Nakameguro, Tokyo: Starbucks Reserve Roastery
A premium Starbucks experience with a unique, Japanese twist at their second largest location in the world.
The second largest Starbucks in the world as of 2020, Tokyo’s Starbucks Reserve Roastery is an impressive coffee experience and is situated in the hip, artsy neighborhood of Nakameguro.
How to get there
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo is a several minute walk from Nakameguro Station, which is accessible via the Tōyoko and Hibiya lines. It’s located along the Meguro riverside, one of the main destinations in the area.
The first floor coffee counters of Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo was the 5th of its kind, and the opening was a huge event.
It’s been a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, so much so that it’s typical to have to go to the building next door in order to pull a number for a time slot. They use a system called AirWAIT, and you’ll be able to check how many people are in front of you in real-time.
Because tourism is almost non-existent in this 2020 summer, I seized the opportunity and checked it out.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo was formerly the biggest Starbucks in the world, edging out Starbucks Reserve Roastery Shanghai (which I also visited) in 2019 before being dethroned later that year by Chicago’s. It is 4 stories and 32,000 sq. ft. (2,973 sq. meters) big.
Sakura cask at Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
It’s centered around a 56-foot (17 meter) high copper cask, decorated with 2,100 copper cherry blossom flowers and leaves, handcrafted by Japanese artisans.
This perfectly aligns not only with Japan, but also with the neighborhood since the Meguro river right next to it is known for its cherry blossoms. I personally consider it to be one of Tokyo’s top 5 photogenic cherry blossom spots.
Cherry blossoms over the Meguro River which is next to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
The attention to detail at this location is fantastic, and something very Japanese.
The shop was designed by top Japanese architect Kuma Kengo, who has designed other Starbucks locations like the one in Dazaifu, Fukuoka, as well as the Tokyo Olympic Stadium and many other buildings.
The ceiling brings forth images of Japanese wood crafts, and was indeed inspired by origami. Much of the wood in the shop, from counters to tables to walls, are made of Japanese cyprus.
Even the staff demonstrated the Japanese “omotenashi” hospitality mixed with a friendly touch. There were no shortage of smiles (despite masks) and even when I felt my camera may be distracting, they’d give a thumbs up, invite me to take closer shots, and even offered to start brewing coffee for a better shot.
The first floor
Brew station and coffee bar on the first floor of Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
The first floor focuses on coffee, baked goods and the gift shop.
Taking up the majority of the floor are the main coffee bar and the bean roasting facilities. The first floor’s roaster is at the base of the copper cask, flanked by the main bar which serves an enormous range of coffees.
From 5 different brew methods comes coffees like whiskey barrel-aged cold brew, and concoctions with names such as Melrose-Tokyo, Shakerato-bianco and Pepper nitro with with a Jerky-twist.
Princi bakery at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
Princi, a bakery from Milano, has one of their three Tokyo locations here. From artisan sandwiches to tarts to sourdough bread, there’s likely something that will be appealing.
After trying their mango baguette and Princi loaf, I was sold! Basically they’re my new favorite bakery. We even went to their Daikanyama location the next week to buy more.
The gift shop area has everything coffee and Starbucks related, including clothing and a collaboration castella cake with famous, nearby Japanese bakery Fukusaya [J].
The shop was actually smaller than I expected, especially after seeing the size of Shanghai’s location and the fact that Japanese love buying souvenirs. In any case, there’s likely something you’ll at least consider purchasing.
The second floor
TEAVANA at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
The stairs to the right of Princi leads up to the second floor, which is Starbucks’ tea-focused floor - TEAVANA.
There’s a main counter, a seating area, a separate tea section that brings you closer to the different types of tea, and a wall for tea items available for purchase.
The third floor
ARRIVIAMO Bar at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
The third floor was where we decided to take a seat. It’s divided into a few sections - a second roasting facility, an outdoor seating area and the ARRIVIAMO Bar.
The bar is where coffee craft and mixology comes together, and a handful of skilled bartenders create and serve a range of coffee-inspired cocktails and mocktails.
We ordered two drinks: A Silver Needle Highball and a Starbucks Reserve Espresso Martini.
The Silver Needle Highball was made with white tea and was officially described as having a gentle scent, light floral taste and silky texture. It was very subtle and smooth, the most refined highball I’ve ever had.
The Starbucks Reserve Espresso Martini was made with single origin Rwanda Abakundajawa coffee (officially described as having a medium roast and body, with hints of tangerine zest, graham crackers, and nougat, and being smooth and sweet), single malt vodka, vanilla syrup and bean to bar chocolate. After debating the steep ￥2,000 price, I went for it and have zero regrets. It was ridiculously good.
The fourth floor
Outdoor deck at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
The top floor is called AMU Inspiration Lounge, and is mainly a seating area. There’s both an indoor area and outdoor deck space.
Like the third floor deck, it looks out to a view of the Meguro river, which will be beautifully covered in pinkish-white cherry blossoms during the spring.
The 24th anniversary of Starbucks’ first store in Japan - sign at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
What was cool about our visit, and it was completely coincidental, was that it was on the 24th anniversary of Starbucks’ opening their first shop in Japan.
The first shop was in Ginza, Tokyo, and the first order was a double tall latte.
“Straight from cask to cup” signs around the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
Everything here was amazing and once again, I found myself really impressed by Starbucks Reserve Roastery.
It’s a culmination of a global coffee chain focusing on the craft and details, and adding their own artistic twist to it in order to create a premium experience for coffee fans.
Worth a visit.
Bagging station at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
Above the main coffee bar at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
“Handpicked at the roastery” window at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
“Tokyo” coffee card wall at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
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Shimotakaido, Tokyo
A residential area in the Setagaya Ward, it has some nice kissaten coffee shops, cherry blossoms, and is where I first lived in Tokyo.
Shimotakaido is a residential neighborhood about 15 minutes west of Shinjuku in the Setagaya Ward
The Shimotakaido Ekimae Ichiba fish market and movie theater are a couple reasons people stop by the area
It’s a lesser known cherry blossom spot in Tokyo during the spring
Just a little west from Shinjuku station on the Keio line is a small neighborhood area called Shimotakaido.
I lived just a 3 minute walk away from Shimotakaido station between 2014 and 2018 in a 1K studio apartment. While it’s not a major destination nor a must-visit, it’s a typical Setagaya, Tokyo neighborhood that nearby locals and college students gather at, and gives a taste of real, typical Tokyo life.
How to get there
From Shinjuku, the Keio local and rapid lines stop at Shimotakaido station. Keio line’s Express and Rapid Express won’t stop so there’s a need to transfer at either Sasazuka or Meidaimae stations.
The Setagaya line, a photogenic, 2-car street level train also travels between Shimotakaido and Sangenjaya stations.
A Keio line train stops at Shimotakaido Station on a snowy winter night.
Shimotakaido centers around it's main street, or Shimotakaido Shōtengai, which travels east-west. It’s painted green and is right outside of the station, so you can’t miss it.
Almost everything is either on this street or a block from it, so everything is really convenient. There are cafes, small outdoor markets, bars, convenience stores and a 24-hour supermarket - everything that makes for an easy place to live in.
The Shimotakaido Shōtengai on a clear evening.
A woman walks the Shimotakaido Shōtengai on a snowy, winter evening.
Shimotakaido Ekimae Ichiba
The Shimotakaido Ekimae Ichiba fish market is right across from the station’s north exit and has a few shops selling fresh fish and sashimi. There’s also a small meat shop in the ally right behind it, as well as another in front.
A man buying fish at the Shimotakaido Ekimae Ichiba fish market
A shop owner at the Shimotakaido Ekimae Ichiba fish market makes a sale.
Because it’s a typical residential area, it’s not a lively area and there’s not a whole lot of events to see. The two main events are the Shimotakaido Festival in the summer where there’s dancing and several food booths, and the Sakura Festival in the spring with much of the same centered around cherry blossoms.
Shimotakaido Summer Festival
Shimotakaido cherry blossoms
I learned in my time living there that Shimotakaido is one of Tokyo’s unknown cherry blossom spots.
