Last updated: (based on Starbucks Japan’s official press release)
Starbucks Japan × Pokémon, from Sept 30
Pikachu Latte + 41 goodsThe latte runs until Oct 8 and comes with a free sticker. Merch is sold in stores and online while stock lasts.
Starbucks Japan’s first-ever collaboration with Pokémon starts on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. There are two parts to it: a limited drink, the Pikachu Honey Cream Latte, created by a Starbucks barista in an internal recipe contest, and 41 pieces of merchandise featuring new artwork by illustrator Hikaru Ichijo.
The catch for most people: only four items are sold in stores. Everything else is on the Japanese online store, which opens at around 6 a.m. on launch day with a queue and purchase limits. This guide covers prices, where each item is sold, the buying rules, and how to pay so you earn Stars.
- The drink: Pikachu Honey Cream Latte, iced Tall only. ¥678 to go / ¥690 to drink in, Sept 30–Oct 8, with one sticker per drink
- In stores: just the reusable cup (¥1,300) and three Starbucks Cards. Everything else is online only, from around 6 a.m. on Sept 30
- Limits: in stores, one of each item per person from Sept 30 to Oct 2. Online, one of each item per order on day one only
- Paying: a Starbucks Card earns 1 Star per ¥60. Choosing PayPay or Apple Pay in Mobile Order earns no Stars
At a glance: when, where and what
| Starts | Wed, September 30, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Drink | Pikachu Honey Cream Latte Sept 30–Oct 8 (may end early) |
| Merch | 41 items From Sept 30 while stock lasts |
| Where | Drink, reusable cup, Starbucks Cards: stores nationwide (some excluded) Everything else: official online store |
| Digital | Digital Starbucks Card Gift and eGift, 6 designs each |
| Artwork | Hikaru Ichijo (12 new illustrations) |
All prices are the official tax-included prices. Purchase limits for stores and the online store are summarized in the launch schedule.
Pikachu Honey Cream Latte: price and taste
| Name | Pikachu Honey Cream Latte (ピカチュウ ハニークリーム ラテ) |
|---|---|
| Size | Iced, Tall only |
| Price | ¥678 to go ¥690 to drink in |
| Available | Wed, Sept 30 – Thu, Oct 8, 2026 |
| Bonus | One original sticker per drink (while supplies last) |
It is a sweet, smooth espresso drink that uses the golden color of honey to stand in for Pikachu’s yellow. Honey and caramel flavors bring out the espresso, and the honey-flavored whipped cream is finished with red heart-shaped toppings for Pikachu’s cheeks. Starbucks describes it as a drink for people who don’t usually drink coffee, so it’s an easy pick if you’re going with kids or friends who aren’t coffee fans.
Ordering in Japanese? Just say “Pikachu hanii kuriimu rate, onegai shimasu”, or show the name above on your phone.
What you can buy in stores
Only these four items are sold at Starbucks stores (nationwide, some stores excluded), from Sept 30 while stock lasts:
- Pokémon + STARBUCKS Reusable Cup Coffee Connection 473ml¥1,300A warm gray cup showing baristas with Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle and Eevee gathered around a cup of coffee. The back has a collaboration-style customization box.
- Starbucks Card Pokémon (3 designs)Issued with a load of ¥2,000 or moreCoffee Connection / Pikachu / Eevee, with the new artwork on the card. The amount you load becomes your card balance.
Online-only merchandise and prices
Everything below is sold only on the Starbucks Japan official online store (in Japanese), from around 6 a.m. on Sept 30 while stock lasts. Items based on a specific Pokémon use that Pokémon’s colors toned down into earthy shades for everyday use, and most have a customization box on the back (some on the side). Japanese product names are shown in brackets so you can find them on the store.
Stainless bottles
- Stainless TOGO Bottle 473ml, 6 designs（ステンレス TOGO ボトル）¥6,600 eachPikachu / Bulbasaur / Charmander / Squirtle / Eevee / Coffee Connection. A cup-shaped bottle with a locking lid: slide the button right and press to open. The five Pokémon versions are reversible, with different art on each side.
- Stainless Bottle 473ml, 5 designs（ステンレスボトル）¥6,600 eachPikachu / Bulbasaur / Charmander / Squirtle / Eevee. The logo and Pokémon are laser-engraved for a clean, simple look.
Cups and mugs
- 2WAY SS Cup/Holder 355ml, 2 designs（2WAY SSカップ/ホルダー）¥4,000 eachCoffee Connection / Coffee Adventure. Pour a drink straight in, or slip a Tall plastic takeout cup inside and use it as a holder. Double-wall vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks from sweating.
- Cold Cup Tumbler 710ml, 2 designs（コールドカップタンブラー）¥4,000 eachCoffee Connection / Coffee Adventure.
