Cool Starbucks store - Fukuoka Ohori Park

Fukuoka Ohori Park

The Starbucks at Fukuoka Ohori Park is one of the concept stores in the Park as Ueno Onshi Park's and Toyama Kansui Park's. It is a good place for the people enjoying a day out in the park visit. Besides, Fukuoka Ohori Park has a jogging trail around the lake and this store is the oasis for the jogger. 

LEED certification

This Starbucks store is designed to reduce environmental impacts and it is the first store to be LEED registered in Japan. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system devised by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance of a building and encourage market transformation towards sustainable design. 

It is constructed and designed to integrate into the existing landscape and to preserve surrounding trees. The design also minimizes energy and water consumption, incorporates locally-sourced and reused or recycled materials, and employs creative methods to inspire partners (employees) and customers to make environmentally responsible decisions in their daily lives. 

The wood materials are Kirishima cedar, grown locally in Kyushu. LED bulbs reduce energy consumption and the chairs previously used in other stores were reupholstered rather than sent to a landfill. The store's design helps to reduce environmental impacts whilst reflecting the character of its surrounding neighborhood. 

"Engawa" style roof overhangs

Louver screens and "engawa" style roof overhangs, as well as insulated exterior walls and window frames, are used to block the sun and reduce heating and cooling needs. The engawa is ancient wisdom of Japan and it was common in traditional Japanese home.

I think Engawa is not only kind of the ecology but the life style of Japanese. The seasons are closely connected even with contemporary Japanese life, and this sense of the seasons has had a great influence on Japanese lifestyles. I think it is the reason we love this atmosphere.

Cool Starbucks store - Ueno Onshi Park

Ueno Onshi Park

"Onshi" means "imperial gift" and Ueno Onshi Park was donated to Tokyo City by imperial grant. This well laid out park is home to five museums, a number of shrines and temples, a zoo, and a university. It is one of Tokyo’s great urban parks where you could spend several days experiencing all that is on offer.


Enjoy the park!

The site of current Ueno Onshi Park used to be the temple grounds of Kaneiji Temple during Edo period. You can see some historic buildings of this temple in this park. Enjoy some nature, pray at its temples, and late afternoon walks. The area around the pond to be particularly relaxing.

This Starbucks is located the center of Ueno Onshi Park and full of the people visiting the zoo or the museums in the park. Especially, the terrace chairs are highly recommended under the nice weather.

Sakura

Ueno Onshi Park is also famous Sakura (cherry blossom) viewing spots in Tokyo. The cherry blossoms can only be enjoyed for two weeks of the entire year, so Japanese people goes to view these flowers. When Tokyo is dyed in the color of cherry blossoms, people feel the transition to a warmer season inside their hearts. For that reason, Ueno park becomes very lively regardless of the time of day.

The Starbucks of Ueno Onshi Park is decorated with the cherry blossoms and offer the special menu of "Sakura". 

Cool Starbucks store - Izumo Taisya

Izumo Taisya

Izumo Taisha (Grand Shrine) is considered as one of the most ancient and important shrines in Japan. It is believed that the gods gather at Izumo Taisya in October to discuss the coming year's marriages, deaths, and births. Japanese call October kannazuki'' ("the month without gods"), but people of Izumo province call October kamiarizuki ("the month with gods").

Izumo Taisha

According to the Kojiki (the Legendary Stories of Old Japan) and the Nihon Shoki (the Chronicles of Japan), these being the two oldest books in Japan, it is dedicated to the god Okuni-nushi and was built for him in return for him giving up the land to the Yamato rulers who is ancestor of Tennou (Japanese Emperor).

The building is designated as a National Treasure. It is said to convey the shape of the houses of great noble families of ancient times. According to records, it is supposed that the main shrine was 48 m high when it was first built. In the year 2000, three logs of more than 1 m in diameter attached to each other were found near the main shrine. This discovery has attracted much attention, as it is believed that this structure was built with these three logs forming one pillar, thus indicating that there indeed used to be a huge main shrine here.

Around of Izumo Taisha

This area is steeped in mythology and folklore and since ancient times has been known as the Land of the Gods and as the birthplace of the Japanese spirit. Wherever you go in the region, be it deep into the mountains, to the friendly towns and villages or even the modern day cities, you are never far from an ancient shrine or temple which serves as a reminder that this is still very much the dwelling place of the Gods.

