Flashback to the Japan Starbucks 47 Jimoto Frappuccino
Thuy Fang
Every year, every season, and even on special holidays, Starbucks Japan releases incredible drinks that match the festive mood. One of the most unique was the hugely successful Starbucks Japan Jimoto 47 Frappuccino campaign in 2021. If you haven’t heard about it or the special drinks from this impressive project, keep reading as we look back at some unforgettable flavors!
What is Starbucks Japan Jimoto 47 Frappuccino?
In the summer of 2021, Starbucks Japan had a super fun celebration for its 25th birthday. To make it special, they created 47 colorful and tasty Frappuccinos, one for each of Japan’s 47 prefectures. The company called this significant event the Jimoto Frappuccino project. “Jimoto” means “local” in Japanese, and each drink highlighted special ingredients and flavors from its region. You could buy each drink only in the prefecture where baristas created it.
The project started on June 30th and ended on August 3rd. During that time, people across Japan visited their local Starbucks stores to try the special drinks. Some flavors were creamy and sweet, others fruity or tea-flavored. All of them matched the taste and culture of each region.
This was a way for Starbucks to say thank you to each community. The drinks were made with help from Starbucks baristas in each area, who gave ideas about flavors, toppings, and fun names using local words. This helped the drinks feel unique and full of hometown pride.
TOKYO Origin Coffee Jelly Caramel Frappuccino Blended Coffee
Starbucks created the blended coffee to celebrate its first store in Japan, located in Ginza, a famous shopping and business area in Tokyo. Tokyo’s classic coffee culture and a beloved treat called coffee jelly, popular in old-style Japanese cafes for many years, inspired this special drink.
The drink was made with Starbucks Tokyo Roast coffee, rich caramel sauce, and a smooth, creamy coffee base. At the bottom of the cup were tasty little cubes of coffee jelly, adding a playful and chewy surprise. The coffee had a bold and deep flavor, the caramel made it sweet and creamy, and the jelly gave it an interesting twist in texture. Even though the drink looked a bit like a regular caramel Frappuccino, its flavors told a story of Tokyo’s charm.
HOKKAIDO Tokibi Creamy Frappuccino Blended Cream
HOKKAIDO Tokibi Creamy Frappuccino Blended Cream was inspired by two of Hokkaido’s most loved local ingredients: sweet corn called Tokibi and fresh, creamy milk. This unique mix reminded people of Hokkaido’s cozy corn soup, corn pottage.
This drink was creamy and sweet, with a gentle corn flavor that blended well with white chocolate syrup. On top, there were crunchy cornflakes and soft whipped cream. Though it only had a small amount of corn, it was a fun surprise and showed off Hokkaido’s warm and delicious spirit.
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KYOTO Hannari Matcha Kinako Frappuccino Blended Cream
Japan Starbucks made this drink part of the Jimoto Frappuccino project, choosing matcha and kinako as the stars. Uji in Kyoto produces matcha, a strong green tea powder, and kinako is roasted soybean powder often used in Japanese sweets. They mixed these two ingredients into a creamy white chocolate base, then topped it with soft whipped cream and a sprinkle of kinako for extra flavor and charm.
The Kyoto Hannari Matcha Kinako Frappuccino Blended Cream looked elegant and straightforward. It also had a smooth and creamy texture, blending slightly bitter matcha with sweet, nutty kinako. The flavors were classic and comforting, just like many of the sweets you can find in the peaceful cafes of Kyoto!
OSAKA Meccha Kudamon Frappuccino Blended Cream
This super colorful and fruity drink celebrated Osaka’s fun and energetic spirit. Japan Starbucks took inspiration from a famous local favorite called “mixed juice”, which started in Osaka after the war.
Because of this, people used extra or slightly damaged fruits to make delicious juice instead of throwing them away. To honor this brilliant and kind idea, Starbucks blended tasty fruits like banana, apple, mango, and passion fruit to create a bright frappuccino.
Meccha Kudamon means “very fruity” in Osaka dialect, and the drink looked just as cheerful as it tasted. It also had a creamy base filled with fruity flavor. On top was whipped cream with mango and chocolate sauce, similar to the sweet choco bananas sold at summer festivals in Japan.
OKINAWA Kari Chinsuko Vanilla Caramel Frappuccino Blended Cream
It was a cheerful and tasty drink created by Japan Starbucks to celebrate Okinawa’s warm, tropical spirit. Based on the local word kari, which means happiness and joy, this drink was made to share smiles. It used chinsuko, a traditional Okinawan cookie that dates back to the old Ryukyu Dynasty. Generally, these cookies are a little salty and sweet and are very popular with travelers who visit Okinawa.
Why are these drinks from Japan’s Starbucks so special?
These drinks were special because they celebrated Japan Starbucks’ birthday and the people and traditions across all 47 prefectures. Starbucks used drinks to tell stories about each area, showing how food and place can go together beautifully.
The drinks felt personal and full of regional charm, using regional ingredients and ideas from nearby baristas. Moreover, they helped people feel more connected to their region; for travelers, it was a sweet way to explore the country through taste. These drinks also brought many people joy, memories, and even travel adventures. Would you want to try all 47 someday? Which flavor would you choose first? Let us know in the comments!
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