Starbucks Coffee Japan Co., Ltd. [Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and CEO: Hisae Morii] and Kirishima Shuzo Co., Ltd. [Headquarters: Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki, Representative Director and President: Kunitake Enatsu] will open "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia," a facility where visitors can enjoy the rich nature of Miyakonojo, gather, and relax, on January 27th, 2026 (Tuesday).
"KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia" is a new destination in Miyakonojo where architecture harmonizing with the local climate welcomes visitors, offering a unique relaxation experience alongside the abundant surrounding nature. The facility includes a botanical garden, Starbucks store, Kirishima Shuzo's directly operated "KIRISHIMA LIFE STORE ipomea," as well as a rooftop garden and lawn area, packed with attractions that will make you want to visit again and again. With consideration for the natural environment, the botanical garden utilizes thermal energy from distilled wastewater generated during shochu production, and the entire facility operates on "100% Sweet Potato Power" (※1). Coffee grounds from two Starbucks stores in Miyakonojo City are also planned to be utilized for Sweet Potato Power generation at icoia. This initiative to use coffee grounds extracted from stores through methane fermentation for power generation is the first for Starbucks in Japan.
Going forward, "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia" will continue to take positive action toward the natural environment and local community as "a place of relaxation for everyone, created through resource circulation and connections with the region," aiming for a sustainable future.
Key Features:
- A project undertaken with a vision from the concept stage to post-opening collaborative activities is a first for both companies.
- At Starbucks, a drive-through surrounded by bamboo plantings offers a moment of peace during your coffee time.
- The glass-enclosed botanical garden features subtropical plants, with sweet potato and coffee trees—the origins of both companies—also planted.
- Architect Kengo Kuma's philosophy of "architecture that blends into the local environment and culture" merges with the aspirations of Kirishima Shuzo and Starbucks in architecture that abundantly uses bamboo, allowing visitors to feel the blessings of nature.
- At the directly operated "KIRISHIMA LIFE STORE ipomea," Kirishima Shuzo offers "companions for evening drinks that will upgrade your lifestyle."
The Vision Behind "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia"
Starting when Starbucks visited Kirishima Shuzo for internal training in 2017, mutual activities regarding the region and environment, and aspirations for a sustainable future resonated, leading to the official start of this collaboration project in 2022 with the desire to "create a place of relaxation for everyone in Miyakonojo." Finally, on January 27th (Tuesday), "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia" will open.
Hisae Morii, Representative Director and CEO of Starbucks Coffee Japan Co., Ltd., says: "Starbucks has been providing the Starbucks Experience daily, to deliver richness and vitality to our customers and communities, one person at a time, one cup at a time, one store at a time. We are very pleased to be able to deliver this unique experience made possible through collaboration with Kirishima Shuzo. We aim to become a new destination where the people of Miyakonojo can casually gather and spend enjoyable time with loved ones for many years to come. Please find your favorite cup and savor this special time."
Kunitake Enatsu, Representative Director and President of Kirishima Shuzo Co., Ltd., says: "We are delighted to deliver a one-of-a-kind relaxation space through our collaboration with Starbucks. For 110 years since our founding, Kirishima Shuzo has always been with the region of Miyakonojo. We will create a place with Starbucks where people feel like dropping by casually, thinking 'Let's go for some relaxation.' We will continue to set sail with full force toward a bright future while remaining rooted in Miyakonojo."
Spending Time Relaxing at "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia"
"KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia" was designed by architect Kengo Kuma. The fusion of the aspirations for local community and natural environment that both companies value with Kuma's cherished philosophy of "architecture that blends into the local environment and culture" has realized architecture where visitors can feel the breeze, light, and greenery of Miyakonojo.
Entering the facility through the entrance with its captivating design, a curved ceiling of bleached bamboo (sarashidake) continues, creating an open space radiating the natural warmth of bamboo. The walls use interior boards incorporating Starbucks coffee grounds and Shirasu, which forms the soil of southern Kyushu, allowing visitors to feel the blessings of nature throughout the facility.
To the left, Kirishima Shuzo's directly operated store "KIRISHIMA LIFE STORE ipomea" comes into view. The store sells food items, sake cups, and miscellaneous goods that make drinking occasions more enjoyable, aiming to deliver hints that can make visitors' lives brighter, freer, and happier. Items are available that allow visitors to experience moments of relaxation at home as well.
To the right is the botanical garden "Meguri no Mori" visible through glass. It's a healing space surrounded by subtropical plants where visitors can sit on benches and take a relaxing break with coffee in hand. A large water tank holding Miyakonojo Basin's pristine groundwater "Kirishima Rekkasui" features koi swimming gracefully. Visitors can savor an extraordinary moment while viewing the lively expressions of plants not usually seen in Miyakonojo.
