Japan is home to some gorgeous Starbucks venues, with cafés set inside traditional machiya townhouses and even amongst flourishing plants inside greenhouses. To add to the growing list, Starbucks recently opened a new outlet in Oharai-machi, an old town in Mie prefecture, near the gate of Ise Jingu shrine. Also known as the Ise Grand Shrine, the sacred complex has a history dating back almost 2,000 years.
This Ise Naiku-mae Starbucks store fits in seamlessly with the surrounding shops and buildings in Oharai-machi – the café was designed to emulate the traditional architecture of the area.
To give it that traditional Japanese look, the new shop features a wooden Edo-style facade along with elegant Japanese noren (curtains) while onigawara (gargoyle tiles) line the roof.
The café is spread out over two floors, with the barista counter located on the ground floor and the upper floor reserved for seating. You can enjoy a cup of coffee while looking out over the town’s traditional streets with the mountains in the background.
The new Starbucks is now open for business and is located at: 37-4 Ujiimazaikecho, Nakakashuraku, Ise, Mie prefecture. For more information, visit here.
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