Photo/Illutration A Starbucks coffee shop (Provided by Starbucks Coffee Japan)

Starbucks announced it will raise prices of 20 or so coffee beverages and five coffee bean products at around 600 stores, or 30 percent of its outlets in Japan, on Feb. 15.

The move by Starbucks Coffee Japan is part of a new “location-specific pricing” system announced Jan. 31.

Prices will remain unchanged at the remaining 70 percent of stores.

It said prices will be raised by an average 6 percent at stores in highway service areas and airports.

For stores in the 23 wards of Tokyo and some outlets in major cities such as Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka, prices will also be raised by 4 percent.

This means the price of a tall drip coffee will increase from 420 yen to 440 yen, including tax, for in-store consumption. However, the price of a second cup of drip coffee at a discount will remain unchanged at all stores.

A service that allows customers to change the milk used in their drinks to soymilk, which is currently available for a fee, will be made free of charge.

The price revision is in line with “a comprehensive review of our pricing structure,” a company representative said.

It marks the fourth consecutive year that Starbucks has raised prices in Japan.

The system of different prices between urban and rural areas was introduced by McDonald’s Japan and the Gusto chain of family restaurants operated by Skylark Holdings Co.

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