How We Conquered All Seven Starbucks in Japan’s Largest Mall in Just 111 Minutes

Aeon Lake Town, Japan’s largest shopping mall, boasts seven Starbucks locations. In a unique challenge, a team set out to visit all branches in one go, completing the coffee-fueled journey in just 111 minutes, proving that caffeine and curiosity make a powerful combination.

Visiting Aeon Lake Town: A Look Inside Japan’s Largest Mall with Over 700 Shops and Multiple Starbucks Locations

When it comes to shopping malls in Japan, Aeon Lake Town stands out for its sheer size. It boasts over 700 shops and restaurants across three massive complexes spanning 224,000 square meters (2.4 million square feet).

Located in Koshigaya, Saitama, just outside Tokyo, it’s a mall where visitors can easily spend an entire day exploring without seeing everything. According to SoraNews24, this sparked the idea of attempting to visit all seven Starbucks branches scattered throughout the mall.

A Two-Hour Starbucks Challenge: Visiting All Seven Locations in Japan’s Largest Mall, Aeon Lake Town

Starting at the first branch, conveniently located near the station, the challenge kicked off at 3:22 p.m. on a busy Sunday. With long lines and crowds typical of the weekend, the first order, a small iced decaf Americano, was quickly consumed before moving to the following location.

The second branch, only a short distance away, had an even longer queue, highlighting the coffee chain's popularity. After another iced Americano, it was on to the third stop—a Teavana outlet focused on tea-based drinks. Consistency was critical despite the shift in offerings, and the same iced Americano was ordered for uniformity.

Crossing into the outlet area for the fourth branch took some time, but the outdoor seating made the trip worthwhile, though another long wait was involved. By the halfway point, it became clear that the initial estimate of one hour was far too optimistic. Nevertheless, the journey continued.

The final three branches were located in the third complex. One store, set in a lush, plant-covered area, offered a moment of tranquility and a shorter line, providing a brief respite before tackling the following location.

By the sixth store, fatigue set in, and drinking the same beverage repeatedly became less appealing. But the final stretch awaited, and the last Starbucks greeted the challengers with the news that it would soon close for renovations. A celebratory sip marked the completion of the two-hour, seven-store coffee tour.

111 Minutes, 7 Starbucks Stops: A Unique Coffee Tour Through Japan's Aeon Lake Town Mall

The adventure took 111 minutes, with an average of 15 minutes between each Starbucks location. This spacing, whether by design or coincidence, ensured visitors were never far from a place to re-energize during their shopping spree.

It was a fun and unexpected challenge, and next time, they might opt for something other than an iced Americano.