Walking further, the Starbucks store appears to the left. The counter with the same bleached bamboo design as the ceiling and the Siren logo finished with Shirasu from southern Kyushu by a plasterer are special features unique to "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia." Enjoying a cup while seated in seats where you can feel the warmth of wood and viewing the magnificent scenery before you is a luxurious coffee experience. Additionally, the store features Miyakonojo's first drive-through, where the experience of receiving drinks after passing through lanes while viewing bamboo turns driving time into relaxation time.
Outside, terrace seating and the lawn area "Ikoi no Niwa" spread out, offering different atmospheres from indoors where everyone from children to adults can spend time as they please. Trees and flowers that show various expressions depending on the season further enrich the relaxation time.
The rooftop garden "Miharashi no Oka" at the top of the stairs beside the entrance is a prime viewing spot where visitors can overlook the magnificent nature of Miyakonojo, including Mount Kirishima and the Okimizu River. At dusk, visitors can enjoy spectacular views of Mount Kirishima and the sunset floating in the orange-colored sky. Time spent relaxing while occasionally catching the aroma of sweet potato and shochu drifting from the adjacent factory is truly an unprecedented, one-of-a-kind moment.
Energy and Resource Circulation That Visitors Can Experience
At "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia," visitors can enjoy moments of relaxation while experiencing the energy circulation created from sweet potatoes and coffee. The entire facility operates on "100% Sweet Potato Power." By applying for Miyakonojo City's recycling business designation system (※2), coffee grounds from two Starbucks stores in Miyakonojo City will also be methane-fermented and utilized for Sweet Potato Power generation that powers icoia.
Additionally, in the botanical garden "Meguri no Mori," thermal energy generated during shochu distillation is reused as heating in winter, allowing visitors to enjoy subtropical plants year-round. The parking lot is also equipped with EV charging stands that can supply electricity from Sweet Potato Power generation. Through these initiatives, "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia" allows visitors to physically experience energy created from sweet potatoes and coffee as the facility's "temperature" and "electricity." Furthermore, as positive action toward local community and natural environment leveraging both companies' strengths, a "composting experiment using coffee grounds and shochu lees" from business activities is being conducted. Seedlings are being grown from acorns using the completed compost, with plans to eventually plant them, connecting these activities to regional circulation. Going forward, activities connected to the future will continue with "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia" as a base, including visitor participation.
In Closing
Starbucks cherishes "'To inspire and nurture the human spirit—one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time,'" fostering connections with communities and creating stores with rich individuality throughout Japan. Together with Kirishima Shuzo, we will continue to aim for a sustainable future, continue positive action toward the natural environment and region, and walk forward to provide time that adds color to each customer's daily life while valuing daily connections with the community.
Kirishima Shuzo marks its 110th anniversary this year since beginning shochu production in Miyakonojo as a "company rooted in the region and developing together with the region." Coexistence with local community and natural environment is essential for continuing sustainable shochu production. As Kirishima Shuzo builds the next page of its history, we will carefully nurture the bright future born from "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia."
※1: Renewable energy produced by converting biogas generated from shochu lees and sweet potato scraps into electricity, unique to Kirishima Shuzo
※2: A system where the city can individually designate businesses that transport general waste as "General Waste Recycling Transportation Business" and businesses that recycle it as "General Waste Recycling Business" when recycling of business-related general waste is certain
Construction Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | North of Kirishima Shuzo Main Office Expansion Factory |
| Address | 4-5869-8 Shimokawa Higashi, Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture |
| Building Structure | Reinforced concrete structure, partially steel structure and steel-reinforced concrete structure, one-story building |
| Site Area | 4,686 m² |
| Total Floor Area | 712 m² |
| Operating Hours | Starbucks Store / Lawn Area "Ikoi no Niwa": 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM Botanical Garden "Meguri no Mori" / Rooftop Garden "Miharashi no Oka": 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Kirishima Shuzo Directly Operated Store KIRISHIMA LIFE STORE ipomea: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM |
| Seating Capacity | 73 seats (Facility Indoor: 57 seats, Terrace: 16 seats) |
| Parking | First Parking Lot: 35 spaces Second Parking Lot: 30 spaces |
| Regular Holidays | Irregular holidays |
| Opening Date/Time | January 27th, 2026 (Tuesday) 10:00 AM |
Starbucks Coffee Japan Co., Ltd. https://www.starbucks.co.jp/
Starbucks Coffee Japan Co., Ltd. opened its first store in Japan in Ginza, Tokyo in 1996. With over 37,000 stores in approximately 80 markets worldwide and 2,105 stores (as of the end of December 2025, including licensed stores) across all 47 prefectures in Japan, approximately 60,000 partners (employees) provide connections between people and warm moments through a cup of coffee. On February 28th, 2019, the world's fifth "Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo" opened. Stories of connections with people, society, the global environment, and communities spreading throughout the country are introduced on "STARBUCKS STORIES JAPAN."
