Tea ceremony celebration in a café in Paris.

During my stay in France, the chabako, my portable tea box, proved to be an invaluable companion.

This time, I had not planned to hold any tea gatherings in Paris. I had simply brought along a small set of tea utensils and one kimono, almost as a hobby, so that I could enjoy the city at my own pace.

And so, I decided to have a little fun with it on my own.

That said, Paris was in the midst of an extreme heat wave. Temperatures rose as high as 43°C during the day, and even the Eiffel Tower had to close to visitors at 4:00 p.m.

If I was going to enjoy my chabako outdoors, morning was the only option.

Even then, before 7:00 a.m., the temperature was already approaching 30°C. Wearing even a lightweight summer ro kimono was simply too much.

So, I switched to a T-shirt.

I had selected the location in advance and obtained all the necessary permissions and cooperation before carrying out this little experiment.

The destination was Starbucks Coffee Opéra, in the Opéra district of Paris—a place I had wanted to visit for some time.

This Starbucks is itself something of a Paris landmark.

In Japan, we have recently seen Starbucks locations housed in traditional old Japanese residences and other concept-driven spaces. This location can be regarded as the French counterpart: a remarkable space that combines the Starbucks experience with the character of a historic building.

The interior of the building, originally constructed as a bank in the 19th century, has been carefully preserved. It is located very close to the Palais Garnier, the Paris Opera House.

(And yes, many people mistakenly think the Starbucks is actually inside the Palais Garnier, so be careful!)

Inside, you will find a high ceiling, marble columns, enormous mirrors, and many other architectural features that you would rarely encounter in an ordinary Starbucks.

It is definitely worth seeing.

If you are visiting the Opéra area and the Palais Garnier, I highly recommend stopping by.

After enjoying some time with my chabako, I also performed a simple bonryaku temae, a simplified form of tea preparation.

But that is a story for another time.

This activity was carried out with permission obtained in advance.

Special thanks for Starbucks Opera Paris

🏬Starbucks Coffee Opera
📍3 Boulevard des Capucines 75002 Paris