Not just Kyoto’s machiya tatami Starbucks – Japan’s eight must-visit Starbucks

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department, compiled and reported

The American coffeehouse chain “Starbucks” has a global presence, with over 1,000 stores in Japan alone. In addition to the newly opened Kyoto machiya Starbucks, there are many other locations that combine local environments and cultural aesthetics, turning coffee shops into more than just places to grab a drink—they become unique sights along your journey. Below, we’ve selected eight especially distinctive Starbucks locations in Japan. On your next trip to Japan, don’t forget to slow down, enjoy a cup of coffee, and appreciate the design of these standout stores.

1. Aomori – Hirosaki Park Front Store
 
The Starbucks Hirosaki Park Front Store in Aomori Prefecture is housed in a building originally constructed in 1917 as the “Former 8th Division Commander’s Official Residence.” It is the second Starbucks in Japan to be located within a tangible cultural heritage site. The exterior retains the well-preserved Western-style architecture of the Taisho period, exuding a strong retro atmosphere.
 
[Info]
Address: 1-1 Kamishiroganecho, Hirosaki, Aomori
Business Hours: 07:00 – 21:00

2. Kobe – Kitano Foreign Settlement Store
 
The Starbucks Kobe Kitano Foreign Settlement Store is located in one of the Western-style buildings in the Kitano Foreign Settlement—a two-story wooden structure built in 1907 by Americans, full of exotic and historical charm. This is the first Starbucks in Japan to be established within a tangible cultural heritage site.
 
[Info]
Address: 3-1-31 Kitano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe
Business Hours: 08:00 – 22:00

3. Kyoto – Ninen-zaka Yasaka-cha-ya Store
 
The newly opened Kyoto Ninen-zaka Yasaka-cha-ya Store is situated near the historic Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto. It was created by renovating a traditional townhouse that is over a hundred years old, making it the first machiya-style Starbucks. It’s also the world’s first Starbucks where customers can enjoy coffee while sitting on tatami mats, gracefully blending Eastern and Western, old and new cultural elements.

[Info]
Address: 349 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City
Business Hours: 8:00 – 20:00