Starbucks Coffee Japan and Kirishima Shuzo have announced the construction and facility details of a new collaboration project, set to open in spring 2026. The facility aims to create a place that harmonizes with the natural environment and fosters awareness and actions towards community coexistence. This architectural masterpiece will be designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma.
A Fusion of Starbucks and Kirishima Shuzo’s Design Philosophy
The new facility merges Kuma’s emphasis on creating buildings that blend with the local environment and culture with the values of both companies. The design maximizes the allure of bamboo, creating a peaceful space where visitors can connect with nature and relax.
Upon entering the facility through a visually captivating entrance, visitors are greeted by an open space wrapped in a gently curved ceiling made of polished bamboo. This design evokes the natural warmth of bamboo. The walls are adorned with interior boards made from a mix of Starbucks coffee grounds and volcanic soil from Kyushu's southern region, enhancing the facility’s connection to nature.
A New Botanical Garden in Starbucks!
One of the facility’s highlights is a glass-enclosed botanical garden, offering an immersive experience of the relationship between people and nature. The garden showcases approximately 80 species of subtropical plants, organized around four themes: "Plants Supporting Our Lives," "Plants Enjoyed Through Taste," "Plants Adding Color," and "Plants Living with Water."
In the "Plants Enjoyed Through Taste" section, visitors can observe the cultivation of key ingredients like coffee trees and sweet potatoes, which are vital to both companies' products. The "Plants Living with Water" section features water plants and colorful koi swimming gracefully, allowing visitors to experience the richness of nature through the interplay of water, greenery, and light.
The garden uses thermal energy from the distillation waste heat generated during the shochu production process at Kirishima Shuzo, enabling visitors to enjoy the garden’s various seasonal expressions throughout the year. Additionally, the facility plans to run entirely on "Sweet Potato Power"*—renewable energy produced from biogas generated from shochu waste and sweet potato scraps—demonstrating its commitment to environmentally conscious operations.
*1: "Sweet Potato Power" refers to renewable energy generated by converting biogas from shochu waste and sweet potato scraps into electricity.
At the new facility, visitors can not only enjoy their coffee while relaxing in the indoor seating area, botanical garden, and terrace seats in the lawn area, but they can also stroll around or enjoy the scenery freely. The lawn area is a space where families and friends can relax together, and it also serves as a place where young children can interact with nature while playing. Furthermore, if you go up the stairs next to the entrance, you’ll find a rooftop garden that offers a panoramic view of the majestic Kirishima Mountains and Okinokawa River, allowing visitors to experience the rich natural beauty of Miyakonojo.
The facility will implement proactive actions for the community and environment by leveraging the strengths of both companies. As one example, they are planning workshops that let visitors experience nature’s blessings firsthand, such as making compost using coffee grounds and shochu lees generated from their business activities. The compost will be used to grow seedlings, which will eventually contribute to reforestation, linking these activities to the local cycle.
Through this facility, Starbucks and Kirishima Shuzo aim to cherish daily connections with the community while offering enriching experiences to each visitor. They are also committed to taking proactive actions towards a sustainable future, leveraging the strengths of both companies.
Facility Details
Location: North side of Kirishima Shuzo Headquarters Expansion Plant
- Address: Shimokawa Higashi 4-chome, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture
- Number of seats (planned): 57 indoor seats, 18 terrace seats
- Parking lot: Approximately 30 spaces
- Closing days: Irregular holidays
- Construction start: October 1, 2024
- Planned opening: Spring 2026
Profile of Architect Kengo Kuma
Born in 1954. Established Kengo Kuma & Associates in 1990. After serving as a professor at Keio University and the University of Tokyo, he is currently a Special and Emeritus Professor at the University of Tokyo. He has ongoing projects in over 50 countries, proposing new relationships between nature, technology, and people.
How the Starbucks x Kirishima Shuzo Collaboration Came About
Kirishima Shuzo values its connection to the local community and focuses on environmental initiatives while producing shochu in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture. In 2017, Starbucks visited Kirishima Shuzo for an internal training session, which led to exchanges of opinions about the local community and environmental issues. Through this interaction, both companies recognized a shared vision and began serious discussions on building a collaborative facility in 2022.
About Kirishima Shuzo
Kirishima Shuzo Co., Ltd. is a leading shochu manufacturer based in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, founded in 1916. Its main product, "Kuro Kirishima," uses 100% Kyushu-grown sweet potatoes, 100% underground water from the Miyakonojo Basin, 100% domestically produced koji rice, and is entirely manufactured in their Miyakonojo factory, reflecting their commitment to both the local community and nature.
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