Depending on the time of year you’re in Japan, chances are there will be a special featured seasonal drink at your local Starbucks!
1. Summer – Setouchi Lemon Cake Frappuccino
Starbucks Japan typically features cold juices, teas, and Frappuccino during the summer to keep you cool. Last summer, I had the privilege of trying the Setouchi Lemon Cake Frappuccino which is named after the city of Setouchi in Okayama prefecture, known for its quality lemon production.
Delicious and refreshing, this chilled beverage has real pieces of lemon cake blended into the mix, offering a sweet and soft crunch to every sip. The topping is absolutely delightful too, featuring a zesty lemon syrup with bits of lemon cake sprinkled over a generous helping of whipped cream.
2. Autumn – Osatsu Butter Frappuccino
Autumn in Japan is the season of yaki-imo or “roasted sweet potato.” From convenience stores to cafés and restaurants, you can find special yaki-imo products in the form of meals, snacks, drinks, and desserts!
Starbucks Japan doesn’t hold back getting into the autumn spirit, whipping up this delicious Osatsu Butter Frappuccino made with real bits of roasted sweet potato and topped with honey butter syrup.
Every sip offers a roasty taste with an awesome sweet potato flavor and light crunchy bits of yaki-imo from the first sip to the last!
3. Spring – Sakura Matcha With Sakura Jelly
Cherry blossoms or sakura are the cornerstone of natural beauty during the months of Spring in Japan. Who would’ve thought these pretty pink petals could produce such a refreshing and delightful taste when blended into drinks?
Starbucks Japan comes in clutch once again with this specially-made seasonal drink, Sakura Matcha with Sakura Jelly, featuring a combination of two iconic Japanese favorites.
The drink itself is a matcha green tea milk drink of sorts with a strong cherry blossom scent that resembles something like rose milk. There are also edible pieces of sakura-flavored jelly that add an awesome dynamic to the mix!
4. Winter – Matcha Green Tea Latte
Last but not least is a hot beverage befitting the freezing cold winter months of Japan – the iconic Matcha Green Tea Latte. Nowadays, you can get this drink at any Starbucks around the world so it’s not exactly “exclusive” to Japan, but green tea connoisseurs will tell you that the quality of Japan’s is of the superior kind.
Truthfully, you can typically get the Matcha Green Tea Latte all year round, but since there are no specific seasonal drinks for the winter, I’d put this one up as the best choice for winter (though anything hot will do!). So no matter what time of the year you find yourself in Japan, head on down to your nearest Starbucks for a tasty seasonal (or not-so-seasonal) beverage!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!
