Starbucks Coffee Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Tea House

Author: Richard Perkins
Photos/Videos Taken: 2020/12/29・2022/09/02
Address: 349 Masayacho, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto,【605-0826】

Starbucks Coffee is a globally popular café chain founded in Seattle, Washington, in the United States in 1971. The first Starbucks Coffee in Japan opened in August 1996 in Tokyo’s Chūō Ward, in the famous Ginza district—an area once said to have some of the most expensive real estate in the world. From there, Starbucks Coffee expanded across Japan and has become one of the country’s most beloved café brands.

Around the world, many Starbucks Coffee locations are known for their innovative architecture and beautiful design. Japan is also home to several stunning branches that have attracted widespread attention, and one of the most famous is located in Kyoto Prefecture.

In Kyoto City, the historic district of 二寧坂 (ninenzaka) is well known for its many Buddhist temples and Shintō shrines, as well as its traditional shops selling Japanese goods and crafts. The area is also lined with many preserved traditional Japanese houses known as 古民家 (kominka). Kyoto Prefecture, too, has its own traditional style of houses. Known as 京町家 (kyōmachiya), many of these beautiful buildings are demolished each year. Fortunately, one of these buildings in the Ninenzaka area was saved and given new life as a Starbucks Coffee location.

That building is now home to Starbucks Coffee Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Tea House. Opened in 2017, the menu at this particular Starbucks Coffee shop isn’t much different from many other locations across Japan. However, the unique features of the kyōmachiya have been carefully preserved, creating a fascinating atmosphere with a distinctive sense of beauty. This location is particularly popular with foreign tourists and is always bustling with people.

In modern-day Japan, it has become a rare treat to experience—and actually step inside—a building with such history. Built over 100 years ago, this Starbucks Coffee shop blends elements of a modern café with traditional Japanese construction. Not only can one eat and drink on 畳 (tatami—straw or rush mats found in traditional Japanese rooms), but on the first floor, one can also look out onto a beautiful Japanese garden that one may only find in Kyoto Prefecture. The 床の間 (toko-no-ma—an alcove or recess in a Japanese room where scrolls are hung) has been beautifully decorated with flowers, and throughout the building, one will find items such as 下駄 (geta—a traditional Japanese wooden sandal) that the 芸妓 (geiko—women who entertain guests through traditional dance and games) might wear. Many fascinating details can be found throughout the store. The interior of this Starbucks Coffee is truly captivating, beautifully showcasing the elegance of Japan.

Many people may think of Starbucks Coffee simply as a café where one can relax and enjoy coffee at a leisurely pace. However, Starbucks Coffee Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Tea House is far more than just another café. Here, one can experience the very best of traditional Kyoto culture. There is an exceptional atmosphere here that can be felt throughout the entire store. One won’t find another Starbucks Coffee quite like this anywhere else in the country. Stepping inside truly makes one feel as if they have slipped back into Kyoto Prefecture as it existed hundreds of years ago.

NOTE
As mentioned above, Starbucks Coffee Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Tea House is especially popular with foreign tourists. As such, it is packed every single day. Unlike many other Starbucks Coffee locations across Japan, this particular branch is far from a tranquil environment. Please keep this in mind when deciding whether or not to visit.