Starbucks opened its first coffeehouse outside North America in Tokyo in 1996.
The Tokyo store opened in the Ginza district in August 1996. It was Starbucks’ first international location and marked the beginning of the company’s expansion beyond the United States and Canada.
The Japanese launch used a joint venture with the Japanese company Sazaby League. Starbucks adapted some aspects of its operations to local conditions while maintaining its coffeehouse identity and core menu.
Starbucks had begun in Seattle in 1971 as a retailer of coffee beans, tea, and spices. The company’s early stores were inspired partly by Italian espresso bars, but its international growth created a much larger global retail network.