- 2WAY Stacking Mug 355ml, 2 designs（2WAYスタッキングマグ）¥3,800 eachCoffee Connection / Coffee Adventure. Stackable for easy storage.
- 2WAY Stacking Demi Mug 89ml, 2 designs（2WAYスタッキングデミマグ）¥2,200 eachSized for espresso or a small coffee, and nice as a collectible.
Coffee tools
- Straw Tumbler with Strap, Coffee Adventure 458ml（ストラップ付ストロータンブラー）¥4,800The lid is designed to look like a Poké Ball. It has a silicone straw that is safe for small children, and the shoulder strap detaches if pulled hard.
- Ceramic Canister, Coffee Connection（セラミックキャニスター）¥3,800Holds about 100g of Starbucks coffee beans (varies by bean). Also works as a storage jar.
- Heat-resistant Glass Mug with SS Strainer, Coffee Adventure 296ml（SSストレーナー付き耐熱グラスマグ）¥4,400Comes with a stainless strainer, so you can brew coffee without paper filters.
- SS Kettle, Coffee Connection 550ml（SSケトル）¥5,800A warm gray stainless kettle with a steady pour for hand drip.
- Glass Drip Coffee Maker, Coffee Adventure（グラス ドリップコーヒーメーカー）¥4,900The lid doubles as a stand for the dripper while brewing.
- Milk Frother & Cup, Coffee Adventure（ミルクフォーマー＆カップ）¥4,400A frother and heat-resistant glass mug set for making lattes and cappuccinos at home.
Aprons and tote bags
- Utility Apron, Coffee Connection（ユーティリティエプロン）¥4,800Warm gray, with artwork on the left pocket and Poké Ball motifs stamped on the rivets. Good for cooking, outdoors or DIY.
- Kids Apron, Pikachu（キッズエプロン ピカチュウ）¥4,000Bright Pikachu yellow, recommended for heights of 100–120cm. The neck strap has a buckle on the right side only.
- Tote Bag, 2 designs（トートバッグ）¥5,000 eachCoffee Connection / Coffee Adventure, with a shoulder strap and a D-ring under the handle.
Stickers, postcards, posters and charms
- Art Sticker Set（アートステッカーセット）¥1,80013 stickers: the 12 illustrations plus a paper-cup design with an ID box.
- Art Postcard Set（アートポストカードセット）¥2,000One postcard for each of the 12 illustrations.
- Art Poster, 2 designs（アートポスター）¥2,500 eachCoffee Connection / Coffee Adventure, 280×350mm, ready to frame.
- Acrylic Charm, 2 designs（アクリルチャーム）¥1,500 eachCoffee Connection / Coffee Adventure, for bags or keys.
Cup-shaped PVC pouch
- Cup Shape PVC Pouch, 5 designs（カップシェイプ PVCポーチ）¥2,200 eachPikachu / Bulbasaur / Charmander / Squirtle / Eevee. Fits a phone or wallet, and the carabiner on the back lets you hang it on a bag.
Starbucks Card Gift sets
- Starbucks Card Gift, 6 designs（スターバックス カード ギフト）¥2,700 eachCoffee Connection / Pikachu / Bulbasaur / Charmander / Squirtle / Eevee. The card comes preloaded with ¥2,000, plus a memo pad that folds into a paper cup.
Digital Starbucks Card Gift and eGift
- Digital Starbucks Card Gift, 6 designs¥1,000–30,000From Sept 30 on the official app and website (store.dsc.starbucks.co.jp). You choose the amount.
- Starbucks eGift, 6 designsFrom Sept 30On the official app and website (gift.starbucks.co.jp/card). If you receive a collaboration eGift, the ticket you show at checkout also carries the collaboration design until November 30, 2026 (three drink amounts, two food amounts and one beans ticket).
Launch schedule and purchase limits
Tips for getting what you want
These are the rules Starbucks lists in its announcement:
- In stores: the limit lasts until Oct 2. Stores won’t answer stock questions by phone, so go in person. On launch day some drive-thrus won’t sell the collaboration items.
- The online “waiting room”: when traffic spikes you are sent to a virtual waiting room, and the page switches automatically when it’s your turn. Don’t reload. However, waiting on the site before 6 a.m. does not put you at the front; it is not first come, first served.
- Card errors: large payments can fail even with a credit card you have used on the store before. If that happens, check with your card company.
- Restocks are silent: items may come back after selling out, but there is no notification. Check the product page for current stock.
- Access from abroad: to prevent fraud, the online store may block access from certain countries or regions without notice. If you are traveling, keep this in mind.
If you like Starbucks collaborations, see also our guide to the recent Starbucks × and wander collaboration.