While it doesn’t have a picturesque lake or grassy hillside or anything like some of these other Tokyo cherry blossom areas, there’s a pretty long tunnel full of the pink flowers covering the street right outside of Nihon University. If you’re not into fighting crowds to see a sakura tunnel, this is a pretty good option.
Japan’s kissaten coffee culture can also be experienced here as there are a few nice kissatens in Shimotakaido. It’s kissaten like these that inspired people such as W. James Freeman, the founder of Blue Bottle Coffee (part of the reason why their first international location was in Japan).
More than simply a coffee shop, kissatens are akin to homey cafes specializing in hand-poured, slow drip coffee and homestyle cooking where you can relax, chat, read or work.
Shimotakaido may not be as exciting as other nearby areas like Shimokitazawa, but it’s a great neighborhood to head to on an early weekend afternoon as people are out and about, and you can truly soak in the authentic Setagaya, Tokyo lifestyle.
Poem
Some of my favorite coffee. If you’re a fan of rich, dark coffee, this is the spot.
More of a kissaten cafe than a trendy coffee shop, Poem’s focus is entirely on the beans. Step inside the shop and the first thing you’ll see is a table seeking their assorted roasts, with the clear plastic bags of their dark roasts coated in coffee bean oil.
The biggest knock on Poem is that they allow unseparated smoking (as of Nov 2019). But otherwise it’s a nice place to kick back and enjoy an amazing cup.
Niku to Sozai no Hotta
Just out of Shimotakaido Station’s north exit is Niku to Souzai no Hotta, a butcher shop. Of course they have a range of meats, but their croquettes and fried foods are what people love to buy.
In the mornings people line up at their street-side stand, just across the fish market, for everything from crab cream croquettes to tonkatsu. They’re sure to sell out, so if you happen to walk by and and their trays aren’t empty yet, pick one up to take with you on the go.
Coffee & Roaster 2-3
A quaint little kissaten, Coffee 2-3 is a small, quiet shop that lets its customers do their own thing. Seating is separated and not arranged for a lot of conversation or staff interaction, so there are people reading, writing, or just enjoying being alone with their thoughts.
In traditional kissaten style, they have a few dishes with homemade flavor to choose from. I sat at the counter and watched the barista ever so slowly and carefully pour my cup, so I know they put a lot of care into their craft.
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Tokyo: Best Cherry Blossom Spots
Must-see cherry blossom locations around Tokyo - popular spots, lesser known areas and one that’s only open for 3 hours.
While Tokyo is more or less a concrete jungle, there are some gorgeous cherry blossom, or sakura, spots check out.
Here’s a concise list of my favorites that I’d recommend - From really popular spots to ones that crowds haven’t yet begun to flood, and one that is only open for 3 hours a year (yes, you read that right).
Meguro River at Nakameguro
![Cherry blossom tunnel in the evening over the Meguro River - [BUY PRINT]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63f8b23b0626755198127ae3/1677525045579-FJ87QAV7OMSFZG375T51/nakameguro-megurogawa-sakura.jpg)
Cherry blossom tunnel in the evening over the Meguro River - [BUY PRINT]
The Naka-Meguro area of the Meguro River is a cherry blossom tunnel made up of about 800 trees that span an almost 2.4 mile (4 km) area.
Both day and night are really different experiences. The daytime is a bit calmer with people going for a stroll under the flowers. Evenings on the other hand, become somewhat of a light-up festival with pink lanterns, food stands with outdoor eating and drinking, and illuminated trees that are lit until 9PM.
STATION: Naka-Meguro
TRAINS: Hibiya line, Tokyu Toyoko line
MAP
Tokyo Midtown
Cars leave light trails as they pass under illuminated cherry blossoms at Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi.
On the side and in the back of Tokyo Midtown, a multi-purpose, upscale shopping area in Roppongi, is Sakura-dori, a street lined with cherry blossoms.
Evenings are the most popular time to visit as the trees are illuminated to create a peaceful sakura getaway in the middle of Tokyo. The lights are a pink color while the flowers are blooming and become white once they've reached full bloom.
The area is also heavily visited during the day as crowds wait to enter Midtown at its 11AM opening so they can rush for a balcony seat at Napule [J], an Italian restaurant that sits right above the cherry blossom-lined street.
