Kirishima Shuzo, the iconic Japanese shochu maker, has teamed up with Starbucks Japan to create a one-of-a-kind collaborative facility where coffee, craftsmanship and sustainability come together under a single bamboo roof. KIRISHIMA GREENSHIP icoia opens this week in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture.
Designed by Kengo Kuma as a welcoming space for relaxation (or “ikoi” in Japanese), icoia houses two main retail spaces: a store offering sake, goods, and lifestyle items, and a coffee shop. Complementing these two shops are a glass-walled botanical garden, a rooftop garden, an indoor koi aquarium and an open lawn area, all set against the backdrop of Mount Kirishima and the Okimizu River.
But what truly differentiates the facility is its commitment to sustainability and willingness to experiment with alternative sources of energy. The botanical garden utilizes thermal energy from distilled wastewater generated during shochu production to grow subtropical coffee and sweet potato plants. And the facility’s electricity is entirely powered by renewable energy that converts biogas generated from sweet potato waste and coffee grounds into electricity.
From the main entrance and ceilings to the cafe counters, Kengo Kuma has incorporated a local architectural technique known as sarashidake, in which bamboo is sun-dried, turning it into a beautiful ivory color. The bamboo even extends to the store’s drive-thru, which, for better or for worse, is the city’s very-first drive-thru.
If you’re passing through Miyazaki prefecture and want to stop by, here is the facility’s exact location.
Leave a Reply