Starbucks opened its first international store in Tokyo, Japan, in 1996.
The Tokyo opening marked Starbucks’ first store outside North America and an important step in the company’s global development. Starbucks entered Japan through a partnership with Sazaby League, a Japanese company that helped the brand adapt its operations to the local market.
Unlike many traditional fast-food chains, Starbucks has historically used a mixture of company-operated stores, licensed locations, and selected international partnerships rather than relying exclusively on conventional franchising. That distinction makes Starbucks a useful example of how large retail brands can expand through several business models.
The year 1996 is sometimes confused with Starbucks’ founding year, 1971, or its first store outside Seattle. The company’s first store opened in Seattle’s Pike Place Market in 1971. Tokyo was the first international market, not the first Starbucks location overall.