STATIONS: Roppongi, Nogizaka
TRAINS: Oedo line, Hibiya line, Chiyoda line
MAP
Ark Hills
Illuminated cherry blossoms over a street at Ark Hills
This location is oddly left off a lot of lists on major blogs, websites and YouTube videos for some reason, but it definitely shouldn’t be. For those looking for picturesque cherry blossoms without a crowd, this might be the best spot in Tokyo.
Above Roppongi-itchome station is the Ark Hills business area. During cherry blossom season, they have a little sakura festival in their open space with food and drink stands and the streets around the buildings are lined with about 150 cherry blossom trees.
STATION: Roppongi-itchome
TRAIN: Namboku line
MAP
Nogawa
Illuminated cherry blossoms in Nogawa during their light-up event.
This part of the No River is beautifully lined with cherry blossoms draping over it. While it’s open to the public at all times, the real spectacle is their evening light-up that spans 930 yards (850 meters) - but there’s a catch.
There is no schedule for it. This light-up is only announced 2 days prior to the actual event in places like the Japanese website below (you’ll have to keep checking it and running Google Translate over it) and is held for 3 hours on one evening only.
It’s about a 15-20 minute walk from Kokuryo station on the Keio line.
STATION: Kokuryo
TRAIN: Keio line
http://www.arc-system.co.jp/archive [J]
MAP
Nihonbashi - Kayabacho
![A tunnel of cherry blossoms in the Kayabacho area of Nihonbashi, Tokyo - [BUY PRINT]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63f8b23b0626755198127ae3/1677525346058-8L52TTILSN8TEEWFAEXS/kayabacho-cherry-blossoms-2019-01B.jpg)
A tunnel of cherry blossoms in the Kayabacho area of Nihonbashi, Tokyo - [BUY PRINT]
The Kayabacho area of Nihonbashi is Tokyo’s cherry blossoms in the most natural state for a city. It’s not in a park or garden, it’s not in some development, it simply creates a tunnel in a typical Tokyo neighborhood.
People simply go about their business here. It’s not overcrowded with people, it’s just typical scenes of life in the big city under a few blocks of cherry blossoms.
STATION: Kayabacho, Nihonbashi
TRAINS: Hibiya Line, Tozai Line, Ginza Line, Asakusa Line
MAP
Ueno Park
Cherry blossoms over a main walkway in Ueno Park
One of Tokyo’s biggest parks, Ueno park has cherry blossom trees everywhere - about 800 of them - and during the season, you’ll find a lot of picnickers taking part in “hanami,” or cherry blossom viewing. It's a good place to join in on the fun with a mat and some food and drinks of your own.
There is one main walkway that is fully covered with the sakura trees, as well as around the Shinobazunoike pond [MAP] area a little south of it. You’ll find a lot of park-goers riding foot paddle boats on the lake, enjoying the season as well.
STATION: Ueno
TRAINS: Yamanote line, Ginza line, Hibiya line, Keihin-Tohoku line, Utsunomiya line, Joban line and more
MAP
Chidorigafuchi
A night scene of cherry blossoms lining the moat at Chidorigafuchi
On the northwest corner of the Imperial Palace grounds, the Chidorigafuchi area is full of cherry blossoms lining the moat's banks.
A tunnel of about 260 trees covers a walkway that runs alongside the moat, where people enjoy rowing around the blossoms in small boats during the day.
STATION: Kudanshita
TRAINS: Hanzomon line, Shinjuku line, Tozai line
MAP
Nakano
A train passes through a tunnel of cherry blossoms in Nakano, Tokyo.
2 km of cherry blossoms line the streets of Nakano, making for a nice walk. The area holds a festival on the weekend during the season at Arai Yakushi Park [MAP] which is along the cherry blossom lined Nakano-dori Ave.
This is also a photo spot since the Seibu Shinjuku railway passes through, and its occasional yellow-colored train cars add a nice contrast to the pinkish-white flowers.
