Tokyo's First Blue Bottle Draws Three-Hour Lines on Opening Day

Cult-favorite coffee shop Blue Bottle officially opened the doors to its brand new outpost in Tokyo today, and the lines were crazy. The retail store — which is supplied by a 7,000 foot roasting facility — is the California-based company's first location outside of the U.S.

The Wall Street Journal writes that lines were wrapped around the store, outside of which local businesses and friends left bouquets of flowers and, inexplicably, a stroller (see below). Over 200 customers lined up before the store opened, and many waited for as long as three hours to get a cup of Blue Bottle coffee. The chain tweeted that it was sorry for keeping its customers "waiting for such a long time," adding that store only had enough coffee to serve guests until 4 p.m. on its first day.

Blue Bottle is known for roasting its beans for a full 48 hours and brewing each cup individually. Last year, the coffee company raised over $25 million to help fund its expansion plans. Blue Bottle plans to open a second retail store in Tokyo on March 7, so hopefully that will help ease these lines.

Over 200 people were in line before 7:40am today for Blue Bottle's Tokyo opening: http://t.co/C6rE1RTFWV pic.twitter.com/OiGhMmNEHh

— Craig Mod (@craigmod) February 6, 2015

Today is the opening of Blue Bottle Tokyo. Thousands in line right now. Look at the madness: pic.twitter.com/GGF1rpXJ23

— Drift (@DriftNY) February 6, 2015

Well, now all that's left to do is make coffee. All day. pic.twitter.com/SLbik1O0ZS

— Blue Bottle Coffee (@bluebottleroast) February 6, 2015