Starbucks Japan’s current headliner is the melty honey-sweet-potato pair, launched September 2, 2026: a Beniharuka sweet potato Frappuccino (Tall only, ¥700, ~$4.56 in-store) and a cold-only sweet potato Mousse Tea Latte (¥640, ~$4.17). Both use paste from Japanese Beniharuka sweet potatoes and run “while supplies last,” which in Starbucks Japan terms means weeks, not months. Around them: new convenience-store chilled cups, a new permanent dark roast, and the Japan-only regulars (hojicha and matcha lattes) that justify a visit any month.
The pair, decoded: the Mousse Tea Latte at left (sweet potato mousse over
milk tea), the Frappuccino at right under whipped cream and roast-potato
drizzle, and the split roasted Beniharuka sweet potato they’re both built
on. Image: Starbucks Japan
Starbucks Japan operates like a fashion house: seasonal drops every few weeks, region-exclusive drinks, and merchandise collabs that queue out the door. This page tracks what’s on the menu now and what’s permanently Japan-only.
Checked September 9, 2026. Seasonal items here carry launch dates; Starbucks Japan rarely publishes end dates, so “while supplies last” is the honest window, and popular items sell out early.
The current seasonal: Torori Mitsu-imo Beniharuka
The name translates to “melty honey sweet potato,” the variety is Beniharuka (a dessert-sweet Japanese sweet potato), and the concept is deliberately chilled for lingering summer heat:
| Item | Price (in-store) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beniharuka Frappuccino | ¥700 (~$4.56) (Tall only) | Sweet potato paste + roast-potato sauce + whipped cream + crisp chips |
| Beniharuka Mousse Tea Latte | ¥640 (~$4.17) (Tall only) | Darjeeling-Assam milk tea over chilled sweet potato paste; cold only, no hot version |
| Baked sweet potato cake | ¥540 (~$3.52) | Beniharuka and Annou-imo, the food pairing |
Two clarifications for anyone who saw “sweet potato latte” headlines: these are handmade in-store drinks, not the bottled chilled-cup line, and there’s no hot version; the cold serve is the point.
Also new this month
The convenience-store chilled cups (sold at 7-Eleven, Lawson and FamilyMart, not in cafes) added a White Chocolate Latte and a Hojicha & Tea Latte on September 8. In cafes, a new permanent core coffee, the 1971 Dark Roast, arrived September 9, and Starbucks Reserve locations added marron (chestnut) cream cornetti. Merch watchers got two collabs in the same week: outdoor brand and wander, and BEAMS.
The Japan-only regulars, any season
- Hojicha Tea Latte: roasted green tea, the mellow signature that visitors rank above the matcha.
- Matcha lineup: the Matcha Tea Latte and Matcha Cream Frappuccino here use Japan-sourced matcha and taste noticeably stronger-brewed than the US versions.
- The seasonal calendar is a tourist attraction in itself: the sakura season launch in mid-February is Starbucks Japan’s biggest event of the year, running two waves of pink drinks and instantly-scalped merchandise through early April. Autumn brings the imo-kuri-kabocha (sweet potato, chestnut, pumpkin) rotation this page currently documents.
Ordering notes for visitors: Tall-only is common for seasonal drinks (as with both Beniharuka items), the mobile app requires a Japanese account but counters are fast, and prices differ slightly for takeout (¥687, ~$4.47 vs ¥700, ~$4.56 for the Frappuccino) due to Japan’s split tax rates.
FAQ
Does Starbucks Japan have a sweet potato latte?
Currently yes, in two forms: the Beniharuka sweet potato Frappuccino (¥700, ~$4.56) and a chilled sweet potato Mousse Tea Latte (¥640, ~$4.17), both launched September 2, 2026, Tall size only, while supplies last.
What drinks can you only get at Starbucks in Japan?
Year-round: the hojicha tea latte and Japan-grade matcha drinks. Seasonally: whatever the current drop is (sweet potato now, sakura in spring), plus chilled-cup flavors sold only in Japanese convenience stores.
When is Starbucks Japan’s sakura season?
Mid-February to early April, in two launch waves. It’s the biggest seasonal event on the Japanese Starbucks calendar; merchandise sells out on day one.
How much is Starbucks in Japan compared to the US?
Cheaper for most drinks: a Tall latte runs around ¥490-520 (~$3.19-$3.39) against $5-plus in US cities. Seasonal specials like the ¥700 (~$4.56) Beniharuka Frappuccino sit at the premium end.
Keep reading
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Prices, schedules and closures change. If you spot something stale, email us and we’ll check it.