News

KIRISHIMA SHUZO CO., LTD. and Starbucks Coffee Japan Co., Ltd. will open KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, a facility where people can gather, relax, and enjoy the rich nature of Miyakonojo.

"KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia" is a new place in Miyakonojo where visitors are welcomed with architecture that blends in with the local culture, and where they can spend a unique time of relaxation surrounded by the abundant nature. The facility is packed with fun things to visit again and again, including a botanical garden, a Starbucks store, and "KIRISHIMA LIFE STORE ipomea" directly managed by Kirishima Shuzo, as well as a rooftop garden and lawn area. With consideration for the natural environment, the botanical garden utilizes the thermal energy of the hot wastewater from the distillation of Shochu, and the electricity used in the facility is generated by "Sweet potato Power Generation(※1)The facility will be operated 100% "with a sustainable energy source." Coffee grounds from two Starbucks stores in Miyakonojo will also be used to generate electricity for icoia's Sweet potato Power Generation. This will be the first time that Starbucks in Japan has attempted to use methane fermentation of coffee grounds discharged from stores to generate electricity. Going forward, KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia will continue to take positive action for the natural environment and the local community, aiming for a sustainable future, as a "place of relaxation for everyone, created through resource circulation and connections with the local community."

■ Thoughts on "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia"

Starbucks visited Kirishima Shuzo for an in-house training session in 2017, and the two companies shared a common interest in local and environmental activities and a desire for a sustainable future. With the desire to create a place of relaxation for everyone in Miyakonojo, they began a full-scale collaboration project in 2022. KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia will finally open on Tuesday, January 27th.
Kunitake Enatsu, President and CEO of KIRISHIMA SHUZO CO., LTD., said, "We are pleased to be able to deliver a one-of-a-kind relaxation space through our collaboration with Starbucks. For 110 years since our founding, Kirishima Shuzo has always been a part of the Miyakonojo community. Together with Starbucks, we will create a place that makes people want to drop in and say, 'Let's go relax.' We will continue to be rooted in Miyakonojo and paddle out with all our might toward a bright future."
Hisae Morii, Representative Director and CEO of Starbucks Coffee Japan Co., Ltd., said, "Starbucks has been providing the Starbucks experience to each and every customer, cup by cup, store by store, every day, in order to bring joy and vitality to our customers and the local community. We are very pleased to be able to deliver this one-of-a-kind experience made possible through our collaboration with Kirishima Shuzo. We aim to become a new destination for the people of Miyakonojo, where they can gather casually and spend enjoyable time with their loved ones, for many years to come. We hope you will find your favorite cup and enjoy this special time."

■ Relaxing time at "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia"

KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia was designed by architect Kengo Kuma. The two companies' commitment to the local community and natural environment, combined with Kuma's desire to "integrate architecture into the local environment and culture," resulted in a building that allows visitors to feel the wind, light, and greenery of Miyakonojo.

As you enter the facility through the impressive entrance with its captivating design, you are greeted by a gently curved ceiling made of bleached bamboo, creating an open space exuding the natural warmth of bamboo. The walls are made of interior boards mixed with Starbucks coffee grounds and shirasu, a material that forms the soil of southern Kyushu, allowing you to feel the blessings of nature throughout the facility.

On your left, you will see Kirishima Shuzo 's directly managed store, "KIRISHIMA LIFE STORE ipomea." We sell food, sake ware, miscellaneous goods, and more that will make your drinking experience more enjoyable, with the aim of providing our customers with hints that will make their lives brighter, more free, and happier. We are waiting for you, with a selection of items that will help you spend a relaxing time at home.

On the right, you can see the botanical garden "Meguri no Mori" spread out beyond the glass. It is a soothing space where you can sit on a bench surrounded by subtropical plants, take a break with a cup of coffee in hand, and relax. In a large aquarium filled with the clear, cool groundwater of the Miyakonojo Basin, "Kirishima Rekkasui," you can also see Nishikigoi carp swimming leisurely. You can enjoy a moment out of the ordinary while gazing at the vibrant expressions of plants that you normally can't see in Miyakonojo.

