Starbucks Coffee Japan opened a new branch on Thursday (November 25) in Nishitokyo, a western area of Tokyo, next to an ancient 300-year-old camphor tree. The coffee shop opens with a gorgeous wooden interior.

Starbucks Nishitokyo

Starbucks Nishitokyo was built on top of a long-standing cafe called Kusunoki in Musashino, Tokyo that was loved by locals for 40 years before closing down. The Starbucks branch, with its striking warm wooden decor, takes inspiration from an old 300-year-old tree that stands 23-meters tall and 7 meters in circumference. The old round pillars that kept the previous cafe Kusunoki standing have been kept in place and built around, incorporating a tall new triangular roof, lights, and the walls, and more—all as an homage to the old cafe. This way, memories of the beloved can be passed on while making way for a new chapter in history.

Starbucks’s wooden decor

Starbucks Shinshu Zenkoji Nakamise-dori branch

Starbucks Shikishima Park branch

Starbucks Nishitokyo comes as the latest Starbucks branch to have entirely wooden decor, something which the company has been incorporating much of in Japan in recent years. The Shinshu Zenkoji Nakamise-dori branch is made using five different types of trees sourced in Nagano Prefecture. The Shikishima Park branch offers an incredible view of the park’s flowers and trees, including the cherry blossoms when they bloom in spring.

Starbucks Japan is opening another wooden branch in Spring 2021 at Ise Grand Shrine.

An initiative to use wood grown in Japan

Starbucks Shinjuku Gyoen branch

Starbucks LINKS UMEDA branch

The number of shops and cafes using local wood in Japan is on the rise in response to the issue of using domestic wood from places outside of a local area. Starbucks Shinjuku Gyoen, for example, has walls, a ceiling, and drinks counter made from wood sourced in Tama, Tokyo, while Starbucks LINKS UMEDA has pillars made of wood taken from trees in Umeda, Osaka.

Starbucks Coffee Japan has announced the opening of a new branch at Ise Grand Shrine’s Naiku Inner Shrine in Spring 2021. Ise Grand Shrine is an ancient shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture with a history spanning almost 2,000 years.

The new coffee shop will opposite Oharaimachi-dori, a beautiful, stove-paved 800m road that continues from Uji Bridge along the Isuzu River. The two-floored cafe features wooden architecture while incorporating Starbucks essence in a way that does not make it look unnatural in this historical and traditional area. Its first floor is where you will find the bar counter ready to welcome guests with vim and vigour while the second floor will be the bustling seating area.

Starbucks hopes to act as a hub for the locals and visitors to the shrine where they can foster community over a cup of coffee. The cafe windows offer a beautiful view of the street together with the mountain range in the background. A must-visit for anyone travelling to Ise Grand Shrine.

Starbucks Coffee Japan has revealed that its second instalment of its limited-edition holiday season 2020 beverages will be the “Matcha x Matcha White Chocolate” and “Matcha x Matcha White Chocolate Frappuccino®” which customers can order from November 24. A new batch of festive Starbucks merch will also hit Japanese branches on November 30.

A harmonious fusion of matcha and sweet white chocolate

Matcha x Matcha White Chocolate Frappuccino® Tall ¥590 (Tall-size only)

Matcha x Matcha White Chocolate: Short ¥450 / Tall ¥490 / Grande ¥530 / Venti® ¥570 (Hot option only)

Matcha is one of Starbucks Japan’s signature flavours and just to happens to have been in the spotlight in last year’s holiday season drinks. This year sees marbling mixture of of rich matcha sauce and sweet white chocolate syrup with the Frappuccino®, finished with a squirt of whipped cream, brownie bits, and snowy powdered sugar. The hot version comes as a marriage of matcha and white mocha mixed together with steamed milk to warm the cockles of hearts during the cold months.

New holiday season merchandise

The theme of the second batch of merchandise is “Brilliant Season” which capture the bright and sparkly vibe of winter like with the snowflake-covered stainless steel bottle, a glass mug with beads in it that move around when shaken, a snow globe, and more. The perfect line-up for capturing the holiday season mood during your coffee break.

Starbucks Japan is currently serving the Berry x Berry No-Bake Cheesecake Frappuccino® and Berry x Berry White Mocha holiday season drinks for the holiday season until November 24 when they will be replaced by the Matcha x Matcha White Chocolate and Matcha x Matcha White Chocolate Frappuccino®. It is also serving the Starbucks® Christmas Blend, Gingerbread Latte, and Macadamia Toffee Latte until Christmas Day.

