Starbucks

Japanese locations

Most countries have Starbucks but this post will only talk about the version found in Japan. Sometimes you just crave a place with a familiarity to remind you of home….or just lager drink sizes. In Japan most standard coffee sizes are smaller than anything I’d get back at home. I always get the venti (large) sized drinks. Though sometimes a limited edition drink will only be available in certain sizes only. Starbucks is also good for getting a familiar or interesting dessert. I like their new york cheesecake and have seen different pies (banana creme and apple) for limited times only. The limited sweet potato chiffon cake was so delicious and fluffy. While you can get a lot of the same drinks as you can back home in your own country, they may not have the syrups or other ingredients to make some of the other drinks, so be sure to check your options before ordering. The prices are also comparable to what you’d be used to.

A big thing in Japan is limited time only flavours. So in the spring there may be a sakura latte, in spring 2020 their sakura latte was so good I indulged in that drink many times while it was still there. They’ve also had a butterscotch flavour at one point that was so good because you can’t easily find anything that flavour. In December 2020 they had a berry frappuccino that was so good because it was tangy and tart, also unusual for Japan. So they have many drinks and snacks that are released throughout the year. I don’t try them all though, only the ones that interest me. Otherwise I tend to stick to my usuals of vanilla lattes, matcha lattes, chai lattes, white chocolate mochas or iced teas sometimes with cake. 

Japanese Starbucks also has nice limited edition travel mugs, tumblers, mugs and bottles for different holidays or seasons. They also have prefecture specific designs. So in Hiroshima they have cups with famous themes like maple leaves, deer and Itsukushima shrine. In Kyoto the design has shrines. So they are nice to collect as a souvenir. They also have a Japan seasonal line where every season they come out with an updated version with iconic images to match. For example, with the summer design, there may be fireworks decorating the mug. I’ve previously purchased two sakura travel mugs, a Halloween travel mug and been tempted by some Christmas designs. I also want to buy a seasonal Japan travel mug but I keep waiting to see the next design. One day I’ll get a autumn or winter design.

As with all Starbucks they tend to have a modern design using wood, black, and nice lighting. You can find a Starbucks just about anywhere and that makes them extremely convenient. If you have time to kill before your train but don’t have time to wander too far you could easily find a Starbucks or other chain to stay in. Maybe your legs are super tired from hiking or exploring and need a place to sit down. You probably don’t have to look too far to find a Starbucks. Time to kill before a restaurant opens in the evening, Starbucks. What’s nice about Starbucks is that they’re usually a larger shop that will have plenty of seating, have power outlets to charge devices and you can buy a drink and sit for hours inside without judgment. Plus if you have the Japanese mobile app set up, you can order your drink ahead of time and pay with your mobile for a quick pick up when you’re on the go.

You may not want to resort to the familiarity of Starbucks and try new places but in Japan it’s worth looking at even if it’s just once. 

Hours are dependent on the individual locations themselves.