As you continue walking, you will see a Starbucks on your left. The counter features an eye-catching design made from the same bleached bamboo as the ceiling, and the siren logo, crafted by a plasterer using Shirasu from southern Kyushu, is a special feature only available at KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia. Sitting in a seating area where you can feel the warmth of the wood, enjoying a cup of coffee while looking out at the magnificent view that unfolds before you is a luxurious coffee experience. It also features a drive-through, a first for Miyakonojo, and the experience of receiving your drink by going through a lane that passes by with bamboo in the background, makes your time in the car a relaxing one.

Outside, you'll find terrace seating and a lawn area called the "Relaxation Garden," offering a different atmosphere from the indoors, where everyone from children to adults can enjoy their time as they please. The trees and flowers, which change appearance with the seasons, also make your relaxation time even more enjoyable.
The rooftop garden "Miharashi-no-Oka," located at the top of the stairs next to the entrance, offers a panoramic view of the magnificent natural scenery of Miyakonojo, including Mount Kirishima and the Okimizu River, and at dusk, it is a special seat from which to enjoy the spectacular view of Mount Kirishima floating in the orange-tinted sky and the setting sun. The time spent relaxing, occasionally smelling the aroma of sweet potatoes and Shochu wafting from the adjacent factory, is truly a unique experience like no other.

■ Energy and resource circulation that customers can experience

At "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia," you can enjoy a moment of relaxation and feel the circulation of energy born from sweet potatoes and coffee.
The entire facility is operated using 100% Sweet potato Power Generation.(※2)The company has applied for permission to do so, and plans call for methane fermentation of coffee grounds from two Starbucks stores in Miyakonojo City, which will be used to Sweet potato Power Generation icoia.

Additionally, the "Meguri no Mori" botanical garden reuses the heat generated during the distillation of Shochu as heating in the winter, allowing visitors to enjoy subtropical plants all year round. The parking lot is also equipped with an EV charging station that can actually supply electricity Sweet potato Power Generation. These features allow visitors at "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia" to experience the energy generated by sweet Shochu and coffee as the facility's "heat" and "electricity." Furthermore, as a positive action for the local community and natural environment that leverages the strengths of both companies, a "compost-making experiment" using shochu dregs and coffee grounds generated through business activities is being conducted. The resulting compost will be used to grow acorn seedlings, which will then be used for future reforestation, contributing to the local cycle.
We will continue to use "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia" as our base and continue our activities that will lead to the future, with the participation of our customers.

■Finally

Kirishima Shuzo is a company that is "rooted in the local community and develops together with the local community," and this year marks the 110th anniversary of its founding. To continue to Shochu Shochu a sustainable manner, it is essential to coexist with the local community and the natural environment. As Kirishima Shuzo writes the next chapter in its history, we will cherish and nurture the bright future that will emerge from "KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia."

Starbucks has nurtured ties with local communities and created unique stores across Japan, with the goal of "becoming an irreplaceable presence that delivers the best coffee experience and enriching and energizing people's hearts - starting with one customer, one cup, and one community." Together with Kirishima Shuzo, we aim for a sustainable future, continue to take positive action for the natural environment and local communities, and cherish our daily connections with the local community, striving to provide moments that add color to the daily lives of each and every customer.

*1: Kirishima Shuzo 's renewable energy source, generated by converting Biogas produced from Shochu dregs and sweet potato scraps into electricity.
*2: A system under which cities can individually designate companies that collect and transport general waste from businesses as "general waste recycling and transportation businesses" and companies that recycle waste as "general waste recycling and utilization businesses" when it is certain that the waste will be recycled.

■Construction overview

address	5869-8 Shimokawa Higashi 4-chome, Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture
Building structure	Reinforced concrete construction, partly steel frame construction and steel frame reinforced concrete construction, 1 story
Site area	4,686㎡
Total floor area	712㎡
Opening hours	Starbucks store and lawn area "Ikoi Garden" 7:30-22:00 Botanical Garden "Meguri no Mori" / Rooftop Garden "Miharashi no Oka" 9:00-19:00 Kirishima Shuzo Direct Store KIRISHIMA LIFE STORE ipomea 10:00-19:00
Number of seats	73 seats (57 seats indoors, 16 seats on the terrace)
parking	First parking lot: 35 spaces Second parking lot 30 spaces
Closed days	Irregular holidays
Opening date and time	Tuesday, January 27, 2026 10:00

KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia website

back to the list