Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koen-mae faces Otemon Street and overlooks the outer moat of Hirosaki Castle, which is right next to Hirosaki Park. This shop is the second Starbucks in Japan to open in a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. The fusion of Starbucks with such historic buildings has become quite a trending topic.
Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koen-mae – Right near Hirosaki Park!
Located right next to the famous cherry blossom spot, Hirosaki Castle (Photo courtesy of Hirosakipark.jp)
Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koen-mae faces Otemon Street and overlooks the outer moat of Hirosaki Castle, which is right next to Hirosaki Park. This shop is the second Starbucks in Japan to open in a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. The fusion of Starbucks with such historic buildings has become quite a trending topic.
We recommend stopping by while checking out the cityscape and moat! (Photo courtesy of Hirosakipark.jp)
Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koen-mae is located near the famous cherry blossom viewing spot, Hirosaki Park.
If traveling by Shinkansen, you can catch the JR line from Shin-Aomori Station to Hirosaki Station.
By bus, ride the Dotemachi 100-Yen Loop Bus, which runs every 10 minutes from Rotary Platform 2 in front of Hirosaki Station. Get off at Shiyakusho-mae (City Hall), and Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koen-mae is only about 1 minute away on foot.
Half-Timbered Western-style Building Reminiscent of the Taisho Era
The aroma of coffee drifts from this National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Photo courtesy of Starbucks)
The building that is now Starbucks Coffee Hirosaki Koen-mae was once the official residence of the Commander of the 8th Division, built in 1917.
The entrance has the same triangular roof seen in shrines, called kirizuma-hafu (gabled roof). This building is a mix of Western-style and Japanese architecture and is currently designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
It is also the second Starbucks branch to open in a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. The first was the Kobe Kitano Ijinkan branch in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture.
For those who want to spend some time in a historic building, these are the shops to check out!
Kitano-cho Ijinkan: Sightseeing Itinerary for Kobe's Old Quarter
An Exterior Architecture Brimming with Craftsmanship
The old Western-style building and Starbucks signboard are a perfect match (Photo courtesy of Starbucks)
With its uniquely edged roof and vertically long windows, this unique building maintains its traditional Japanese vibe while staying true to the Western style.
It is the handiwork of Hikosaburo Horie, eldest son of Sakichi Horie, an experienced carpenter regarded as a 'god of construction,' having worked on many Western-style buildings in the Tsugaru Region during the Meiji Period (1868-1912).
His inherited craftsmanship is clear in the design. Even the Starbucks signboard complements the atmosphere, reminiscent of a Western-style luxury home from the Taisho Period (1912-1926).
A Beautifully-Designed Shop Interior Decorated with Traditional Crafts
Tons of sunlight shine through the large windows of this Former Conference Hall (Photo courtesy of Starbucks)
This room, which once was used as a conference hall, is now a sunny, open space with large windows. The design incorporates local mate…
