Seasonal Afternoon Tea in Tokyo – The Best Locations to Go in 2023
The old English tradition of afternoon tea is alive and well in Tokyo, where city hotels are continually competing with ever more opulent offerings. Furthermore, these decadent tea sets frequently have a Japanese twist, so you can expect an enormous range of unique cakes, scones, tiny sandwiches, and the like showcasing the season’s ingredients.
Set aside an afternoon and choose from these afternoon tea options at some of the best places to enjoy afternoon tea in Tokyo like hotel lounges, cafés, and restaurants (the afternoon teas are organized in ascending order of price).
The Best Place To Enjoy Afternoon Tea in Tokyo
BT21 Café Magical Tea Time Afternoon Tea
Enjoy a delightful afternoon tea at the BT21 Café, which features the adorable Line characters developed by K-pop sensations BTS. The Magical Tea Time Afternoon Tea set comes with a two-tiered food dish decorated with characters of your choice.
Enjoy a delightful afternoon tea at the BT21 Café, which features the adorable Line characters developed by K-pop sensations BTS. ( Source: Internet)
Savory bits include tiny sandwiches, salad, and a gratin with mashed potatoes and beef sauce on one tier. Enjoy a yogurt mousse tart with fresh fruit for the sweet plate.
Details
Event website:
Address:
1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Transport:
Tokyo Skytree Station (Tobu Skytree line); Oshiage Station (Tobu Skytree, Keisei Oshiage, Asakusa, Hanzomon line)
Price:
¥3,300 ~ 23.95 USD
Opening hours:
Shibuya 109 10.20am-8.40pm, Tokyo Solamachi 10am-9.50pm
Disney Harvest Market Happy Christmas Afternoon Tea
The signature afternoon tea at Disney Harvest Market is getting a Christmas makeover, with festive menu items for the holiday season. Along with the three-tiered afternoon tea set, you’ll receive a special main course of stew with meatballs and vegetables, Minnie’s berry and cocoa mousse dessert. You’ll also receive an original Disney Christmas card to memorialize your stay as a special gift.
The signature afternoon tea at Disney Harvest Market is getting a Christmas makeover. ( Source: Internet)
Details
Event website:
Address:
Disney Harvest Market by Cafe Company
Shibuya Hikarie 7F, 2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Price:
￥4,180 ~ 30.33 USD
Opening hours:
11am-8pm daily
Hotel Gajoen Christmas Afternoon Tea
Get into the Christmas spirit at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo with a festive afternoon tea. Holiday favorites like brilliant red strawberries, roast chicken, and even champagne are included in the tea set.
Get into the Christmas spirit at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo with a festive afternoon tea. ( Source: Internet)
There are eight desserts to choose from, including a traditional Christmas stollen and a strawberry and white chocolate mousse with a tinge of rose. Other menu highlights include a roast chicken mini burger and a creamy quiche filled with multiple types of cheese. The hotel’s original Christmas earl gray tea goes well with the meal.
Details
Event website:
www.hotelgajoen-tokyo.com/archives/68390
Address:
1-8-1 Shimomeguro, Meguro, Tokyo
Transport:
Meguro Station (Yamanote, Tokyu Meguro, Namboku, Mita lines)
Price:
¥5,280 ~ 38.32 USD, ¥7,150 ~ 51.89 USD with a glass of champagne
Opening hours:
2pm-5pm daily
Hilton Tokyo Aromatic Harvest Meat
While most afternoon teas focus on sweets, this unique tea set at the Hilton Tokyo in Nishi-Shinjuku focuses on mouthwatering autumn meat dishes. Duck confit cubes, smoked pepper chicken lollipops, maple barbecue pig ribs, and a beef tenderloin wellington are among the four protein-packed delicacies.
While most afternoon teas focus on sweets, this unique tea set at the Hilton Tokyo in Nishi-Shinjuku focuses on mouthwatering autumn meat dishes. ( Source: Internet)
Of course, there’s still plenty of goodies to choose from, such as a lemon custard tart, chestnut mont blanc, and brûléed sweet potatoes.