Starbucks Coffee Japan has announced that it is opening orders for its 2021 fukubukuro on November 16, 2020. Recipients will be chosen randomly.

Fukubukuro is a Japanese New Year custom where customers can buy bags filled with unknown contents, usually at a discounted price. Starbucks is also joining in with the annual tradition to deliver luck to its customers.

2021 Starbucks Fukubukuro | ¥7,500 (Tax Included)

Starbucks’s fukubukuro are canvas tote bags made partly with recycled cotton. The contents are unknown but it is confirmed that there will be fukubukuro-exclusive items as well as original merchandise, drink tickets, and more. This year, they have also added a special coffee bean card which customers can exchange at Starbucks in Japan for a bag of coffee beans of their choice.

Starbucks Coffee Japan has announced that the holiday season at Starbucks Reserve®︎ Roastery Tokyo is set to begin on November 13, 2020. “Special Roastery Holiday” is the theme this year, for which the specialist coffee branch will be serving a line-up of unique beverages for the holiday season, as well as decorating each of its three floors.

Eggnog Latte ¥900 | Butterscotch Chai Tea Latte ¥950 | Nakameguro Porthole Winter ¥4,200 | Strawberry Chai Nog ¥2,000 (Before Tax)

This autumn and winter, the Roastery is serving a variety of seasonal flavours for its “STARBUCKS RESERVE® CHRISTMAS 2020” line-up. Customers can look forward to the smell of warm cedar fragrance, orange marmalade, spices, and butterscotch. These beverages, each of which is served on a different floor at the coffee shop, are so beautiful they almost seem a waste to sip.

Bottom Right: Cornetti Lampone Chocolate ¥420 | Bottom Left: Maritozzo Lampone & Fragola ¥380 | Top Left: Holiday Panettone ¥5,400 | Top Right: Zuppa Inglese ¥580

Popular Italian bakery Princi® has baked up a selection of authentic Italian treats for the holiday season too, including a classic panettone.

Red Stainless Steel Tumbler 473ml ¥3,800 | Red Round Mug 355ml ¥2,500 | Small Red Tote Bag ¥2,300 | Round Tumbler 355ml ¥2,500 (Before Tax)

Starbucks Reserve®︎ Roastery Tokyo is also selling some limited-edition merchandise too both in-store and on their website so everyone can enjoy delicious drinks at home too.

Starbucks Coffee Japan is set to launch the Starbucks holiday season on November 1 with a selection of special drinks and products. The theme this year is “a Special Holiday with Starbucks Classics.”

The coffee chain revealed three seasonal drinks for the holiday season this week including the Starbucks® Christmas Blend, Gingerbread Latte, and Macadamia Toffee Latte. Now they’re showcasing the “Berry x Berry No-Bake Cheesecake Frappuccino®” and “Berry x Berry White Mocha” which will also be added to the seasonal menu.

Berry x Berry No-Bake Cheesecake Frappuccino® | Tall ¥590 (Before Tax)

Berry x Berry White Mocha | Short ¥450 | Tall ¥490 | Grande ¥530 | Venti® ¥570 (Before Tax)

Opening up the first holiday season door at Starbucks is the Berry x Berry No-Bake Cheesecake Frappuccino®, a sweet and sour combination of no-bake cheesecake and a tangy sauce made from strawberries, cranberries, and raspberries. The drink is inspired by the Cranberry Bliss Bars sold at Starbucks, indulging your mouth with a mouth-watering mixed berry fusion to bring a smile to your face at the first taste.

If you’re looking for a hot beverage during the autumn and winter season, then the Berry x Berry White Mocha has you covered. This too contains the mixed berry sauce and is also laced with a white chocolate sauce. To finish, a shot of espresso and steamed pink for a rich kick to the sweetness. The espresso adds a deep flavour akin to caramel.

Starbucks Japan have also posted a special advent calendar on their official Instagram page which will run from November 1 up to Christmas Day where they will post various clips and videos. One video will be in collaboration with Japanese singer-songwriter Dai Hirai who is set to produce a new song for the event and perform it live online.

Starbucks Coffee Japan is set to launch the Starbucks holiday season on November 1 with a selection of special drinks and products. The theme this year is “a Special Holiday with Starbucks Classics.”

With less than two months to go before Christmas, the coffee chain is set to release a variety of seasonal beverages including the Starbucks® Christmas Blend, Gingerbread Latte, and Macadamia Toffee Latte. It will also release the first range of holiday season merchandise on November 6.

