The Starbucks in a Tea House

I’m sure we are all familiar with Starbucks. The ubiquitous Starbucks cafe with it’s distinctive logo and modern style can be found in almost every major city in the world. For any traveller (me included), the promise of a cup of hot java accompanied with free wifi is a comforting thought when you are on the road.

So how would you like to visit a Starbucks that is so different from the usual cafe that you’ll find in your home city or anywhere else?

If you visit Kyoto’s historic Higashiyama district, there is a Starbucks that can be found inside a 100+ year old traditional Japanese town house that was used by geishas in the past. Newly opened in June 2017, this Starbucks has attracted a lot of attention with it’s attention to preserving the traditional feel of feudal Japan.

So I found myself on a cold, dark and rainy night walking through Higashiyama looking for that familiar warmth of a hot coffee between my freezing hands.

At last with the help of Google Maps, I found the Starbucks. If you weren’t looking closely, you could walk right pass it, especially on a dark and rainy night.

It’s small on the outside but upon entering the front door, I found that the interior is actually quite large through the efficient use of space.

Due to it’s popularity, this Starbucks can get really crowded during peak hours. The second floor is really quite small (I guess maybe 30 persons would be it’s maximum capacity) and the counter staff would let you know if there is seating space available.

I did go there just 30 minutes before closing and it wasn’t full. The opening hours of this particular Starbucks is from 8am~8pm daily. Well, 8pm is kind of early for closing time from where I come from, so plan your visit before going. The staff won’t allow you to hang around or go to the second floor if you are not buying anything, so do take note if you just want to take photos.