Bringing Japanese culture to the table in a delicious and heartwarming way. Japan has a wide variety of cultural values that underpin society in ways that are often unseen, and that includes the concept of mottainai. Literally translating as “wasteful“, this mindset holds a deep sense of regret when the potential value of something isn’t […]

Chunky by name, but hopefully not by nature. On 11 May, Starbucks Japan released two brand new limited-edition drinks – the Chunky Strawberry Milk and the Strawberry Chocolate Frappuccino. According to the chain, these new beverages are improved versions of past popular releases, so our resident Starbucks pro taster K. Masami decided to try both […]

Match your nail art to your favourite drink with this surprising new release. Starbucks is known for unusual, Japan-exclusive releases, but these new items tend to cover drinks and related drinkware and accessories. Now, the chain has surprised fans by branching out with a new, never-before-seen product: gel nail stickers. Before we take a look […]

Find out if these limited-edition drinks are really treasures worth hunting for. It’s been 30 years since Starbucks opened its first branch in Japan on 2 August, 1996, and the chain has some big celebrations lined up for this milestone year. The first surprise in store is The Star Frappuccino, which, unlike other Frappuccino releases, […]

There is a way to try them all. On 2 August, 1996, Starbucks opened its first-ever Japanese branch in Tokyo’s Ginza district, making 2026 its 30th birthday year. To celebrate, the chain has a huge three-part anniversary project in the works, scheduled to be released in three stages across April, mid-June and August, and today […]

Expand your knowledge of Japanese tea culture with three new green “experiences”. With spring comes fresh harvests of green tea, and Starbucks is reminding us of that with the grand unveiling of three new beverages so special the chain is describing them as tea “experiences“. These beverages feature the chain’s ever-popular matcha, but with the […]

Starbucks goes strawberry crazy this spring, but is it a good thing? Just because you combine two delicious things doesn’t guarantee you’ll get something delicious. That’s something our reporter K. Masami has long believed in, but at Starbucks, with its knack for knowing what customers want, she finds she’s hardly ever disappointed, as they have […]

Choux cream pastry is one of the flavours ready to boost your mood this season. Spring in Japan is a time for flowers, outdoor strolls…and strawberries, according to Starbucks, who’s giving us not one, not two but three drinks filled with the fruit for a limited time this season. Kicking off the triple taste extravaganza […]

Rare, super-personalised Frappuccino gets a new look for spring. Starbucks is going fruity this spring, with the unveiling of a new limited-time drink called My Fruit³ Frappuccino Ripe White Peach. If that name sounds familiar to you, that’s because the My Fruit³ Frappuccino first made its debut in Japan in 2021, and quickly became one […]

Exclusive drinks will make you feel like you’re biting into a choux cream pastry. Starbucks is a leader in the world of dessert drinks, but its newest release looks set to raise the bar even further, with two drinks inspired by cream puffs, or “shu cream” (“choux creme”) as they’re known in Japanese. Designed with […]