Hot and cosy drinks for the holiday season

Macadamia Toffee Latte: Short ¥440 | Tall ¥480 | Grande ¥520 | Venti ® ¥560

Gingerbread Latte: Short ¥420 | Tall ¥460 | Grande ¥500 | Venti ® ¥540

Winter White Chocolate: Short ¥400 | Tall ¥440 | Grande ¥480 | Venti ® ¥520

The spicy Gingerbread Latte is a must-have on the menu during the holiday season at Starbucks, one that latte lovers look forward to every year. And this year, coffee consumers in Japan have two new drinks to look forward to: the Macadamia Toffee Latte which is a crunchy combination of macadamia nuts and sweet toffee, and the snowy powdered sugar-topped Winter White Chocolate.

Starbucks® Christmas Blend and Cranberry Bliss Bar Pairing

From Left: Starbucks® Christmas Blend Espresso Roast | Starbucks® Christmas Blend | Starbucks® Christmas Blonde Roast – ¥1,520 Each (Before Tax)

A cup of Starbucks’s Christmas Blend fills you with that cosy nostalgic feeling of the season. This year’s recipe at Starbucks Japan is inspired by the one first sold in 1984 which has a rich, deep blend. It’s a coffee combination of dark roast Sumatran, Papua New Guinean, Columbian, and Guatemalan coffee beans. There’s also some aged Sumatra coffee in there to elevate the flavour.

Each cup is a complex mix that brings to mind herbs and spices, and hidden within all that a subtle sweetness.

Cranberry Bliss Bar | ¥270 (Before Tax)

Starbucks Japan is bringing back its signature Cranberry Bliss Bar dessert for the holiday season and pairing it with the Christmas Blend. The cake has orange in it which brings a tangy but fresh kick that matches heavenly with the spicy notes.

The First Merchandise Batch

The first batch of holiday season merchandise to drop at Starbucks Japan incorporates Christmas motifs like ribbons, candy canes, and reds and white colouring. The line-up includes a stainless steel bottle with a gingham checked pattern and gold dots to a stainless TOGO cup with a classic design reminiscent of a candy cane, notebooks, and more.

The holiday season is shaping up to be another cosy welcoming again this year at Starbucks Japan.

Starbucks Coffee Japan is teaming up with KOKUYO, which is known for its hugely popular Campus notebooks, to release a 2021 diary at Starbucks branches in Japan and the Starbucks Japan online store on October 7, 2020. This is Starbucks’ second collaboration with Campus.

In an effort to reduce waste, Starbucks has for a long time been recycling its coffee bean grounds, milk packs, and other items so that nothing goes to waste and everything is used to its fullest extent. The company began recycling its milk packs in 2010, and last August, released its first Campus notebook made from a combination of these packs as well as paper napkins and hand towels used in the stores.

2021 Starbucks Campus Scheduled Book | Colours: Black, White | ¥2,100

The new 2021 diary is made from recycled milk packs. Starbucks uses 1,000 tons of milk packs a year in Japan. Every day, all the milk packs are hand washed and dried by Starbucks Japan’s partners and pressed into a shape so that they are easier to collect.

Each page of the month features a different design of Starbucks’s coffee bean packs as well as stories, keywords related to taste, and other fun entries. The design for January 2021 is their Pike Place® Roast. Pike Place in Seattle, Washington is in fact where the very first Starbucks store opened. The left pages list the days and national holidays in Japan while the right pages have graph paper.

Starbucks Coffee Japan has revealed the second beverage in its Artful Autumn @ Starbucks® series of drinks. The “Candied Sweet Potato Frappuccino®” will be released at Starbucks branches in Japan on September 23, 2020.

Candied Sweet Potato Frappuccino® | Tall Size Only – ¥590

Each drink is made using a whole chopped and blended Japanese daigaku imo candied sweet potato to serve those autumn flavours, with its marbled golden colour also reminiscent of the autumn leaves. It’s topped with whipped cream, black sesame seeds, and sweet potato syrup.

Truly the perfect dessert drink to sip on for the changing seasons.

The autumn leaves are set to fall on Starbucks in Japan again this year as the coffee chain announces the return of the “Artful Autumn @ Starbucks® Promotion” which is set to begin on September 2, 2020.

This year’s drink concept is “Naturally Good Artfully Simple” which hopes to have customers feeling peaceful and enjoying the transition from summer into autumn.

