Starbucks in Japan: A Complete Guide to Must-Try Drinks and Unique Stores

In Japan, limited-time products tied to the seasons and special events appear almost every month.
Examples include the SAKURA series in spring, fruit drinks in summer, roasted sweet potato and pumpkin flavors in fall, and Christmas offerings in winter.
Even familiar seasonal series return with different themes and flavors each year, giving fans a reason to come back.
New releases generate plenty of social media posts on launch day, adding to the excitement surrounding Starbucks in Japan.

Starbucks stores in Japan offer many ways to experience local character, whether they occupy historic buildings, overlook Japanese gardens, or incorporate regional traditions and materials.
Connections with local culture and communities are an important consideration when creating new stores.

Starbucks Regional Landmark Stores, in particular, are special locations established in places that represent their regions.
Their designs incorporate elements of local history, traditions, nature, and industry, offering a chance to rediscover the area’s character over coffee.
Stop by between sightseeing visits for a slightly different encounter with Japanese culture.

For a distinctly Japanese flavor, try the Matcha Frappuccino® Blended Cream.
This longtime favorite combines the gentle bitterness of matcha with the mellow sweetness of milk and whipped cream.
If you’d like a stronger matcha flavor, you can request extra matcha powder at no additional charge.

For more of a dessert experience, add chocolate sauce or, for an extra charge, chocolate chips.
For a more pronounced matcha flavor, switch to nonfat milk, ask for extra matcha powder, and skip the syrup and whipped cream.

The Hojicha & Classic Tea Latte is a good choice if you enjoy a toasty aroma and a light, refreshing taste.
This smooth tea latte combines the roasted aroma of hojicha and the pleasantly brisk flavor of black tea with fresh cream and white chocolate-flavored syrup.
Originally introduced as a limited-time drink, it proved so popular that it became a permanent menu item.

The iced version has syrup and milk in the bottom layer, with the tea blend on top, creating an attractive layered appearance.
Start by enjoying the flavors of each layer, then stir everything together to experience a different combination of flavors.

For a more indulgent drink, add caramel sauce and, for an extra charge, whipped cream.
If you prefer a less sweet drink, try ordering it with less syrup and less ice.

Cherry blossom-themed Frappuccino® drinks and lattes typically arrive in February each year.
These pretty, pale pink drinks offer an early taste of spring and have become a popular seasonal tradition.

During cherry blossom season, the paper cups also feature special designs.
The designs change every year, so many fans look forward to the cups as much as the drinks.

Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo is one of just five Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in the world.
From watching roasting and brewing up close to taking in the aromas and sounds of coffee, a visit engages all the senses.
With more than 100 exclusive drinks and merchandise items on offer, it’s a wonderland for coffee lovers.
A numbered ticket system may be used for entry during busy periods, including weekends and cherry blossom season.

Set inside the HANA・BIYORI flower park, this botanical café is surrounded by flowers and greenery.
Light streams through large glass windows as you enjoy your coffee amid seasonal blooms.
It offers a relaxing escape from everyday life.

This store is located in Maruyama Park, Kyoto’s oldest park and a designated Place of Scenic Beauty.
It’s a relaxing place to enjoy the changing seasons and the beauty of a Japanese garden.
The interior brings nature, scenery, and art together, allowing you to appreciate the changing landscape as you spend time there.
It’s a good choice for a quiet break while exploring nearby shrines and temples.

This spacious store is directly connected to JR Osaka Station, making it easy to reach.
Its design reflects Osaka’s take on mottainai, the philosophy of avoiding waste, with interiors that repurpose old aprons and tableware that would otherwise have been discarded.
It offers a fresh take on the urban Starbucks experience.

This store occupies a wooden building on Oharai-machi, the street leading to Ise Jingu.
It blends into the historic streetscape, inviting you to enjoy coffee in a distinctly Japanese setting.
Soft light filters through skylights, creating a calm space where you can still sense the bustle outside.
It’s an inviting stop during a day of sightseeing.

Located on the Kyohara side of Manko Park, this airy store is surrounded by nature.
Large windows and terrace seating overlook banyan trees and lawns, creating a relaxed atmosphere that feels distinctly Okinawan.
A central communal table encourages conversation and offers a sense of connection with the neighborhood.
It’s a good choice for unwinding in subtropical surroundings between sightseeing stops.

This nostalgic wooden store stands directly in front of Hirosaki Park, one of Japan’s best-known cherry blossom spots.
In spring, it offers a special setting for enjoying the blossoms in full bloom.
The building was constructed in 1917 as an official residence for an army division commander and is now a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
Photographs inside trace the building’s history, giving you a sense of its past as you enjoy your coffee.

This store occupies a traditional Japanese house on the approach to Zenkoji Temple.
Its plaster walls and tiled roof blend naturally into the surrounding streetscape, and the store has received the Nagano City Landscape Award.
On the second floor, low tables with recessed legroom and heated floors provide a place to warm up and relax between sightseeing stops.

This store is on Miyajima, one of Japan’s Three Most Scenic Places.
It became known as “the Starbucks you reach by boat.”
Through its glass walls, you can take in sweeping views of the Seto Inland Sea and the great torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Located on Omotesando Shopping Street, it’s easy to include in a day of sightseeing.

Located in a reconstruction of the old Dogo Onsen Station building, this store has a nostalgic atmosphere.
The structure recreates the station building constructed in 1911 and is a much-loved symbol of the town.
Travel-themed art and decorations on the second floor give the space a story of its own.
Stop by while exploring the hot spring town.

Choose a drink from the menu and tell the barista the size and whether you’d like it hot or iced.
Starbucks in Japan generally offers four sizes: Short, Tall, Grande, and Venti.
Available sizes and hot or iced options vary by drink.

If you’d like to customize your drink, let the barista know when you order.
You can choose a different type of milk, add or swap syrups and sauces, and make other adjustments.
Some changes are free and others cost extra, so check the price when ordering.

Let the barista know whether your order is for here or to go.
In Japan, consumption tax differs for dine-in and takeout orders: 10% for dine-in and 8% for takeout.
Once you’ve ordered and paid, collect your order at the pickup counter.