Details
Event website:
tokyo.hiltonjapan.co.jp/plans/restaurants/afternoontea/metropolitangrill-2209
Address:
6-6-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Transport:
Nishi-Shinjuku Station (Marunouchi line), exit C8 or Tochomae Station (Oedo line), exit C8. Free bus from Keio department store (bus stop 21), Shinjuku Station, west exit.
Price:
¥5,300 ~ 38.46 USD, weekends and holidays ¥5,800 ~ 42.09 USD
Opening hours:
3pm-5pm daily
Takano Fruit Parlor Christmas Afternoon Tea
Enjoy unlimited seasonal fruit at Shinjuku’s Takano Fruit Parlor during this special holiday afternoon tea.
Enjoy unlimited seasonal fruit at Shinjuku’s Takano Fruit Parlor during this special holiday afternoon tea. ( Source: Internet)
Fruit sandwiches, glasses of yogurt, scones with strawberry jam, strawberries shaped like Santa Claus, Christmas tree brownies, maritozzo cream buns, and classic apple pie are all included in the afternoon tea set. Expect to fill up on luscious strawberries, pears, and oranges at the seasonal fruit buffet.
Details
Event website:
takano.jp/parlour/originalmenu/detail/fruitstiara/
Address:
Takano Shinjuku Honten B2F, 3-26-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Transport:
Shinjuku Station
Price:
¥5,500 ~ 39.91 USD, children ¥3,300 ~ 23.95 USD
Opening hours:
11am, 11.15am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 1.45pm, 2pm, 3.45pm, 5.30pm, 6pm daily
Sheraton Miyako Christmas Afternoon Tea
Christmas afternoon tea at the Lobby Lounge Bamboo complements a festive feast at the Sheraton Miyako. Each item, including a white snow hazelnut praline coated with meringue, a white chocolate mousse with passionfruit jelly, and a bûche de Noel made with coconut cream and orange jam, is created to look like a miniature Christmas ornament.
Christmas afternoon tea at the Lobby Lounge Bamboo complements a festive feast at the Sheraton Miyako. ( Source: Internet)
A delicious lobster and scallop mousse served with caviar, clam chowder tartlet, and chicken fricassée stew are among the savory options.
Details
Event website:
www.miyakohotels.ne.jp/tokyo/2022_chiristmas_menu/
Address:
1-1-50 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Transport:
Shirokanedai Station (Mita line)
Price:
¥5,830 ~ 42.31 USD
Opening hours:
2pm-6pm daily
Pullman Tokyo Tamachi Christmas Afternoon Tea
The Pullman Tokyo Tamachi is serving a festive afternoon tea with exquisite appetizers. There’s a reindeer-shaped dessert with chocolate, hazelnut dacquoise, and lemon cream, as well as a traditional Christmas cake with loads of liquor-soaked fruit.
The Pullman Tokyo Tamachi is serving a festive afternoon tea with exquisite appetizers. ( Source: Internet)
Naturally, it wouldn’t be Christmas without some gingerbread, so you’ll also receive a couple gingerbread men biscuits to round off the tea set. The desserts are accompanied by four savory meals that vary daily but include lasagna, cabbage rolls, and seasonal fish carpaccio.
Details
Event website:
www.pullmantokyotamachi.com/ja/
Address:
東京都港区芝浦3-1-21
Tokyo
Price:
¥6,000 ~ 43.54 USD
Opening hours:
2.30pm-4.30pm daily
Andaz Tokyo Festive Afternoon Tea
Enjoy this festive afternoon tea from The Tavern Lounge at the Andaz Tokyo throughout the holidays. Christmas-inspired recipes include mozzarella cheese and tomatoes topped with an angel-shaped cheese tuile, as well as a variation on polvorón, the traditional Spanish Christmas shortbread.
Enjoy this festive afternoon tea from The Tavern Lounge at the Andaz Tokyo throughout the holidays. ( Source: Internet)
There’s even a chocolate mousse with orange confit shaped like a red-nosed reindeer. Of course, afternoon tea would be nothing without scones, and Andaz Tokyo offers two varieties: orange and raisin and citrus zest and cherries.
