By Amelia Tan
We know exactly what you’re thinking after reading the first part of this title — Starbucks, really? You go all the way to visit the historic districts of Kyoto and admire the majestic centuries-old temples and shrines, and then plonk yourself down at the establishment of a modern global brand that we’ve already seen plenty of? Not to mention how, despite how we’re in an era of premium blends and pretty legit nitro cold brews, the brand is hopelessly mired with the image of, not a mermaid, but a basic b*tch. You know, that one friend who quotes from Nicholas Sparks and goes to barre class to Insta-stories the entire time. You get the point. Why Starbucks? Simply because we haven’t seen one that looks like this.
You might have to squint but that little green logo is unmistakable. And this time, it’s home to a two-storey Japanese townhouse, or a
machiya, one that was built over a 100 years ago.
Opened in June just this year, the outlet nicely pays homage to a lot of traditional Japanese elements, preserving the charm of its refurbished setting with wooden walls and floors, noren curtains over the subtle entrance — dyed an iconic indigo to match its stunning facade — and tatami mats on the second floor where visitors can lounge old-school style, shoes off, of course. It’s also situated on the historic Ninenzaka street, and a neighbourhood that’s full of weaving cobblestone paths and close to the famous Kiyomizu-dera Temple that you can hop over for a visit later.
Go on in, and you’ll honestly feel a little… weird. And okay, kinda mesmerised actually. Every little touch is beautiful, and as your eyes wander to the wooden beams, old windows and kimono silk scrolls, you’ll feel like you just stepped back into the Taisho era of Japan; the millennial in you will want to take photographs of everything. And yet, you’re also greeted with very familiar sights — a friendly barista in a bright green apron, the enticing beckoning of waffles and bagels arranged neatly behind a glass counter, or Starbucks merchandise on clean wooden trays. The displacement feels strange but also strangely comforting, and you could say, kinda like a warm cup of coffee.
Don’t spend too long at the front of the house though, because you’ll want to make your way to the back, and then up to the second floor. You’ll first walk along a hallway that connects to a whole new area; go past a small sitting spot where solo visitors like to cosy up, before you reach a bar counter and a courtyard, with a zen garden and stone water basins, both bathed in natural light.
Our beverage of choice happens to be the Almond Milk Granola, ¥580, which is a small price to pay for the
‘gram beauty of this place, and is at least something you can’t find in Singapore. It’s a sweet drink but not necessarily sugar-sweet, due to the presence of almond milk that lightly rolls off your tongue. Having the crunchy bits of granola also works in its favour because of how delightful it is to munch on them, and though we obviously wouldn’t recommend to replace your breakfast with this, but you know, you could. Then again, you can still opt for your lattes or java chip frappucinos though, we won’t judge! We just picked the more photogenic choice, so sue us.
Things certainly get more interesting when you ascend to the second floor — the cafe levels up the experience with little cosy corners that retain the structure of the house, all the while with that Japanese touch. Here’s where you’ll find the tatami mats; visitors remove their shoes and then sit atop wooden platforms, nestling themselves on tatami mats with zabuton cushions, or on cushioned seats by the window where they can admire the picturesque street below.
If you find a seat — a process that requires tremendous patience and uh not side-eyeing random patrons at all — you’ll be able to truly relax and soak in the experience, the idea that you’re sipping on a plastic cup in surroundings as quaint as this. The irony isn’t lost on us, but it’s still worth indulging in.
Oh yes, and as a helpful tip, you might wanna plan this at the start of your day. The cafe opens at 8am, and while it isn’t packed to the brim, prime spots (like the tatami mat area) were already hard to come by when we visited at about 9am. Entry will also be limited when the shop is full, and to respect its neighbours and passing pedestrains, you’ll not be allowed to line up in front of the shop as well. All that aside, you’ll definitely want to pay this one a visit, thanks to its sheer novelty factor.
Starbucks Coffee Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya (Map)
Address: 349 Banchi, Masuya-cho, Shimogawara Higashi-iru, Kodaiji Minamimon-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto | Japan, 〒605-0826 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, 東山区Masuyachō, 高台寺南門通下河原東入桝屋町349番地
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 8:00pm
Capacity: 51 seats
NYLON’s visit, courtesy of Klook — click here for our full Osaka + Kyoto travel guide.
You must be logged in to post a comment.