Green IslandStarbucks stories from Nagano: old timber beams, Zenkoji, and everyday encounters
From residents' requests to 34 stores
Nagano Prefecture's first store opened in front of Nagano Station in 2003, after local residents had signed a petition requesting a store. As of October 2026, the prefecture has 34 stores.
Bringing timber and temple culture into stores
Opened in 2010, Nagano Minamitakada was the prefecture's first Starbucks with a drive-thru, using Shinshu larch and beams reclaimed from old homes. Shinshu Zenkoji Nakamise-dori, opened in 2020, draws on temple lodging culture, preserving old beams, using locally grown timber, and offering sunken kotatsu seating.
Letting customers choose how they connect
Partners at Minamitakada explain that they adapt conversations to customers' expressions and needs, remembering earlier exchanges. The Zenkoji store builds lasting relationships with nearby residents and visitors through hand-drawn guides, cleaning the temple approach, and coffee tastings.
