Kyoto's Japanese Style Starbucks Opening and Look Inside

Overview

In this episode, John Daub visits the newly opened Starbucks on Ninenzaka in Kyoto — one of the city's most historic and picturesque stone-paved streets. What makes this Starbucks remarkable is its deliberate embrace of traditional Japanese architecture and design, creating an experience unlike any other Starbucks location in the world. John explores the interior with Kanae, marveling at the wooden construction, tatami seating areas where customers must remove their shoes, and a preserved bee's nest that was found in the building's structure. The experience is so authentically Japanese that even visitors from Seattle — Starbucks' hometown — declare it the most beautiful Starbucks they've ever seen. John reflects on the surprising harmony between a centuries-old Kyoto machiya and a global coffee chain.

Highlights

• 00:00:13 John samples a matcha shot latte and declares it "really good" while admiring the stunning traditional wooden interior

• 00:01:00 Discovery of a preserved bee's nest — found during construction and kept as a connection to the building's history

• 00:02:50 Kanae confirms the matcha is excellent, and John notices news crews filming the unusual Starbucks opening

• 00:03:03 Two Seattle visitors express that this is the most beautiful Starbucks in the world — the ultimate endorsement

• 00:03:40 John reveals the unique flow: customers order at the front and pick up drinks in the back garden area

• 00:04:30 Kanae makes it through to the garden area, admiring the earthy, natural color palette

• 00:05:02 John captures the breathtaking sight of hundreds-of-years-old traditional buildings along Ninenzaka

• 00:05:14 Final reflection: "This is weird. That's pretty cool" — encapsulating the unique fusion of old and new

Timeline / Chapters

• 00:00 — Introduction: John enters the new Starbucks in Kyoto and tries a matcha shot latte
• 00:01 — Interior Tour: Exploring the traditional wooden interior, tatami seating areas, and the preserved bee's nest
• 00:02 — Media Attention: News crews filming, Seattle visitors interviewed, Kanae confirms the matcha is delicious
• 00:03 — Unique Layout: John explains the order-at-front, pickup-at-back flow with a traditional roji garden
• 00:04 — Garden Exploration: Kanae joins John in the back garden area, admiring the earthy aesthetics
• 00:05 — Cultural Reflection: Standing amid centuries-old buildings along Ninenzaka, John processes the unusual experience
• 00:06 — Conclusion: Final thoughts on this remarkable fusion of global brand and traditional Kyoto

Japan Travel Tips

• How to get there: Take the Keihan Line to Kiyomizu-Gojo Station or the Bus 206/100 to Kiyomizu-michi bus stop. Ninenzaka is a 10-minute walk uphill toward Kiyomizu-dera temple.
• Best time to visit: Weekday mornings for fewer crowds, though the Starbucks itself draws visitors. Spring and autumn for the complete Higashiyama experience.
• What to experience: Remove your shoes to sit on tatami, drink matcha in a 100-year-old machiya, and explore the traditional roji garden.
• Etiquette reminder: This is a working Starbucks with tatami seating. Be mindful of noise levels when others are enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
• Combine with nearby sights: Walk up Ninenzaka to Kiyomizu-dera temple, explore Sannenzaka (三元坂) parallel street, and visit Yasaka Shrine in Gion.
• Cost: Expect to pay slightly higher prices than standard Starbucks for the premium experience and matcha drinks.

Japanese Language & Culture Notes

• Tatami (畳): Traditional Japanese flooring made of woven straw mats. In this Starbucks, customers must remove shoes before entering the tatami seating area — a first for Starbucks globally.
• Machiya (町家): Traditional townhouse architecture found throughout Kyoto. The Starbucks building is a restored machiya featuring wooden lattice facades and interior structural elements.
• Roji (露地): A traditional Japanese garden path, often graveled, leading to a teahouse or special area. Here, it connects the ordering area to the drink pickup.
• Bee's nest preservation: The retained bee's nest reflects a Japanese cultural practice of respecting existing life and history within spaces. Rather than removing it, the design was adapted around it.
• Ninenzaka (二年坂): Literally "Two-Year Slope" — named for its approximately 2-year history (actually derived from a corruption of "Ninokata-zaka"). This stone-paved street dates back to the Heian period and leads to Kiyomizu-dera.

Food & Drink Guide

People

• John Daub: Host and narrator. An American who has lived in Japan for over 30 years, John brings his characteristic sense of wonder and curiosity to exploring this unique Starbucks location. His genuine enthusiasm and slightly bewildered reaction ("This is weird. That's pretty cool") capture the unexpected nature of the experience.

• Kanae Daub: John's Japanese wife, who joins him for this visit. She provides the local perspective, confirming the quality of the matcha drinks and joining him in the garden area. Her simple "It's so good" verdict carries weight as a Kyoto resident familiar with traditional aesthetics.

• Seattle Visitors: Two unnamed customers from Seattle who were interviewed. Their endorsement that this is "the most beautiful Starbucks in the world" is particularly significant given Starbucks' origins in their home city.

Key Takeaways

• Kyoto's Starbucks demonstrates how international brands can successfully adapt to local cultural contexts while preserving historical architecture.
• The preservation of the bee's nest and use of traditional tatami seating show respect for both history and local customs.
• Even global corporations like Starbucks recognize the value of Japanese architectural heritage and are willing to invest in authentic traditional experiences.
• The combination of a 100-year-old machiya with modern coffee service creates a uniquely Japanese Third Place — a concept Starbucks pioneered but has reimagined here.
• This Starbucks functions almost as a museum of traditional Kyoto architecture, making cultural heritage accessible to everyday visitors.

Notable Quotes

• 00:00:15 John Daub: "This place certainly has a story. It's like a museum. Everything is made of wood."

• 00:01:15 John Daub: "You have to take your shoes off. Wow."

• 00:02:50 Kanae Daub: "It's so good."

• 00:03:03 Seattle Visitor: "This is the most beautiful Starbucks they've ever been in in the world."

• 00:03:40 John Daub: "So you order in the front and then you pick up your drink in the back."

• 00:05:14 John Daub: "This is weird. That's pretty cool."

Related Topics

• Traditional machiya architecture and preservation in Kyoto
• Japanese coffee culture and the rise of specialty cafes
• Cultural adaptation of international brands in Japan
• Kyoto's Higashiyama district and historic preservation
• The concept of "Japaneseness" in modern commercial spaces

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