The barista battle and the artwork
The latte came out of an internal recipe contest, the “Pokémon + Starbucks Barista Battle,” held in December 2025. Baristas across Japan sent in more than 700 Pokémon-themed recipes. Six finalists spent about six months refining their drinks, then gave a 10-minute presentation and served them to four judges, including Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara and Starbucks Japan CEO Hisae Morii.
The six finalist drinks (stores as of the contest):
- Charmander Ember Brûlée Apple Mocha — Yamashita, MARK IS Shizuoka
- Pikachu Honey Cream Latte — Nitta, Koriyama Asaka (winner, the drink now on sale)
- Eevee Salted Caramel Popcorn Latte — Watanabe, Ario Nishiarai
- Eevee Sweet Mousse Foam Latte — Oda, Suma Daimaru
- Eevee Caramel Apple Pie Cookie Latte — Tadano, AEON Mall Urawa Misono
- Pikachu Banana Chocolate Latte — Yamamoto, AEON Mall Kochi (1F)
Nitta chose Pikachu because it was the first prize Nitta’s strict father ever won at a crane game back in Nitta’s childhood. The aim was to get more people to love coffee, so the drink is built around the Pokémon everyone knows.
All the merchandise art is by illustrator Hikaru Ichijo, who drew 12 new pieces. Ichijo is known for never drawing people’s faces, and explained in an interview that the aim is to avoid viewers comparing themselves with “the cute person in the picture.” The scenes show five baristas exploring coffee with their Pokémon, such as Pikachu powering an espresso machine and Bulbasaur tending coffee trees on a farm. Starbucks also wrote eight short stories to go with the art.
There are two key visuals: “Coffee Connection” (the connections a cup of coffee creates) and “Coffee Adventure” (an adventure around coffee). That’s why those two names appear in so many product names.
Ways to pay less
1. Pay with a Starbucks Card and collect Stars
Join Starbucks® Rewards and pay with the official app or a registered Starbucks Card to earn 1 Star per ¥60 (tax included). Stars count at the register, in Mobile Order & Pay, when buying eGifts and on the official online store.
| Examples | Latte ¥678 → about 11 Stars Reusable cup ¥1,300 → about 21 Stars TOGO bottle ¥6,600 → about 110 Stars |
|---|---|
| Redeem | 90 Stars → ¥300 eTicket 130 Stars → ¥500 eTicket 190 Stars → ¥800 eTicket |
New to Rewards? If you join for the first time and make a purchase between September 9 and November 1, 2026, you get a ¥100-off eTicket. “App guest members” who use the app without full registration also qualify (some conditions apply).
2. Load your Starbucks Card online with a JCB card for 20x points
Through JCB’s J-POINT Partner program, online loads and auto-reloads to a Starbucks Card earn 20x points from January 13, 2026 to January 12, 2027. JCB Card W and a few others get an extra +1x. The offer may end or change without notice.
- You need to do the free “point-up registration” (ポイントアップ登録) first
- Loading at a store and buying Digital Starbucks Card Gifts don’t count
Load your Starbucks Card with JCB, then use that card for the latte or merch, and you earn both JCB points and Starbucks Stars. For choosing a JCB card and how the points work, see our JCB credit card guide.
3. Bring the cup back next time
Bring your own tumbler or mug and your drink is ¥22 off for dine-in or ¥21 off to go (any brand is fine; not valid for Mobile Order or delivery). If you buy the collaboration reusable cup, carry it with you and the discount applies every visit.
FAQ
- Q. How much is the Starbucks Japan Pikachu latte, and how long is it available?
- The Pikachu Honey Cream Latte comes iced in Tall only, ¥678 to go or ¥690 to drink in (tax included). It is sold at Starbucks stores across Japan (some excluded) from September 30 to October 8, 2026, and may sell out sooner.
- Q. How do I get the limited sticker?
- You get one original collaboration sticker with each Pikachu Honey Cream Latte, while supplies last.
- Q. Where can I buy the Starbucks Pokémon merchandise?
- Stores sell only the reusable cup (¥1,300) and three Starbucks Cards. The bottles, mugs, aprons, pouches and other items are sold on the Starbucks Japan official online store from around 6 a.m. on September 30.
- Q. Are there purchase limits?
- Yes. In stores, from September 30 to October 2, you can buy one of each collaboration item (excluding drinks) per person. On the online store, the limit is one of each item per order on the first day only.
- Q. Will waiting on the online store before 6 a.m. get me in first?
- No. When traffic is heavy you are placed in an online waiting room, and Starbucks states that people waiting before 6 a.m. are not admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Q. Do I earn Stars if I pay with PayPay in Mobile Order?
- No. Choosing PayPay or Apple Pay earns no Stars. Paying with a Starbucks Card earns 1 Star per ¥60 (tax included).
- Q. Is this the first Starbucks and Pokémon collaboration in Japan?
- Yes. Starbucks Coffee Japan says this is its first collaboration with Pokémon, starting September 30, 2026.
