A collection of the sweet flavors of autumn! Enjoy afternoon tea in the first class hotels of Tokyo's Minato-ku
In this month's special report, we will tell you about first class hotels in Minato-ku, Tokyo, which offer afternoon tea. Afternoon tea is a tea drinking custom developed among the elites of British society; a high class cultural activity in which you can enjoy a relaxing tea time gathered around scones, cakes, and sandwiches carried in on tea cake stands. There are many high class hotels around the world which offer this service, including famous hotels in Minato-ku. In a time when it's hard to enjoy buffets in the way we used to, afternoon tea is attracting attention. We recommend this experience if you want to enjoy a moment of luxury in a familiar location.
Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa / Autumn Afternoon Tea
Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa, located on the walk from Shinagawa Station's Takanawa Exit up Zakuro-zaka Street, is an urban hotel which fuses modern functionality with traditional Japanese beauty. Every room has a balcony, and the white-walled building was designed by architect Togo Murano, a symbol of Showa Japan. The first floor arrival area welcomes guests with a modern design infused with traditional Japanese style, which evokes a feeling of the extraordinary from the moment you step inside.
The first floor's Lounge Momiji offers three hours of all-you-can-drink afternoon tea with a choice of 11 varieties of tea and 9 types of coffee. The menu, offered up on chic plates, gives a sense of adult sophistication.
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The Autumn Afternoon Tea, available from September, includes a savory menu of mushroom quiche, prosciutto and Camembert croissant sandwiches, and shrimp and tomato chowder served in a bread cup, while the sweets include a repertoire packed with autumnal flavors, such as grape and Mont Blanc tarts. Their renowned lasagna is also available year-round. You are sure to enjoy an elegant time here with their delicious tea and menu.
In addition, outside is a vast 20,000m² Japanese garden, where you can enjoy the changing aspects of the seasons. People who want to enjoy Tokyo sightseeing with their beloved pet pooch will be reassured to know there are dog-friendly rooms and a dog park and lounge.
Furthermore, this autumn, the hotel is highly recommending Buffet & Cafe SLOPE SIDE DINER ZAKURO's dining plan, which includes a glass of your choosing from six varieties of wine. This special plan is only available during Australia Fair, throughout September and October. Pick your favorite of these carefully selected Australian wines and enjoy a glass together with freshly made cuisine.
This new buffet is designed to be enjoyed like a multi-course meal, with staff offering trolley service from three open kitchens. ZAKURO's representative invites you to enjoy a new style of buffet to your heart's content, from sushi to teppanyaki, including their delicious roast beef on the bone, foie gras, and grilled seafood. Make sure to come while you have the chance!
The Prince Park Tower Tokyo / Limited Autumn Afternoon Tea with Shine Muscat
The Prince Park Tower Tokyo, which stands in Shiba Park, is Prince Hotels & Resorts' flagship hotel. Surrounded by nature, this 33 story hotel is right next to Tokyo Tower, making it a standout location even within the city. For two years running, it has been awarded four stars in the Forbes Travel Guide, a global authority in travel industry rating.
The lobby area was modeled in the image of a mansion standing within a park, creating a tranquil atmosphere as if you're curled up in the study. The Spa & Fitness facilities (available only to members and guests staying at the hotel) are equipped with fitness machines by Italian company Technogym, beloved by world-class athletes, and feature a natural hot spring with water drawn up from approximately 1,600 meters below ground, a rarity in the city.
The building is also host to other facilities including a variety of 10 Japanese and western-style restaurants to choose from, a boulangerie, a bowling salon, a live music venue, a gift shop, and a shopping area, so you can enjoy feeling as if you're taking a stroll through town without even leaving the building during your hotel stay!
The Lobby Lounge on the first floor of the same building offers afternoon tea. The menu of jewel-like cakes and scones on a three-tiered cake stand and light savory dishes are a fulfilling accompaniment to the spacious surroundings and view of Tokyo Tower.
The menu changes monthly to reflect the season, and until October 31st, they are offering afternoon tea featuring an abundance of Shine Muscat grapes.
The hotel's representative tells us that you can savor a variety of sweet treats, from Shine Muscat cakes and tarts to chestnut crème brûlée and macarons. The three-hour all-you-can-drink gives you plenty of time to relax and enjoy a selection of 18 drinks in total, including black tea, flavored tea, and coffee.
