Starbucks Japan launches Smart Lounge railway station concept

Starbucks Japan has launched a new concept store in collaboration with railway operator JR East.

The “Starbucks Coffee Takanawa Gateway Station” opened yesterday, introducing its Smart Lounge concept – a store space focused on business use. The store features numerous semi-private and single-seat seats to meet the needs of using a cafe for work purposes as well as a large table used for meetings with multiple people.

Two fully-private booth-style share offices are provided within the store. Power outlets are available for all seats, and the store also operates a mobile battery sharing service. Wifi is available throughout the premises.

The cafe also specializes in speedy cashless payment via Starbucks Card and Suica, among other e-payment platforms. Via a dedicated app, it allows customers to settle orders in advance and receive products smoothly at stores, designed to allow more effective use of time and reduction of waiting time at cash registers.

“Starbucks has more than 1500 stores nationwide and connects with 800,000 customers a day,” said Starbucks Japan head of store development Kazuhiro Ishihara. “Each store has its own personality and expression that reflects the locality and needs of each individual.

“At the Takanawa Gateway Station, we provide a smart and comfortable experience that suits its location and purpose, and integrates with people’s lives to create a future city that no one has yet seen. We aim to be a store and base that can be created with people.”

Takanawa Gateway Station is situated in Shinagawa town, a new urban area under development that aims to be a new gateway to Tokyo.

JR East aims to operate 30 shared office spaces by the end of the financial year.