This Starbucks has also same atmosphere around the place. The window with a grille, the tile-roofed entrance and the interior woodwork, these are inspired by the old Japanese buildings. I recommend you to walk the back street of the neighborhood.

This Starbucks has the limited three mugs, which are handmade in the special gift boxes.  You may buy it as a souvenir. I think it is good design which has features of Japanese traditional art.

Cool Starbucks store - Dazaifutenmangu Omotesando

Dazaifutenmangu Omotesando

http://www.domusweb.it/

The Starbucks store at Dazaifutenmangu Omotesando is known that Japanese modern architect, Kengo Kuma, has designed. It stands on the main approach to the Dazaifu Tenmangu, one of the most major shrines in Japan. The tourists who visits this shrine often takes pictures in front of the entrance.

Dazaifu-Tenmangu

Dazaifu is the name of local administrative agency in old Japan. It served the entire island of Kyushu from 7th century to 12th century. The reason which it was built in this area is that Dazaifu was pivotal for Japan's diplomatic relations and organizing the country's defenses. It is slightly inland from Hakata, whose port was one of the main points of interaction between Japan and mainland Asia. 

http://www.pref.fukuoka.lg.jp

Tenmangu is one of the most important shrines that are devoted to the Shinto deity of scholarship, Sugawara Michizane. Michizane is promoted to a succession of important posts by the emperor due to his grate talent. But his rivals, in an attempt to undermine his influence at court, falsely accused him of plotting to kill the emperor. As a result, Michizane was exiled to Dazaifu where he eventually died. After his death, a number of misfortunes at court were ascribed to his angry spirit. To placate the ghost, his descendants were reinstated and became hereditary court scholars. Nowadays, he is a popular focus for prayers among students facing examinations.

The design of Kengo Kuma

Kengo Kuma, a Japanese architect, sees in architecture a frame of nature that bridges people with the environment. His buildings are related to the Asian tradition and to nature, using light and natural materials to produce a new kind of transparency.

The building is made of 2,000 wooden stick parts. Along the main path to the shrine, there are traditional Japanese buildings, this building is harmonizes with such townscape, using a unique system of weaving thin woods diagonally.

Honestly saying, this store is very clouded and it seems to be difficult to give you space to relax in the weekend. But I think you may feel the good atmosphere with Japanese cool design. 

http://www.timeandstyle.com

Cool Starbucks store - Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku

Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku

http://starbuckstumblers.blogspot.jp

Kyoto was political and cultural center of Japan for over 1,000 years and a lot of temples and shrines were built. However, starting from the middle of the 15th century, there was about 100 years long war period. Kyoto and its suburbs were burnt down and it looked far from the beautiful capital city it used to be. In addition, Japanese historic buildings are often rebuilt after it was destroyed by the disaster, fire, earthquakes, heavy rains, etc.

Rokkaku-do

Rokkaku-do is the temple believed to have been established in 6th century but the building in existence was rebuilt in 1877. "Rokkakudo" means "Hexagonal temple" and the formal name of the temple is "Chouhouji". Literally, the shape of main temple is hexagonal.

http://www.zekkeikana.com

This temple has an interesting origin, it was founded in 587 by Prince Shotoku who established a political system for the first time in Japan, or there is a stone called "Heso-ishi", It means "bellybutton stone" of Kyoto. That's probably why Rokkaku-do was popular for the people in Edo period. But honesty speaking, historical value is not so big.

Ikebana

http://www.ikebanabyjunko.com

http://www.47news.jp

Rokkaku-do is not known for the building but the site of the birth and development of ikebana, Japanese flower arrangement. The beauty of a flower arrangement lies in its asymmetrical balance, respect for the individual flower and harmony with nature as a whole. 

http://www.ija.ie/calendar

http://4travel.jp

The oldest school of ikebana dates its beginnings from a priest of the Rokkakudo Temple, Ikenobo Senkei in the 15th century, who was expert in flower arrangement and he became attached to the priests there who specialized in these altar arrangements. Ikebana was one of the arts in which women were traditionally schooled in preparation for marriage. Today, it is practiced on many occasions like ceremonies and parties, and modern people are still choosing to study the art.

Headquarters of Ikenobo 

This Starbucks is under the Ikenobo Headquarter located next to the Rokkakudo Temple. If you are interested in the Ikebana, I strongly recommend to visit the headquarter. It has the guide service for visitors through the Museum and grounds, ikebana supply store, and brief visits to classrooms if classes are in session. Besides, it sponsors the seasonal exhibitions and you may watch the exhibits by the masters.