Moreover, from October 1st, Prince Hotels is holding their LOOK＆TASTE TOKYO campaign at 10 hotels in the Tokyo metropolitan area, including The Prince Park Tower Tokyo and Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa. In addition to a 20% discount for all overnight guests at directly managed restaurants, bars, and lounges, they are also offering a third night for the price of two with their LOOK TOKYO Third Night Free Plan~One Two Free~. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a lavish stay and afternoon tea.
Moreover, from October 1st, Prince Hotels is holding their LOOK＆TASTE TOKYO campaign at 10 hotels in the Tokyo metropolitan area, including The Prince Park Tower Tokyo and Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa. In addition to a 20% discount for all overnight guests at directly managed restaurants, bars, and lounges, they are also offering a third night for the price of two with their LOOK TOKYO Third Night Free Plan~One Two Free~. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a lavish stay and afternoon tea.
Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo / Autumn Afternoon Tea Set
Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo, which connects directly to JR Shimbashi Station via underground walkway, is a hotel with history and tradition, established in 1938 (Showa 13). At the time it was built, it was the first hotel in Japan to be fully equipped with air conditioning, and has continued to anticipate the needs of the times and provide new services to match them, such as being the first in Japan to introduce wake-up call machines and breakfast buffets when it provided guest rooms for the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 (Showa 39). In anticipation of the second Tokyo Olympics next year, all guest room floors were completely remodeled in 2018, giving the hotel a fresh level of refinement while staying true to its original concept of "elegance & excellence."
This hotel, which has received guests from all over the world, takes care to be first class in its cuisine as well. There are 12 restaurants, including Japanese, Chinese, and western, with each genre being highly praised.
Lounge 21, a dining lounge which was renovated last year, while being on the 21st floor—the hotel's top floor—is a stylish space which looks like it belongs in a classical mansion. There are both private seats, where you can spend precious time with family and friends, and window-facing couple seats, where you can share a romantic moment over a view of the streets of Ginza and Shiodome.
You can enjoy afternoon tea in the first floor Lobby Lounge. Its appeal is a menu which changes regularly to make the most of seasonal ingredients, with the Autumn Afternoon Tea Set available from September to November. An array of autumnal delights such as pumpkin tart, pear macaron, and purple sweet potato cream puff are presented on a three-tiered cake stand like something from a fairy tale. You can fully savor Japan's "season of flavors" with their variations on sweets such as Monts Blancs, tarts, and macarons.
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In addition, the hotel's representative informed us that the baked "Cherrywich" on the top tier is also a popular gift item from Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo; its crisp texture and bittersweet taste make it a perfect accompaniment for coffee. This open space with its high ceiling seems like the perfect place to gather around a table for a lively chat.
The hotel, directly connected to Shimbashi Station, offers convenient access to Ginza and Yurakucho. There is currently a special plan for Tokyo residents which offers three great benefits: an overnight stay of up to 24 hours, a ¥4,000 gift certificate to use inside the hotel, and free breakfast. You could drop in and coincide your afternoon tea with a shopping trip or visit to the theatre, or you could take full advantage of this opportunity by enjoying a stay in the city center. Whatever you do, we highly recommend you experience the hospitality of this renowned hotel with over 80 years of history.
Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba / Pink Afternoon Tea Set
Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba is perfectly located with a direct connection to Daiba Station on the Yurikamome Line. The hotel boasts a height of 113 meters, with upper floors offering an unbroken view of the Bay Area scenery, including Rainbow Bridge.
In addition to its excellent panoramic view, another of this hotel's main attractions is its 10 unique restaurants. There are three restaurants on the 30th floor—the top floor—where you can experience a superb marriage of breathtaking scenery and gourmet cuisine; The Grill on 30th, The Bar & Lounge, and Teppanyaki Icho, which just opened in March this year.
You can take afternoon tea in The Lobby Cafe on the second floor, a space bathed in sunlight from the large windows, combining the refined atmosphere of a first class hotel with the feeling of freedom offered by the Bay Area.
The afternoon tea, which changes theme seasonally, is structured around color, inspired by Rainbow Bridge. From sweet to savory, every dish in this unique afternoon tea is matching in color. A representative for the hotel said that being able to enjoy not only the taste but also the aesthetics has meant their afternoon tea has been very well received, especially by female customers.
Until the end of October, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, they are offering the Pink Afternoon Tea Set. The cake stand—dyed vivid pink with treats such as ruby chocolate and lychee gâteau, raspberry cupcake, pink grapefruit tart, and strawberry kudzu yokan to provide a Japanese flair—is so gorgeous you will be tempted to just stare without taking a single bite.
There is also convenient access to Odaiba's shopping area. Why not take a break from shopping to come and enjoy an afternoon tea experience full to the brim with originality?