STATIONS: JR Nakano, Araiyakushi-Mae
TRAINS: Chuo Line, Sobu Line, Tozai Line, Seibu Shinjuku Line
MAP
Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya
A taxi passes through the tunnel of cherry blossoms at Sakuragaokacho in Shibuya
On the opposite side of central Shibuya is a side street with a tunnel of cherry blossoms. Its name, Sakuragaokacho even references the cherry blossoms or sakura in Japanese, and that name continues to be make perfect sense today.
You can take some nice shots from either on the side of the street itself, or across the intersection at the stairway to the pedestrian overpass.
STATION: Shibuya
TRAINS: Yamanote line, Ginza line, Hanzomon line, Keio-Inokashira line, Saikyo line, Tokyu-Toyoko line, Shonan-Shinjuku line, Tokyo Den-entoshi line and more
MAP
Koishikawa Korakuen
One of three surviving daimyo gardens in Tokyo leftover from the Edo period, Koishikawa Korakuen has been designated as culturally significant by the Japanese government. History aside, it’s a beautiful garden and the flowers during cherry blossom season further emphasizes that.
It’s a private garden, so visitors have to pay 300 yen to get in. You can grab a bento and sit under the trees for lunch, which makes for a pleasant afternoon.
STATIONS: Iidabashi, Korakuen
TRAIN: Chuo line, Chuo-Sobu line, Namboku line, Oedo line, Yurakucho line, Tozai line, Marunouchi line
https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/
MAP
Shimotakaido
One of the lesser known areas that isn’t so frequently visited for cherry blossoms is Shimotakaido, a local area along the Keio train line. Near Nihon University, there’s an area of the street with a pretty long tunnel of sakura.
In the spring when the blossoms are bloomed, there’s a small cherry blossom festival with food and drink vendors lined along the street.
STATION: Shimotakaido
TRAIN: Keio line
MAP
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
In the Shinjuku area is Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a large 143-acre park with various gardens, lakes and a greenhouse. It’s considered to be one of the most important gardens from the Meiji era.
The park is private, so visitors have to pay 500 yen to get in. Rules are also pretty strictly enforced so there’s no alcohol allowed. It’s a fairly quiet area in the middle of Shinjuku and visitors are generally calmer and reserved than the other cherry blossom areas.
STATIONS: Shinjuku Gyoenmae, Shinjuku Sanchome
TRAIN: Marunouchi line, Shinjuku line
http://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen
MAP
Areas that I’m looking to check for this season for the first time are:
Yaesu Sakura street - Tokyo Station
Shin-Yurigaoka
Inokashira Park
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Japan Cherry Blossom Wallpapers
Free wallpapers of Japan’s cherry blossoms - FREE TO USE!
[Updated April 2019] Japan's cherry blossoms are iconic and I make it a point to see and photograph them as much as possible each year.
I've been lucky to experience them through my years in Tokyo and Fukuoka, so I edited them into wallpapers for you. Feel free to use them!
A cherry blossom canopy covering the Meguro River in Naka-Meguro, Tokyo
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Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms on a sunny day in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka
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Kayabacho cherry blossom tunnel near Nihombashi, Tokyo
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I also have this as a print!
Cars zoom under the cherry blossoms at Tokyo Midtown
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Cherry blossom clouds over the Meguro River in Naka-Meguro, Tokyo
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Naka-Meguro cherry blossom tunnel over the Meguro River
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I also have this as a print!
Cherry blossoms hanging over Chidorigafuchi in Tokyo
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Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms under the spring sky in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka
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Glowing cherry blossoms in Nogawa, Tokyo for a 3-hour light up festival
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Illuminated cherry blossoms along the quiet streets around Ark Hills, Tokyo
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Cherry blossoms drape over the sides over the Meguro, Tokyo
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Lunch time hanami in Ueno, Tokyo
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Lights reflect over the cherry blossom-lined Imagawa river in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka
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Cherry blossoms over the pink lanterns in Naka-Meguro, Tokyo
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A train passes under cherry blossoms in Nakano, Tokyo
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A car leaves light trails under cherry blossoms in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka
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Hope you found one you like! Also, if you’re planning to check out cherry blossoms in Tokyo, here’s a list of the best cherry blossom spots in Tokyo!