Details
Event website:
www.andaztokyo.jp/restaurants/en/news/detail/557/
Address:
1-23-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo
Transport:
Toranomon Station (Ginza line); Shinbashi Station (Yamanote, Ginza, Asakusa lines, Yurikamome); Toranomon Hills Station (Hibiya line)
Price:
¥7,040 ~ 51.09 USD
Opening hours:
1pm, 3.30pm daily
Tokyo Marriott Vegan Winter Afternoon Tea
This winter, the Tokyo Marriott will host a vegan-friendly afternoon tea. The entire tea set is made from plant-based components and includes nine different varieties of sweets as well as three savory foods that resemble a snow-covered garden. Highlights from the dessert menu include rabbit sable cookies, an amazake (sweet fermented rice drink) ball shaped like a snowman, raw coconut cookies, and soymilk cupcakes shaped like seasonal flowers.
This winter, the Tokyo Marriott will host a vegan-friendly afternoon tea. ( Source: Internet)
A warm stew with soy meatballs, chickpea hummus, and vegan tuna mini burgers are among the savory options.
Details
Event website:
g.tokyomarriotthotel.com/afternoon-tea
Address:
4-7-36 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo
Transport:
Shinagawa Station, Takanawa exit (free shuttle bus also available)
Price:
¥8,470 ~ 61.47 USD
Opening hours:
1pm, 3.30pm daily
Takashi Murakami Flower Strawberry Afternoon Tea
This season, the Grand Hyatt Tokyo is covered in flowers, but not just any flowers! The French Kitchen has extended their Takashi Murakami Flower afternoon tea and added seasonal strawberries to the menu due to popular demand.
French Kitchen has extended their Takashi Murakami Flower afternoon tea and added seasonal strawberries to the menu due to popular demand. ( Source: Internet)
As part of the collaboration with the artist and the Roppongi Hills Takashi Murakami Project, the Instagrammable afternoon tea is inspired by Murakami’s famous Flower works and includes a lineup of sweets such as a strawberry mousse with a printed Flower chocolate and our popular strawberry shortcake lined with colorful mini profiteroles that resemble a flower field. A service cart will also be carried to the table with glass desserts and freshly baked scones with Flower designs.
Opening hours:
February 1 – March 31, 2021, 3 p.m.–5 p.m. (4:00 p.m. last order) *Seating is limited to 90 minutes
Address:
Grand Hyatt Tokyo, The French Kitchen, 6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Price:
¥5,200 ~ 37.74 USD (Weekdays), ¥6,200 ~ 44.99 USD (Weekends & National Holidays / with a glass of champagne).
FAQs
1. What distinguishes afternoon tea?
Thus, Afternoon Tea was created to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner, and is typically served between 3 and 4 p.m. As a result, it’s a lighter lunch with bite-sized items. It includes a savory meal of tea sandwiches (no crusts! ), a sweet course of scones with clotted cream and jam, and a dessert course.
2. What are the three different kinds of afternoon tea?
Afternoon tea is also known as low tea. Cream tea is a simplified version of afternoon tea that includes only one course: scones. Due to the addition of Champagne, royal tea is a more expensive form of afternoon tea.
3. What is the distinction between afternoon and high tea?
While they both serve tea, afternoon tea includes delicate pastries, small sandwiches, scones, and cakes. High tea, on the other hand, is a more wholesome meal of meat, potatoes, and vegetables offered after a full day at work.
4. What is the dress code for high tea?
Generally, the outfit recommended for afternoon tea is “smart casual,” which falls halfway between business casual and casual. This typically means no sneakers, t-shirts, shorts, or sportswear. Gentlemen are often expected to wear a collared shirt.
Final Thought
Visit these three places for a variety of afternoon teas and tea sets while steeped in the grandeur of Japanese decor. Afternoon tea in Tokyo is an opulent way to spend an afternoon in the city, enhanced by the sophisticated environment of a premium five-star hotel. At these magnificent hotels, indulge in the best place to enjoy afternoon tea in Tokyo to offer and feast on skillfully made treats.
