Starbucks Japan 47 Jimoto Frappuccino

We here at Japan Australia are huge fans of Starbucks Frappuccinos. Theses icy cold blended frozen drinks are perfect for the hot summers in Japan.

For a limited time only, Starbucks Coffee Japan will release 47 new Frappuccino drinks, one for each of the 47 prefectures in Japan. The drinks will feature local ingredients to help strengthen its ties with local communities.

The Seattle-based coffee chain come up with the idea to help celebrate the 25^th anniversary of its first foray into the Japanese market. The first Starbucks open in the upmarket Ginza district of Tokyo in 1996.

The special lineup is called “47 Jimoto Frappuccino”. Jimoto means hometown in Japanese. Baristas will be drawing on local expertise throughout Japan to bring special flavours and combinations that are the pride of each local area. The Frappuccinos are inspired by the local food and culture of each area. 

Some of the Frappuccinos that instantly catch the eye include:

Miyagi Prefecture, which is famous for zunda (sweet edamame paste). This drink features sweetened mashed edamame paste and matcha green tea.

Tottori Prefecture, which is famous for its sand dunes. Baristas created a creamy caramel drink that resembles the famous sand dunes.

Aichi Prefecture, which is famous for Ogura toast (thickly sliced toast topped with sweet red bean paste). This Nagoya specialty comes to life as a frappuccino with sweet red bean sauce, coffee, chocolate chips, and whipped cream.

Starbucks 47 JImoto Frappuccino will be available from June 30 to August 3, in a tall size only for 682 yen (USD$6.20).

Which flavour would you like to try? Please leave your answer in the comments below. 

Visit the Starbucks Coffee Japan website for more details. 

 

 

Starbucks Japan Cherry Blossom Drinks 2019

Starbucks Japan have just released news of their 2019 limited-edition sakura cherry blossom drinks. This is news that we at Japan Australia look forward to every year as it is a sure tell sign that spring is on its way. The Japan only sakura drinks not only always taste great, but are a great prelude to the upcoming cherry blossom season in Japan.

You can follow all the latest news and updates about the cherry blossom forecast by following Japan Travel Advice, who recently published their annual 2019 Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Forecast for Japan. Check it out and start planning your hanami parties now.

This year, we can look forward to Starbucks Full Sakura Milk Latte and Full Sakura Frappuccino.

Starbucks Sakura Latte and Frappuccino 

This year Starbucks is combining two popular pink flavours, cherry blossom and strawberries with a theme “Sakura Mankai Moments – Full Blooming All Around You”. “Mankai” means “full bloom” in Japanese with inspiration for the drinks taken from the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

The Full Sakura Milk Latte is designed to represent that special moment in spring when a gentle wind blows through the trees and the soft cherry blossom petals slowly fall to the ground. The drink has a light sakura flavor and is topped with whipped cream and strawberry chocolate shavings and chocolate sakura flavoured petals. The Full Sakura Milk Latte is available from February 15th until March 19th, 2019.

The Full Sakura Frappuccino is designed to represent the cherry blossom petals in full bloom reflected on the water’s surface. Cherry blossoms along the river are a common sight in Japan during the spring. The Full Sakura Frappuccino base is a sakura and strawberry sauce with sakura jelly and strawberry jelly pieces all of which is topped with whipped cream and strawberry chocolate shavings and chocolate sakura flavoured petals. The Full Sakura Frappuccino is available from February 15th until February 27th, 2019

Starbucks Sakura Chocolate with Strawberry Jelly 

Available for a limited time only at convenience stores around Japan is the Sakura Chocolate with Strawberry Jelly drink. From February 12th you will be able to pick up one of these which has a sakura and white chocolate flavoured base mixed with tiny pieces of strawberry jelly. Its thick texture is similar to the Starbucks Frappuccino with the drink meant to be shaken before being drunk.

Starbucks Sakura Goods 

Starbucks limited-edition range of seasonal drinkware including travel mugs, cups, glasses and tumblers are always a hot item in its spring line-up. This year we have two different collections to enjoy. The first series being released on February 15th in soft pink is based around a “cold” theme.

The second series will be available from February 25th with a more vivid strawberry red theme and is based around a “sunlight” theme.

Starbucks Japan Website

Traditional Tatami-Style Starbucks to Open in Kyoto

Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto is famous for its many tourist attractions ranging from historic temples, colourful shrines, and sublime gardens. Now, it can add a new one to list with the world’s first traditional tatami-style coffee shop under the global Starbucks brand.

The announcement this week by Starbucks Coffee Japan Ltd., the Japanese arm of global coffee giant Starbucks Coffee Co, is already creating buzz over the internet here in Japan, with the store to officially open on June 30, 2017.

Starbucks coffee will be served in traditional “tatami” floor rooms in a 100-year old Japanese-style machiya wooden townhouse.

The new traditional Starbucks in Kyoto

The two-story townhouse is conveniently located near the UNESCO World Heritage listed Kiyomizu-dera Temple, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kyoto.

The new shop can be found along Ninen-zaka, a historic street lined with traditional Kyoto shops which leads from Kiyomizu-dera to Kodaiji Temple.

Ninen-zaka Historic Street in Kyoto

Starbucks Coffee Japan Website

Starbucks Japan Cherry Blossom Selections

Starbucks Japan have just released their seasonal cherry blossoms selections. This is something that we at Japan Australia look forward to every year. It is a sure tell sign that spring is on its way. The Japan only “sakura” (cherry blossom) food, drinks and goods are a great prelude to the upcoming cherry blossom season in Japan.

Japan Travel Advice recently published a Cherry Blossom Forecast for 2015 so we can all start planning our “hanami” parties.

This year we have the piping hot Caramel Sakura Chocolate Latte, icy cold Caramel Sakura Chocolate Frappuccino, and Sakura Chiffon Cake to choose from.

Both the sakura drinks feature a drizzling of rich cherry and caramel sauce and are topped with shavings of cherry-flavored white chocolate. Sounds good doesn’t it?

You may remember that last year Starbucks Japan released a Sakura White Chocolate Latte with real sakura petals and leaves as well as a strawberry flavoured topping and pink strawberry infused whipped cream. It was really good!

Last year we also wrote about some of our favourite flavours of spring in Japan. 

Starbucks Japan shelves will also be stocked with limited edition “Bliss” line sakura themed tumblers, glasses, mugs and gift cards in pale pink and other colours of spring. Around March they are planning to release their “Brilliant” line of products in more vivid hues of hot pink.

The cherry blossom selections are available from February 15 for a limited time.

Which sakura goodie do you want to try?

Starbucks Japan Website

 

Starbucks Refreshers Japan

Starbucks Refreshers hit the store shelves on June 25th in Japan. They are a new kind of energy drink made by Starbucks and can be found at Seven Eleven’s across Japan. The drink is fruit juice based and lightly caffeinated with green coffee extract to pick you up. Designed mainly for the female market and as a light afternoon pick-me-up as opposed to a full on energy drink. They are available in two different flavours ~ Cool Lime and Very Berry Hibiscus.

The drinks contain real fruit juice along with green coffee extract, ginseng, and vitamins B and C.

They come in a 200ml can and cost 200 yen (USD$2.00).

How do they taste?

Cool Lime ~ Very fruity and you can really taste the lime. The fruit juice makes it seem more like a soft drink but it’s very refreshing.

Starbucks Refreshers Cool Lime

Very Berry Hibiscus ~ A lot sweeter than the Cool Lime and you can really taste the berry flavours. Definitely our favourite of the two and easy to drink.

Starbucks Refreshers Very Berry Hibiscus

Have a look at our video to see the new Starbucks Refreshers in Japan