Bucked by the Star

Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg - October 2010
Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg - November 2010
Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg - January 2011
Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg - February 2011
Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg - February 2011
Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg - February 2011
Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg - February 2011
Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg - March 2011

Tsutaya Yokohama Minatomirai （TSUTAYA 横浜みなとみらい店）

2011-04-02T20:00:00.002+09:00

One of my favorite stores in Yokohama!

This Starbucks store is connected to a Tsutaya bookstore.

(it's dark outside due to energy conservation)

What's so great about this Starbucks is that it is a Book & Cafe concept store.

You're allowed to read unpurchased books and magazines

at your table or sofa while enjoying Starbucks drinks and food!

This was what I was looking through...a booklet about Yokohama,

which is where this store is located, close to chinatown.

Cakepop - Chocolate Nuts

(possibly my favorite...strawberry milk is good, too)

They have a lot of comfy sofas.

The whole place has a really relaxing atmosphere.

Oh and you'll be seeing this when you buy something.

Starbucks Japan has placed donation cups in all their stores now!

All donations go to Japanese Red Cross Society's Emergency Relief.

Tsutaya Yokohama Minatomirai

神奈川県横浜市西区

みなとみらい4-7-1　ミッドスクウェア

Mid Square

4-7-1 Minatomirai Nishi-ku

Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa

045-226-1073

Everyday: 7am-2am

Nishi Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg （西新宿三井ビル店）

2011-03-14T08:00:00.009+09:00

My first morning back to work after the earthquake.

As the trains were not running I decided to walk to work

and stopped by this Starbucks on the way to see if they were open.

Many of the stores in the Kanto area have had to close

or change their store hours in order to accomodate the

mandatory power outage or the lack of merchandise.

Most Sarbucks stores that are open are operating on minimum energy,

as are many other shops and offices in the Tokyo area.

We've been asked by the government & TEPCO to conserve our energy

as it is lacking in the areas affected by the earthquake.

As you can see in the photos, the stores are very dimly lit

and they only served drip coffee in the morning hours.

But all this is part of lending a helping had to people in need

and I think it's a great way to contribute.

I've decided that for the time being I will only order short size drinks

so I can also contribute by donating towards the relief efforts.

(Thought to stop going all together but we need to support the economy, too!)

It's been awhile since I ordered this size.

So cute how little it is!

It's about the same size as my adroid cellphone.

The Starbucks stores may be a little dark

but the baristas there are as warm as ever!

Also here (when the store is lit up) :

Nishi Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg - November 2009

Nishi Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg - March 2010

PS:

If you're looking for ways to help,

you can always donate to the Japanese Red Cross

or to an organization in your country.

I hope you'll continue to pray for Japan.

Thank you so much.

Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg （新宿三井ビル店）

2011-03-09T13:30:00.007+09:00

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

(in limited stores only)

I loved all the veggies in this salad!

Sugar Doughnut

Also here:

Shinjuku Nomura Bldg - June 2009

Starbucks Discoveries (Vanilla Mocha)

2011-03-01T20:00:00.011+09:00

Starbucks Discoveries

Yucatan - Vanilla Mocha

In stores starting March 1, 2011

for a limited time during the spring season.

Shinjuku Nomura Bldg （新宿野村ビル店）

2011-02-27T17:00:00.001+09:00

Enjoyed an early hanami with my sister at Starbucks.

So many Sakura sweets to choose from!

Sakura Chiffon Cake

Sakura Cheesecake

(Don't you love the sakura-on-whipcream combination?)

This was SO GOOD!

At first I wasn't too keen on trying it. It looked like pink tofu to me.

But Sarah from StarbucksinJapan said it went well with coffee...

so I tried it. And LOVED IT!

I thought that the salted sakura leaf on top

really went well with the cheesecake.

Also here:

Shinjuku Nomura Bldg - July 2009

Shinjuku Nomura Bldg - August 2009

Shinjuku Nomura Bldg - September 2009
Shinjuku Nomura Bldg - December 2010

Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg （新宿三井ビル店）

2011-02-23T12:30:00.033+09:00

Ask for extra chocolate shavings on top!

Sakura Cream Frappuccino

(It tastes like Sakura Mochi. Really sweet!)

(To be honest, I think I like how pink it is more than anything.)

Also here:

Seibu Shinjuku PePe - March 2009

Seibu Shinjuku PePe （西武新宿PePe店）

2011-02-22T22:00:00.009+09:00

Banana Cream Pie

(Seriously yummy!)

Also here:

Seibu Shinjuku PePe - November 2009

Seibu Shinjuku PePe - December 2009

Seibu Shinjuku PePe - January 2010

Seibu Shinjuku PePe - February 2010

Seibu Shinjuku PePe - March 2010

Seibu Shinjuku PePe - June 2010

Seibu Shinjuku PePe - September 2010

Seibu Shinjuku PePe - November 2010

Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg （新宿三井ビル店）

2011-02-19T17:00:00.008+09:00

Brazil Ipanema Bourbon

(food pairing suggestion: Sakura Biscotti)

Cinnamon Roll and Ice Cocoa

Sakura Scone

The barista will usually ask you if you want to warm up your scone.

I said yes, which is why the frosting is running.

It was a good scone but...

not much sakura taste.

I love the sofa by the glass wall in the corner.

Also here: