, is memorable for its interesting architecture, which showcases a rare preservation of Meiji era design. The exterior of the premises has a primarily Western appeal, with high ceilings and long vertical windows that are atypical of the more traditional Japanese homes that are usually attributed to the Edo and Taisho eras. Yet there’s still a distinctly Japanese charm in the station, from its wood-paneled exterior to the upturned edges of its roof.
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Within Dogo Onsen Station is a Starbucks Japan store that displays a fusion between traditional and modern times. The exterior facade was carefully preserved with minimal branding to carefully blend with the scenic historic district. The interior of the store impressively utilises furniture crafted from the same materials used in retro railways, fabricating the charming atmosphere of an old-school train. There are sightseeing spots within the café, where you can check out views of the historic town and watch the passing “Botchan Ressha,” a restored train from the 1800s that runs from Matsuyama Station to Dogo Onsen.
Tourists flock to Dogo Onsen as it inspired the visuals in the popular Studio Ghibli film, Spirited Away. If you happen to be heading to Matsuyama, it’s worth spending an extra hour or two at the station to take in the experience of this unique Starbucks location, where you can experience an important facet of the Meiji era.
Starbucks Kawagoe Kanetsuki Dori (Saitama)
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One of Starbucks Japan’s most well-architectured storefronts is located in Kawagoe, an old merchant town located northwest of Tokyo. The area is also popularly known as “Little Edo” due to its collection of carefully preserved buildings from the Edo period, many of which were once warehouses, now converted into stores, restaurants, and cafés that attract tourists from all over the world. The Starbucks in Kawagoe Kanetsuki-Dori is one of the renovated “kura” (warehouses) in the area, reimagined into a café that perfectly harmonises traditional and modern elements to create a sense of connection between the past and present amid the changing times. Since its opening, it has been regarded as a tourist destination.
The front of the store, facing the shopping street, was designed with locally sourced cedarwood and tiled roofs, which are key points in Edo-period architecture. Like its other stores situated in historical landmarks, this Starbucks kept branding simple, with no modern signboards to maintain the visual appeal of the neighbourhood. Instead, a simple cloth with an almost washed-out image of the Starbucks logo greets guests in front of the store, and a brand name is carved in wooden letters, seamlessly integrating into the building’s wooden facade.
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The inside of the coffee shop offers a charming glimpse into the synchrony between Edo-period and modern influences. You’ll find benches with backrests made of upholstered kimono fabric called the “Kawagoe Tozan,” which was locally produced in the area. The walls are decorated with traditional Japanese mementos, including ink-washed paintings and wooden panels. In contrast, modern elements like concrete flooring, gray walls, and metal lighting create an almost industrial look and feel.
Image Credit: TimeOut
The back of the store features large glass windows that open up to al fresco seating, featuring a low seating layout surrounded by a beautiful Japanese landscape garden, adorned by bamboo and bonsai. Strolling by the shopping street and dining inside and outside of the café can almost feel like three different experiences, making this Starbucks Japan branch one of the most memorable.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
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The opening of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Nakameguro, Tokyo marked the first multi-storey store created to invite a truly immersive experience dedicated to coffee, tea, and even cocktails, all packed into one architectural wonder. The building was designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who was also responsible for the Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando store in Fukuoka.
The exterior of the building features an almost minimalist facade, with large glass panels and wood details in line with the imagery of Japanese minimalism. An interesting feature is the timber fins that expand outward, paying homage to Starbucks’s mermaid branding while also serving the practical purpose of accommodating balcony space.
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The inside of the store is what makes the space truly remarkable. The store was built upon the foundation of a big coffee bean cask made of copper, which was expanded to vertically span all four floors. It’s adorned with copper cherry blossoms, paying homage to the nearby Meguro River, a popular viewing spot during hanami. The first floor looks like an otherworldly coffee factory, with tubes that adorn the ceilings and connect to the brewing station on the bar counter, fostering a playful and fantastical ambiance.
Image Credit: The Straits Times
The first floor of the building is dedicated to coffee, with a working roastery that produces almost 700,000 kilograms of coffee annually. The second floor features a Teavana tea bar where you can experience innovative tea combinations. The third floor features an extension of the coffee roastery and an incredible bar area where coffee, tea, and alcohol are fused together to build unique flavors. Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo also offers a plethora of unique menu items that can’t be found anywhere else in the world, such as the Sakura Blossom Negroni.
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