Between the limited edition drinks, cute tumblers, and great designs, Starbucks is a must in Japan. Check out 3 new spots in Tokyo!

The many novelties of Starbucks in Japan isn't a brand new topic for Japankuruーwe've written about everything from the fancy Nakameguro Starbucks Reserve Roastery to the coffee chain's cherry blossom specialties, and we've mentioned Starbucks built inside beautiful and noteworthy buildings around Japan, in a Kyoto machiya, next to the Kawagoe Belltower, in a residence once lived in by a daimyo, and in the house of a Japanese cartoonist. But as the chain continues to grow in Japan, they continue to open more interesting and beautiful locations as well, so here are three new Starbucks that opened in Tokyo in 2020, each with their own unique appeal.

1. Starbucks at Shibuya Miyashita Park

When the Japankuru team took a trip over to the recently opened Miyashita Park shopping facility this August, one of the shops we knew we had to check out was the brand new Starbucks, sat right in the middle of the new rooftop garden. Once an unremarkable chunk of land in the middle of busy Shibuya, Miyashita Park has been transformed into three floors of trendy shopping and eating, and the facility is crowned with a new green space, one that we expect will soon be constantly full of Tokyoites sunning in the grass and picnicing on the benches. The Starbucks building itself is fairly small, but that's because the seating area really encompasses all the many seats and lawns outside in every direction. We can definitely see ourselves grabbing a cup of coffee at the Miyashita Park Starbucks and hanging out with a book or a friend to chat with, or looking out at the glittering buildings of Shibuya after sunset.

Starbucks Miyashita Park
North 4F, 6-20-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 8:00 – 22:00
Wi-Fi Available!

2. Starbucks at Hana-Biyori Botanical Garden (Yomiuriland Amusement Park)

Another brand new facility, Hana-Biyori opened up next to Yomiuriland amusement park just this spring, a modern botanical garden full of cherry blossoms, traditional Japanese buildings, fun photo spots, and even a digital projection mapping show based around the flowers. One of the things that brought Hana-Biyori quite a bit of attention at its grand opening, however, was the very first botanical garden Starbucks in Japan. Housed in a greenhouse-style building with sun shining in through skylights in the roof, and an amazing view of the surrounding botanical paradise both outside and indoors, it's an obvious destination for anyone who loves flowers, coffee, or both. Baskets overflowing with colorful blossoms hang overhead, wide aquariums full of tropical fish surround the seating area, and through the window you can check out a rainbow of colorful snapdragons in the spring, and a field of calming lavender in the summer. With the gardens and amusement park all there in one place, we'd definitely recommend this one for a half- or full-day trip.

Starbucks Hana-Biyori
4015-1 Yanokuchi, Inagi, Tokyo
Hours: 9:30 – 17:00
Wi-Fi Available!

3. Starbucks at Takanawa Gateway Station

If you're a Tokyo resident you might have heard about the JR Yamanote Line's big news of 2020: the first new station in decades, Takanawa Gateway Station! Built to be a train station of the future, the unmanned convenience store at Takanawa Gateway made headlines during the opening, but the Starbucks connected to the train station building is looking to the future, too. It's completely cashless! If you'd like to grab a coffee and sit down at the counter or in one of the more private booths, you'll have to make sure you bring a payment method other than coins and bill. We suspect a lot of people will be paying with either a Starbucks card, or one of Japan's transportation cards that can be charged beforehand. (Don't forget to check out the Takanawa Gateway architecture from the team of famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.)

Starbucks Takanawa Gateway Station
JR Takanawa Gateway Station 3F, 2-1-220 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 7:00 – 22:00
Wi-Fi Available!

Three new Starbucks with three totally different appealsーwhich one do you want to visit first? Looking at the greenery and Shibuya ambience surrounding the Miyashita Park location, or the flowers and amusement park facilities around the Hana-Biyori Starbucks, you might be inclined to say that Takanawa Gateway Station is the weakest of the bunch… but with such a focus on futuristic technology at the station, and with lots of parts still under construction, I have a feeling the area is on its way to becoming a destination. After all, isn't technology supposed to be one of Japan's strengths? lol

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