![]() ![]() In fact, just one year after opening, this one-of-a-kind Starbucks outlet received the Kyoto Scenery Award (Kyoto Keikan Sho) for its inspired effort in preserving and combining tradition with contemporary coffee culture. Set in an original wooden machiya (townhouse) from the Taisho period (1912-1926), the coffee house blends in perfectly with the neighbourhood’s historic vibe. Psst… There’s a Starbucks in there – and not just any Starbucks, mind you, but one of the most atmospheric in Japan. If you didn’t know better, you would have walked past this 100 year-old building without a second thought. 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.ġ5-18 Saiwaicho, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama prefecture. The outdoor terrace at the back offers the best seats in the house as it opens out to a serene Japanese garden. They are held in place by ume musubi-style knotted cords, which create a homey vibe while emphasising the outlet’s connection to the locale. 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). The walls around the seating area at the back are lined with framed artworks, which are repurposed from fusuma sliding panels commonly used in traditional Japanese homes to separate rooms. To match the neighbourhood’s nostalgic Little Edo townscape, the café was built to resemble a traditional warehouse, complete with a light-coloured wooden exterior made with local cedarwood, plus a typical tiled roof. RECOMMENDED: Prefer a gorgeous coffee shop that's more local? Check out the most beautiful cafés in Tokyo So here are the most stunning Starbucks in the country, from one that’s set in a heritage house in Kyoto to the Kawagoe outlet that features a Zen garden. ![]() In fact, these outlets are so innovative that you wouldn’t have thought it was a Starbucks until you notice the familiar green mermaid logo. Moreover, the coffee chain has found a way to adapt to local culture, creating Insta-worthy, one-of-a-kind spaces at inspiring locations while featuring cutting-edge architecture and design. Starbucks’ skyrocketing popularity in Japan is partly fueled by its continuous offering of seasonal, limited-time beverages and merchandise, most of which are exclusive to the country. Prior to the opening of the world’s largest Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Meguro in 2019, the coffee giant came up with a lottery system to give winners access tickets based on specific time slots to visit the outlet. In 2015, the opening of Starbucks’ first outpost in Tottori, Japan’s least populated prefecture, attracted a thousand fans to line up from the early morning hours so that they could be the first to enter the new store. Since opening its first outlet in Ginza more than two decades ago in 1996, the Seattle-born brand now has a whopping 1,771 stores (and counting) across the country.įor the past few years, its fandom has reached a fever pitch. International coffee chain Starbucks may be big around the globe, but in Japan, it has developed a cult-like following. ![]()
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