Starbucks Kawagoe Kanetsuki-dori
☕ The Coffee Shop in an Edo Period Warehouse
Starbucks Kawagoe Kanetsuki-dori is a coffee shop of the Starbucks American brand established in a former feudal warehouse, located at the foot of Toki no Kane tower in the traditional city-center of Kawagoe, in the north-west of Tokyo. Tourists visiting Kawagoe can enjoy their favorite drink in an elegant setting that is both authentic and contemporary.
Inaugurated in March 2018, the Starbucks Kawagoe Kanetsuki-dori shop follows in the footsteps of the Starbucks store opened in Kyoto, in the heart of the historical Ninenzaka street, near Kiyomizu-dera temple. It is the brand’s 2nd venue hosted in a traditional Japanese building.
Kawagoe’s structure is a former kura warehouse of the Edo period (1603 – 1868), a time when the city was a transportation hub for food and goods towards the feudal capital (today’s Tokyo) located about 50km south.
The place displays a traditional architecture typical of kura warehouses, with a structure of cedar wood sourced in Saitama area and a characteristic roof covered in dark tiles. Its large glassed front both serves as a showcase from the outside and gives and unobstructed view on the inside. The coffee shops indeed has only one room, free of any pillar or screen wall that would divide the space. The Japanese garden located in the courtyard in the back is visible from the entrance.
This Starbucks coffee shop is arranged into several spaces to sit in for a snack:
- A long bench facing the Starbucks’ merchandise aisle. The seat is made of wood and the backrest is cushioned with a regional fabric type used for kimonos;
- Tables at the center of the shop, paired with chairs or armchairs. Walls in this section are decorated with artworks made of painted fusuma panels.
- An outdoor terrace, facing the Japanese garden centered on a lovely pine bonsai; or,
- On the side of the shop, under a small glassed-walls shed embellished by trees.
The interior layout is well-thought, combining both traditional and modern materials, such as a concrete floor for a harmonious and elegant look. The ambiance is closer to a designer’s bar than to a cozy coffee shop. The drinks and snacks menu is the same as in any Starbucks in Japan.
A stone’s throw away from the popular Toki no Kane tower
Located on Kanetsuki-dori avenue, in the heart of the historical city-center of Kawagoe, the shop enjoys a location that is ideal to attract tourists (sometimes donning a kimono 👘) on a day-trip. The famous and iconic Toki no Kane (時の鐘) tower is standing only a few meters away and its bell can be heard 4 times per day (at 6 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.) from the outdoor terrace.
The coffee shop is particularly busy on the weekends and holidays. It is sometimes difficult to find a seat and whenever possible, it is best to book the table before going to the counter to order. The quieter times are on weekdays’ mornings (except during the sakura 🌸 and the koyo 🍁 seasons) or a few minutes before closing time in the evening.