Starbucks Coffee - Kobe Kitano Ijinkan — Restaurant in Kobe

The building and decor is beautiful, and you can actually enjoy it if you can find a seat and not be knocked about by all the tourists who, unfortunately, are usually not especially well mannered (my experience each time at this location). I appreciate the warm, welcoming, and friendly smiles of the staff each time, but being treated like an E.T. and automatically like an American (which I am not) finally got on my nerves this time. As I ordered a "short cold brew coffee" (exactly how it is labelled, exactly how it is said in Japanese and in English - and, fortunately I speak both, with a native English accent), the staff member (not native Japanese) did not understand and asked three times what it was I wanted. I even reverted to saying it in Japanese English. With that many tourists, does it really have to be that difficult to order a simple cup of coffee? Then, I asked if it could be put into a mug cup, and the answer was no with a question if I actually wanted a hot cup of coffee. Very confusing. I again said that I just wanted exactly what I ordered as a cold - short cold brew coffee, and mug cup if they have one. Again, the answer was "no, only hot", with the staff member now appearing visibly annoyed. I then had to ask if the mug cups are reserved only for hot drinks, and if so, I did not know that (I don't go to Starbucks often), so he gestured that, indeed, they are for hot drinks only and then pointed to a paper cup for the cold drink rather than the plastic cup that cold beverages usually seem to come in. All in all, not a pleasant experience... unfortunately... yet again... at this location. I have been lucky once or twice to visit when there were fewer customers, and then the experience is much better all around. However, they appear not to be able to manage the huge amount of tourists, elder customers (like me), or how maintain proper service manner and etiquette when flooded with customers... and for folks like me, that's a problem and there is no excuse for it. Perfection is not expected or requested, but a minimal standard should apply, so I hope they train their staff accordingly. In the meantime, I do not intend to return to this location for...

It’s quite a sunny day. We bathed in the sunshine and walked along 北野坂 uphills. Soon we found a Starbucks cafe in an old English house. We ordered matcha cream Frappuccino, matcha latte and a piece of New York cheesecake and enjoyed them as breakfast on the second floor. The wooden stairs and floor contributed felt ancient and homey. Places at balcony were all occupied, but we still could smell the warm spring breeze. I felt jealous of the students studying here. We visited two coffee shops on the slope during this trip, and I loved both very much. The one in Fushimi, Sapporo was for lonely writers and exiled couples, watching the snow falling and enjoying the silence, the one in Kobe was for exuberant travellers, listening and smelling the sound and breeze of spring. However, as a whole, I prefer the Sapporo one...

One of the top Starbucks in Japan, in terms of decorations, architecture and designs. This is located within the stretch of nice buildings which are more European in style. Kobe is one of the earliest cities within Japan that opened up to foreign influences and you can see that in terms of cuisine available, buildings and culture.

Back to starbucks, this is a two storeys building, with the settings of European influences. The services and coffees are typical of Starbucks. People are friendly and standard English to order Starbucks are...