Autumnal beverages made with whole blended chestnuts

Chocolate Chestnut Frappuccino®: ¥590 (Tall Only)
Chocolate Chestnut Latte: Short ¥450 / Tall ¥490 / Grande ¥530 / Venti® ¥570

What makes the Chocolate Chestnut Frappuccino® so special is its use of whole blended Japanese chestnuts—the quintessential autumn flavour of the country. The delicately broken pieces of chestnut add texture to the smooth milk and coffee and invite you into the cosy embrace of the season. Starbucks has chosen chocolate as the perfect partner to the chestnut. To best enjoy the balance of both flavours, the beverage is loaded with a “Chestnut Cacao Sauce” which gives the drink’s appearance a beautiful marble effect. Everything’s topped off with a squirt of whipped cream and a topping of chocolate flakes and candied cacao nibs.

Then there’s the Chocolate Chestnut Latte, a combination of the same tasty Chestnut Cacao Sauce together with steamed milk and espresso carefully prepared by the baristas. The hot drink is completed by a topping of chocolate flakes and candied cacao nibs. The result is a wonderful mix of chestnut, chocolate, and espresso.

Another seasonal Starbucks latte

Autumn Latte: Short ¥340 / Tall ¥380 / Grande ¥420 / Venti® ¥460

The Autumn Latte is made with Starbucks Japan’s “Autumn Blend” coffee beans. It has a smooth and gentle flavour.

Autumn in Japan is a time for seriously tasty drinks and desserts, so if you’re in the country this autumn, be sure to stop on by Starbucks for an autumn coffee.

Starbucks Coffee Japan opened a new branch at CIRCLES Ginza on July 30, 2020 that will serve as a dream location for business people.

The dream coffee shop, split into two floors, offers a unique environment and service created in collaboration with Think Lab. Rather than your regular, more public Starbucks, this branch also lets customers reserve booths and meeting spaces. This includes the SMART LOUNGE™ aimed at business users, as well as solo working spaces by Think Lab.

Starbucks Coffee CIRCLES Ginza caters to both solo workers and co-workers, giving them a space to think and concentrate alone, or come together in groups to exchange ideas. Booths offer a place to host online meetings, the SMART LOUNGE lets groups arrange chairs and tables however they like, and the Think Lab—which you pay an extra fee to use—is the perfect spot for some quiet contemplation.

1st Floor: Quick TOGO experience

The first floor is for people who aren’t looking to stay at the cafe long. They are looking for a quicker experience where they can order their Starbucks drink and food and head on out. The cafe offers cashless payments, which is notable as Japan is still very much a cash-based country, as well as the Starbucks mobile order and pay service where you pick what you want on your phone and then go and pick it up.

2nd Floor: A place where you can focus

Reserve a booth for video calls and more

There are four individual half-booths which can be reserved, each of which have a screen for video calls and online meetings. These can be used for 40 minutes and can be booked in advance. The booking system was co-developed by Starbucks and Vacan.

Tables for in-person group meetings

The window tables offer a place for meetings, discussions, and business negotiations for 2-12 people. It’s a relaxing area where workers and clients can chat freely.

解放される“ひとり”のためのパーソナル空間

For those who want to work along, Starbucks has created a spacious area with individual booths where you don’t have to meet eyes or be bothered by other people.

If you’re working in Tokyo, and need a business-oriented location where you can enjoy a coffee, then look no further than Starbucks Coffee CIRCLES Ginza.

Starbucks Coffee Japan is set to open a new branch in Japan on March 26, 2020. It will open along Nakamise-dori, a street that leads to Nagano’s famous Zenkoji Temple.

It will open as the Kōshin’etsu region’s first Starbucks Regional Landmark Storeーa Starbucks branch unique to Japan that’s built as a symbol of that area which promotes that region’s culture to customers. They enable coffee-loving visitors to discover or rediscover the wonder of a region’s history, culture, craftsmanship, and industry, while building a connection with the region through those discoveries. The branches incorporate various local design elements into them.

The new branch, called Starbucks Coffee Shinshu Zenkoji Nakamise-dori, neighbours the Niou Gate of Zenkoji Temple. It’s a place where you can sit down with a delicious cup of coffee and relax while feeling the history of the place. The coffee shop’s design and decor also takes inspiration from local history and culture, their concept behind “Busy and Quiet, Light and Dark.” It’s situated a little away from the hustle and bustle of Nakamise-dori, and houses two spacious floors.

The sliding doors and skylight let in a soft light which also casts shadows in places, mimicking the beauty of shade found in a Japanese-style house. The ceiling and walls at the entrance are made from Japanese red pine, while the bar uses five different types of wood from Nagano Prefecture like hornbeam and katsura. The stone lanterns which were in the original building have been put at the entrance, and the great beams on the second floor have been left as they are. All of this preserves the feeling of the local region while small Starbucks touches are added here and there, resulting in a unique Starbucks experience.