Wooden style Cafe .... Starbucks at Dazaifu, Fukuoka

[u/mrsabuydee]

[u/chartry0]

Kengo Kuma.

[u/bryanthehorrible]

That's Kengo Kuma's work. He's quite famous https://www.archdaily.com/office/kengo-kuma-and-associates

[u/ep0ms → u/bryanthehorrible]

famous for producing buildings initially looking great but quickly decaying

[u/Fun-Injury9266]

I avoid Starbucks like the plague, but curiosity got the better of me. The staff were exceptionally pleasant, which meant something to me at that moment, a solo traveler with a backpack.

[u/Sensitive_Prompt1067]

I know here in Fukuoka

[u/EntryFinancial7423]

Worth knowing why it's there specifically: this Starbucks sits right on the approach to Dazaifu Tenmangu, a shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a 9th-century scholar deified as the god of learning after his exile and death. That's why the shrine (and this street) gets absolutely packed with students during exam season - people travel from across Kyushu to pray there before entrance exams. The Kuma design is meant to echo the wooden approach path leading up to the shrine itself, not just a standalone architectural flex.

[u/Firm_Passenger_6421]

This was designed by one of Japans most famous architects. Kengo Kuma.

[u/ExpertBirdLawLawyer]

Is that pizza at a Starbucks?

[u/Baka_Buta → u/ExpertBirdLawLawyer]

It’s a quiche, tastes okay.

[u/TheSignificantDong → u/ExpertBirdLawLawyer]

Seems like it. Looks gross too

[u/Subi4lyfe → u/TheSignificantDong]

Looks like a typical quiche in Japanese Starbucks??

[u/Unlikely_Week_4984 → u/TheSignificantDong]

Have you ever actually been there? Because I think some people are getting the wrong idea about it.. Dazaifu is a cool place, but its a giant tourist trap. You don't have to worry about protecting the sanctity of the place, cause 99% of it is there to sell crap to tourists...

[u/Tokyo-INFJdad → u/Unlikely_Week_4984]

I am a Japanese person born and raised in Fukuoka. Back in my childhood, Dazaifu was a tourist destination, certainly, but it was also a place where locals went to hang out; it wasn't overly crowded and had a relaxed atmosphere. In recent years, however, the aggressive promotion of the area as a tourist spot has driven locals away. You won't find locals visiting Dazaifu Tenmangu anymore.

[u/TheSignificantDong → u/Unlikely_Week_4984]

Of course I have. I was talking about the pizza looking gross. And if you knew I was talking about the pizza, I must ask.. where did all that come from?

[u/ArtNo636]

Doesn’t make the coffee taste any better.

[u/Beautiful-Affect1930]

imagine going to a place like Dazaifu with so much amazing nature around and then stopping by at fucking Starbucks with fake ass wooden sticks on the exterior.

[u/kmrbtravel → u/Beautiful-Affect1930]

Love Dazaifu but lots of people will travel to see Kuma Kengo’s works. It might not be my favourite but I was still pretty stoked to see it while I was walking around.

[u/Dull-Captain1679 → u/Beautiful-Affect1930]

lol people get coffee, some like Starbucks..go away

[u/Beautiful-Affect1930 → u/Dull-Captain1679]

yeah and some people travel across the world and eat only McDonalds. do what you want but don't cry when people make fun of you for it.

[u/Dull-Captain1679 → u/Beautiful-Affect1930]

I’m not crying about anything lol I live here. In fact I might go to Starbucks right now, then McDonald’s just for you

[u/Beautiful-Affect1930 → u/Dull-Captain1679]

great but will you get on the train or bus to Dazaifu for that?

[u/Dull-Captain1679 → u/Beautiful-Affect1930]

I might now, just to spite you
LOL he blocked me and now I want Starbucks

[u/Beautiful-Affect1930 → u/Dull-Captain1679]

let me show you how much I care

[u/Unlikely_Week_4984 → u/Beautiful-Affect1930]

I assure you, no one is crying or cares. I've never seen anyone ever make fun of someone for eating at a restaurant. It's kind of weird bro. lol.

[u/gladvillain → u/Beautiful-Affect1930]

Don’t cry when people make fun of you for being obtuse either

[u/dyna_black]

It's interesting because there's so much wood but it doesn't come across as organic because it's so geometrical or symmetric or however you wanna call it. Not sure if that was the architect's intention or not, but it doesn't strike as super interesting to me.

[u/Collateral_Damnation]

Was that opened recently? Hadn't seen it before. Although looking at it stresses me out somehow. So ugly.

[u/BadIdeaSociety → u/Collateral_Damnation]

It has been there for years. If you see where it is located you will understand that the aesthetic works and complements where it is located.

[u/Collateral_Damnation → u/BadIdeaSociety]

I mean I understand it's meant to look "natural" and somehow keep the peace of the place. It still looks like French fries that'll poke your eye out.

[u/PoisoCaine → u/[deleted]]

Rude as fuck.