Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen, a lifestyle boutique hotel nestled in Inuyama — Nagoya's inner sanctuary town, home to two national treasures — is presenting "The Colours of Autumn - Inuyama Afternoon Tea" from September 1 (Tuesday), 2026. The seasonal menu is supervised by Ryoga Haruhi, Inuyama's tourism ambassador.
Built around the concept of savoring Inuyama's sights and scenery as if touring them, the menu traces the passage of a single day in the town, letting guests experience its culture, nature, and stories through food. A mushroom terrine recalls the stone steps of Jakkoin, a temple known for its autumn foliage; a beef hot pot–style spring roll nods to Meiji-mura, a symbol of the Meiji era's modernization; and a fig and sesame tofu cream maritozzo draws on Momotaro Shrine — each dish weaving the land's memories and stories into the savory course.
The sweets lineup — kibi dango, a pumpkin confection evoking autumn leaves, a spice-scented Mont Blanc, and more — mirrors Inuyama's scenery and culture in equally delicate form. Tea stands arranged like a map bring a visual sense of touring the town to the table as well.
Arranged Like a Map of Inuyama
Four sweets and a bonbon chocolat are arranged to follow an actual map of Inuyama, so guests can trace the town across the plate just as they might on foot — a story-rich composition that appeals to sight and taste alike.
Sweets
Spice Mont Blanc
Marron cream is layered with warm spice aromas, styled like a flamboyant dress with an exotic air — an elegant nod to the multicultural world of Little World.
Retro Castella
Fig sweetness meets the toasty aroma of caramelized apple for a nostalgic, warm flavor — a sweet that evokes the scenery of civilization and enlightenment reflected in Meiji-mura.
Autumn Sweets Croquette
Pumpkin's natural sweetness is layered with coloring reminiscent of autumn leaves, gently capturing the lingering feel of fall — evoking the autumn scenery of Jakkoin, a temple known for its fall foliage.
Colorful Kibi Dango
Bite-sized confections colored with purple sweet potato, beetroot, and kinako offer a simple, gentle flavor, inspired by the kibi dango of Momotaro Shrine for a warm, familiar taste.
Bonbon Chocolat
A refined bite hiding a smooth ganache inside, quietly representing Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen's place within the map-like arrangement of the plate.
Shine Muscat and Kyoho Grapes
Fresh Shine Muscat and Kyoho grapes add a rich sense of the season, though the variety served may change depending on availability.
Savory
Beef Hot Pot–Style Spring Roll Épi
Gyunabe, a symbol of Meiji-mura's civilization and enlightenment era, is reimagined as a light spring roll shaped like an ear of wheat — a single bite that conveys the passage of time and the innovation of food culture.
Shichifukuzaka Cobblestone Terrine
Modeled on Jakkoin, a noted autumn spot, this terrine evokes the temple's 320 stone steps. Seven kinds of mushrooms, each finished with a different level of heat, are combined with minced chicken, black garlic, and truffle paste to depict the weight of the stone path and the vitality of autumn that lives on within its crevices.
Fig and Sesame Tofu Cream Maritozzo
Modeled on the dog that served as one of Momotaro's retainers and inspired by Inuyama's mascot character Wanmaru-kun, this maritozzo pairs the richness of golden sesame with the smoothness of tofu and mascarpone and the gentle sweetness of fig — a playful flavor where Japanese and Western influences meet.
World Bite Plate
Inspired by Little World, Inuyama's open-air museum of ethnology, this single plate brings together flavors from around the globe. Yakitori, chili shrimp, olives, prosciutto, and other ingredients and dishes symbolic of world cuisine invite a bite-by-bite journey around the world.
Scones and Jams
A cookie-like, thick-baked chocolate scone is paired with a plain scone offering a new, delicately layered texture. Clotted cream, strawberry jam made from Gifu Prefecture's Mino Musume strawberries, and a refreshing lemon cream each bring out different notes — mix and match to create a flavor all your own.
Beverages
Coffee comes from Saito Coffee, a 75-year-old Nagoya roastery, alongside Ronnefeldt, a long-established German tea brand, and Art of Tea, an organic tea label from Los Angeles, all served alongside the sweets and savory dishes.
Event Details
Period: September 1 (Tuesday) to November 30 (Monday), 2026
Hours: 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM (Last order 2:30 PM)
Price: ¥7,000 per person
Venue: Indigo Home Kitchen Yamateras (車山照), Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen
Reservations: Limited to three parties per day; bookings must be made at least three days before your visit.
Prices include tax and service charge. Photos are for illustration purposes. Menu contents may change depending on ingredient availability. Guests with allergies are kindly asked to inform staff in advance.
Supervised by Tourism Ambassador Ryoga Haruhi
In October 2023, Ryoga Haruhi — a talent and former Takarazuka Revue performer — was appointed Inuyama's tourism ambassador. Born in Nagoya City, she visited Inuyama many times from childhood and remains such an enthusiast of the town that she still comes often in her private time. She put herself forward for the role, and Inuyama City officially commissioned her as ambassador.
