Mountaintop Starbucks Planned For Japan

Starbucks is climbing to new heights in Japan, with a new outlet opening shortly that is set to be the highest Starbucks in Japan.

The mountaintop Starbucks is set to open on top of the 7,569-foot-tall Mount Yokoteyama on Dec. 18. According to The Asahi Shimbun, the new Starbucks "will boast panoramic views, including snow-capped views of Mount Fuji, on clear days."

In addition to the stunning views, the Starbucks will offer the same lattes and cappuccinos as other Starbucks outposts in Japan, and the prices will be the same.

The Starbucks is part of a ski resort effort to attract more skiers to the area, as tourism numbers had dipped in recent years. Local hotels, ski lift operators, and ski schools met last year to discuss ways to bring the tourist numbers back up, and they thought a mountaintop Starbucks would be just the way to do it.

As a ski resort attraction, the Starbucks will not necessarily operate year-round. The current plan is for the Starbucks to stay open until mid-May, but Starbucks officials say they are optimistic that it will be able to stay open even in the off-season.

"We want to turn it into a successful business and continue operations in summer and beyond," said Starbucks store development official Kazuhiro Iwama.