Been There – Japan Winter

Been There – Japan Winter is the fourth special edition Japan mug. As you remember, it’s the only country that gets a mug per season on top of the regular one.

Japan transforms into a magical winter landscape during the cold months, offering a unique blend of traditional customs and exciting seasonal activities that captivate both locals and visitors. From snow festivals to hot springs and winter cuisine, the season brings out some of the most enchanting aspects of Japanese culture.… Read more

Been There – Japan Autumn

Starbucks Been There Japan Autumn follows three other country mugs for Nippon, namely: regular, Spring, and Summer editions.

The design of the mug showcases fall colors in all their beauty. Interestingly enough, the Japanese have a special word for the tradition of autumn leaf viewing. Momiji-gari is the centuries-old practice of traveling to scenic areas to view the changing autumn leaves, particularly those of maple trees. The term literally translates to “maple hunting” or “maple viewing,” though it encompasses the appreciation of all autumn foliage.… Read more

Been There – Japan Summer

The design of the Been There Japan Summer mug is dedicated to the summer season, obviously. Let me remind you that Japanese mugs are unique in the sense that apart from the regular mug, Starbucks releases four more mugs for each season. We’ve reviewed Japan Spring recently and noticed that while the layout stays the same, certain elements of the design were adapted to reflect the different seasons of the year. There is one more interesting detail about this particular release: while all other seasons, Spring, Autumn, and Winter, were all released in 2022, the Summer Edition was released in 2023, thus leaving collectors hanging for a while.… Read more

Been There – Japan Spring Edition

Similarly to the previous collection, Starbucks released the Special Edition country mugs for Japan. In fact, each season gets a custom interpretation of the regular mug’s design.
Been There – Japan 2 Spring Edition is dedicated to the spring season, known as “haru”. It is a breathtaking tapestry of renewal and vibrant beauty. Cherry blossoms, or “sakura,” symbolize the essence of this season, painting the landscape in shades of pink and white as they bloom across the country. These delicate flowers not only herald the arrival of warmer weather but also evoke a sense of fleeting yet profound beauty, celebrated through hanami, the centuries-old tradition of flower viewing.… Read more

Been There – Japan

It has been a while since the release of the Starbucks Been There – Japan mug, and I have no excuse for not adding it to the collection. Similar to the YAH series, the Japan country mug is unique in the sense, that it has four siblings representing four seasons of the year: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. I will be adding those four to the collection soon.

The design of this “regular” mug uses red and yellow colors. Here are some symbols of Japan that I am seeing on it:

Fuji, also known as Mount Fuji, is Japan’s iconic stratovolcano and the country’s tallest peak, standing at 12,389 ft.… Read more

You Are Here Ornament – Japan 5 Fall Edition

You Are Here Ornament – Japan 5 – Fall Edition is a little cute mug which is accompanying the bigger one. These two are going to be available in stores just in two days – on August 30. I wish I was in Japan now, to snatch a pair of these for my collection. I bet drinking your favorite beverage from these Autumn themed mugs as nights are getting longer is twice as tastier.
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You Are Here – Japan 5 Fall Edition

Breaking news (as it usually happens with the releases from the “Land of the Rising Sun”)! You Are Here – Japan 5 – Fall Edition mug continues series of Japanese mugs, ornaments, and tumblers. These were so popular from the get-go, that Starbucks decided to have one version per season, and that’s what makes them so special.
This time the mount Fuji is wearing the red clothes which along with the falling multicolored maple leaves on the front of the mug are supposed to symbolize the Fall colors.… Read more

You Are Here Ornament – Japan 4 Summer Collection

You Are Here Ornament – Japan 4 Summer Collection is coming right after its bigger brother. The string is green as well as the inside of the mini mug.
As I promised in the previous post, I am going to talk about the remaining elements of the design of this set.
On the side of the ornament, right after the sailboat, we see three slices of watermelon. And this is not just your average fruit, but Japanese watermelons. Let me tell you why they are so special, they are much sweeter than those found in the other parts of the world.… Read more

You Are Here – Japan 4 Summer Collection

As it was announced earlier, June 19 was supposed to be the date for Japan Summer Collection release. And since there is a 13 hours difference, we can already enjoy pictures of the new You Are Here – Japan 4 Summer Collection mug, coming directly from Starbucks website.
This design stands out from the other three previously released mugs, compare it to v1 (Common), v2 Winter (Limited), v3 Spring (Limited). As you can see the mount Fuji became green, with just the tip still being white.… Read more

You Are Here Japan Summer Collection

Breaking news! The time has come for You Are Here Japan Summer Collection items which are set to be released next Wednesday, June 19! Here’s the preview of regular size mug and matching stainless steel tumbler – a must have set for true Starbucks collectors. This new version is bringing us sunflowers, which we gonna talk about soon. Stay tuned for more photos and full review!… Read more

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