Traditional Tea House-Inspired Starbucks Will Soon Open its Doors in Kyoto

Starbucks in Kyoto Japanese Tea Room Ninenzaka Tatami

On June 30, coffee lovers in Kyoto will be graced with a special new Starbucks shop. Unlike the chain's other locations that have popped up in the city over the last few years, however, this new addition will offer its treats with a tatami twist.

Inspired by traditional Japanese design, the new shop pairs the quick convenience of a Starbucks coffee with the tranquility of a tea room. At the entrance, guests are welcomed by a green noren banner bearing the Starbucks logo. On the first floor is the counter, which radiates a calming glow reminiscent of a paper lantern. This zen atmosphere is further accentuated by a collection of beautiful gardens, complete with tsukubai, or purifying washbasins. This aesthetic continues onto the second floor, where customers are invited to remove their shoes, relax on the tatami reed floors, and enjoy their beverages.

Housed in a historic building on Ninensaka, a street in the heart of the hustle and bustle of Kyoto's Higashiyama district, this new shop is the perfect place to grab a drink without losing the ambiance. Plus, after a busy day exploring Kyoto, what could be better than a calm and convenient coffee break?

A new Starbucks in Kyoto will open its doors to the public. Inspired by a traditional Japanese tea house, this location puts a tatami twist on the coffee shop chain. On the first floor, customers order their drinks at an illuminated counter.

Starbucks in Kyoto Japanese Tea House Ninenzaka Tatami

They then head upstairs, where they can relax on the tatami floor.

Starbucks in Kyoto Japanese Tea House Ninenzaka Tatami

Starbucks in Kyoto Japanese Tea Room Ninenzaka Tatami

This new shop is housed in a historic building located in the popular Higashiyama district, allowing coffee lovers to sip their drinks as they enjoy the ambiance.

Starbucks in Kyoto Japanese Tea House Ninenzaka Tatami

Starbucks in Kyoto Japanese Tea House Ninenzaka Tatami

Starbucks Coffee Japan: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
h/t: [Spoon & Tamago, Sora News 24]

All images via Starbucks Japan.

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Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou was a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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