Tokyo hosted Starbucks’ first store outside North America in 1996.
The Tokyo opening marked a major step in Starbucks’ international expansion. The company entered Japan through a joint venture with the Japanese company Sazaby League. The first store opened in the Ginza district, a prominent commercial area in central Tokyo.
Japan was an important early international market because coffee culture was already well established there. Starbucks adapted its approach to local conditions while retaining recognizable elements such as espresso drinks, café seating, and the green siren logo. The Japanese business later became a wholly owned Starbucks subsidiary.
This opening is distinct from Starbucks’ first overseas store in general descriptions that sometimes use “outside the United States.” Canada received Starbucks’ first store outside the United States in 1987, while Tokyo was the first location outside North America.