Hotel Chinzan-so Tokyo (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; General Manager: Tomohiko Chihiro) will offer the "Uji Tea Afternoon Tea with Tsujirihei Honten" at its lobby lounge Le Jardin, which overlooks the hotel's gardens, starting Monday, April 13, 2026.
From Monday, April 13 to Thursday, May 14, the afternoon tea will feature "Uji Tea × Milk Chocolate," while from Friday, May 15 to Tuesday, June 30, guests can enjoy "Uji Tea × White Chocolate," offering different flavor profiles during each period.
An Afternoon Tea Layering Chocolate Flavors with the Aroma of Uji Tea
This project, which began in 2016 with the intention of passing Japan's proud Uji tea culture on to the next generation, marks its 11th year in 2026. For this year, the focus is on "chocolate" as an ingredient that richly enhances the aroma and umami of Uji tea. The afternoon tea is designed to let guests enjoy not only the flavor but also the visual contrast created by the interplay of Uji tea and chocolate colors.
The amuse features "Potage of New Onion with Petit Pois Purée," a dish befitting the start of an afternoon tea. The gentle sweetness of new onion harmonizes with the pleasant accent of green pea flavor, while a side of matcha sauce allows guests to enjoy changes in taste.
The upper tier centers on sweets that celebrate the combination of Uji tea and chocolate. It includes "Matcha and Chocolate Mousse" with delightful textures of gyuhi (soft rice cake) and black beans in matcha mousse; "Hojicha Cake" combining the fragrant flavor of roasted hojicha tea with the sweet-and-sour taste of raspberry; "Matcha Terrine," a rich and smooth dessert accented with the tartness of grapefruit and yuzu peel compote; and "Chocolate Bar," a crunchy treat coated in chocolate with three types of crumble and almonds hidden inside. From Monday, April 13 to Thursday, May 14, these sweets use milk chocolate, while from Friday, May 15 to Tuesday, June 30, white chocolate is used, allowing guests to enjoy different flavors during each period.
The middle tier offers two types of scones: the traditional plain scone and a matcha scone made with plenty of matcha. In addition to regular clotted cream, chocolate-infused clotted cream and anko (sweet red bean paste) are provided, allowing guests to enjoy them according to their preferences.
The lower tier features savories with Uji tea as an accent. These include "Crostini with Hamo and Sea Bream Rillettes," where the umami of hamo (pike conger) and sea bream is smoothly brought together with béchamel and accented with the aroma of ginger confit; "Sandwich of Pastrami, Shrimp, and Fava Beans" featuring shrimp, seasonal fava beans, and pastrami on whole wheat bread; "Chicken Breast and Foie Gras Moss Ball," a moss ball-style creation with chicken breast and foie gras; and "Hojicha Royale with Bamboo Shoot and Scallop," combining hojicha-flavored royale with scallop and grilled bamboo shoot. The four menu items showcase not only taste but also attention to appearance and texture.
Additionally, the hotel shop "Selections" will offer the moss ball sweets, which have been well-received each year, as takeout items again this year. They are recommended not only for personal enjoyment but also as gifts.
Uji Tea Afternoon Tea with Tsujirihei Honten - Overview
Period: Monday, April 13, 2026 to Tuesday, June 30, 2026
*Reservations available from 10:00 AM on Friday, February 13, 2026
*Reservations required (until 9:30 AM on the day)
Time: 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM. Reservations accepted in 2-hour sessions starting at 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM, 3:00 PM, and 3:30 PM.
Venue: Lobby Lounge "Le Jardin"
Price: Web reservation: 8,000 yen per person / Phone reservation: 9,000 yen per person
*Prices include consumption tax, excluding 15% service charge
Reservations and Inquiries: 03-3943-5489 (10:00 AM to 7:00 PM)
URL: https://hotel-chinzanso-tokyo.jp/page/tsujirihei_collaboration2026/
Takeout Sweets - Overview
Moss Ball (Kokedama)
This moss ball sweet, popular every year, is prepared as a collaboration sweet with Tsujirihei Honten. It's a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth sweet where you can enjoy the aroma and bitterness of matcha, with an accent of yuzu passion fruit jelly inside. Enjoy it together with the crispy texture of the chocolate cookie base.
Period: Friday, May 1, 2026 to Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Store: Hotel Shop "Selections"
Price: 950 yen *Price includes consumption tax
Reservations and Inquiries: 03-3943-7613 (10:00 AM to 6:00 PM)
URL: https://hotel-chinzanso-tokyo.jp/shop/recommend/seasonal-pastries/
About Tsujirihei Honten
Founded in 1860 (Man'en 1), Tsujirihei Honten has a rich history. The founder, Tsuji Rihei (later renamed Tsuji Riuemon), successfully improved Uji tea, which had been declining during the turbulent times of the late Edo period and early Meiji era, and spread Uji matcha and Uji gyokuro (premium green tea) throughout the country. Praised for his contributions in saving Uji tea from crisis, he received the Green Medal of Honor in 1927. After his death, he was awarded the Junior Sixth Rank, and a bronze statue of him now stands beside the main gate of Byodoin Temple. The 6th generation president, Tsuji Shinsuke, established a tea house in Uji, Kyoto, offering unprecedented sweets featuring authentic Uji tea. He is also opening new possibilities for Uji tea in the world of sweets.
About Hotel Chinzan-so Tokyo
Opened in 1952, Hotel Chinzan-so Tokyo is a hotel nestled in forest-like gardens in the heart of the city.
The garden's symbol, the three-story pagoda "Entsuukaku," was relocated from Higashi-Hiroshima in 1925 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025. It is designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan and is one of the three oldest pagodas remaining in Tokyo.
Additionally, the seasonal scenic beauty and the largest fog garden production in Japan, "Tokyo Unkai," have received numerous awards, including the 2025 Good Design Award. The 265 guest rooms offer panoramic city views and garden vistas, with eight restaurants, a spa, and 38 banquet halls among the fully equipped facilities. In the gardens, guests can spend special moments amid seasonal features such as cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, and fireflies.
Furthermore, the hotel has earned a four-star rating in the Forbes Travel Guide and is a member of the L.V.X. Collection of Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
