Janu Tokyo, the only hotel inside Azabudai Hills in Minato City, Tokyo, is teaming up with the forest conservation organization More Trees for its 2026 festive season. Taking its cue from the way nature and city life blend together at Azabudai Hills, the season centers on a sense of connection to the forest, with Christmas cakes, a Christmas afternoon tea, and a house-made stollen.
As the first part of the season, Janu Patisserie opens reservations for its Bûche de Noël, created by pastry chef Yukie Noguchi, on Thursday, October 1. Janu Lounge & Garden Terrace serves a Christmas Afternoon Tea from Saturday, November 21 to Friday, December 25, 2026, with a gentle forest scene as its theme. The lineup also includes the Christmas Shortcake, a favorite since the hotel opened, the Christmas Taruni (クリスマス タルニー), which gives the patisserie's signature cake a holiday look, and the seasonal Maple Stollen.
A portion of sales from eligible items during this festive season is planned to be donated to forest conservation activities through More Trees.
Forest-Inspired Christmas Cake and Afternoon Tea
Bûche de Noël
The Bûche de Noël is modeled on a single tree standing in a winter forest. The refreshing tartness of bergamot and lime is layered with a fragrant Earl Grey cream, all wrapped in a smoky chocolate mousse smoked with oak barrel chips. A hazelnut biscuit and crunch form the base for a pleasant textural accent. The surface is dusted with chocolate powder to resemble tree bark and decorated with chocolate patterned after a snake living in the forest, along with Christmas roses, which bloom with delicate white flowers during the Christmas season.
The smoky aroma and deep bitter taste are layered with the freshness of citrus and the rich scent of tea for a lingering finish. The 15 cm cake is priced at ¥8,800 (tax included). Reservation details are in the Christmas Cake Selection section below.
Christmas Afternoon Tea
At Janu Lounge & Garden Terrace, a bright, open space with high ceilings and large lampshades, the Christmas Afternoon Tea runs from Saturday, November 21 to Friday, December 25, with a gentle forest scene as its theme.
The sweets include the Bûche de Noël, Maple Stollen, and Strawberry Shortcake, among other items with a festive Christmas mood. The Fir Honey and Matcha Mousse is shaped like a present box and decorated with chocolate ribbons and berries.
The savories also depict forest scenery. The Smoked Salmon Roll wraps smoked salmon and cream cheese in a cocoa-flavored crêpe to resemble a tree stump. The Baked Mushroom Duxelles and Chorizo with Herb Breadcrumbs hides porcini duxelles, chorizo, and béchamel sauce in a pie case, topped with basil-scented breadcrumbs that represent the plants of the forest.
The tea is served with a selection of teas, coffee, and mocktails.
| Venue | Janu Lounge & Garden Terrace |
| Period | Saturday, November 21 – Friday, December 25, 2026 |
| Hours | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM (two-hour seatings starting at 12:00 PM, 12:15 PM, 3:00 PM, or 3:15 PM; reservation required) |
| Price | Weekdays ¥8,800 (tax & service charge included), weekends ¥10,100 (tax & service charge included) From Saturday, December 19 to Friday, December 25, a special plan with a Christmas cocktail or mocktail is offered for ¥12,500 (tax & service charge included). |
| Reservations | https://www.tablecheck.com/ja/janu-tokyo-lounge-bar/reserve/message |
| Menu | Sweets: Bûche de Noël / Maple Stollen / Strawberry Shortcake / Fir Honey and Matcha Mousse / Orange Ganache Brownie / Apple Pie Savories: Smoked Salmon Roll / Baked Mushroom Duxelles and Chorizo with Herb Breadcrumbs / Lobster and Mongou Cuttlefish Tartare / Scallop and Caviar Tart with Yuzu Miso Flavor Scones: Plain Scone / Iyokan Scone Condiments: Strawberry Jam / Soy Milk Whipped Cream / Koji Syrup / Sweet Potato Paste |
Christmas Cake Selection
Christmas Taruni (クリスマス タルニー)
Taruni, the signature cake of Janu Patisserie, takes its name from the Sanskrit word for "rose." It returns this year in a Christmas edition. A crisp orange-flavored biscuit base hides strawberry crunch, pistachio brûlée, and berry jelly, all wrapped gently in a rich mousse of white chocolate and vanilla.
The top of the mousse is covered in a pure white glaçage and decorated with a large Taruni "rose" made of strawberry mousse and strawberry ganache, along with holly leaves molded from fine chocolate. The flavors of orange, tart berries, and rich pistachio come together in a mousse cake with a refined, sweet finish. The 15 cm cake is priced at ¥11,800 (tax included).
Christmas Shortcake
This classic strawberry shortcake is generously decorated with domestic strawberries. Domestic kibi sugar is used in both the chantilly cream and the sponge for a light texture and gentle sweetness. The cake is topped with a cute sugar Santa, juicy domestic strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, and finished with edible flowers and gold leaf. The 15 cm cake is priced at ¥9,800 (tax included).
The Bûche de Noël, Christmas Taruni, and Christmas Shortcake are available by web reservation only.
| Reservations open | Thursday, October 1, 10:00 AM (reservation required by 7 days before the pickup date) |
| Sales (pickup) period | Saturday, December 19 – Friday, December 25, 2026, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Price | Bûche de Noël: ¥8,800 (tax included) Christmas Taruni: ¥11,800 (tax included) Christmas Shortcake: ¥9,800 (tax included) |
| Reservations | https://www.tablecheck.com/ja/janu-tokyo-patisserie-pickup/reserve/message |
House-Made Maple Stollen
The Maple Stollen is made by pastry chef Yukie Noguchi, who has won a maple sweets contest. Aromatic maple syrup takes the lead in a dough kneaded with walnuts, raisins, cranberries, apricots, and figs soaked in cinnamon and rum, with moist marzipan tucked inside.
Each house-made stollen is baked with care. Along with the rich aroma of a freshly baked loaf, the fruit and dough meld more with each passing day, deepening the flavor. In keeping with European tradition, the stollen is meant to be sliced thinly and enjoyed little by little while waiting for Christmas to arrive.
| Venue | Janu Patisserie |
| Period | Tuesday, December 1 – Friday, December 25, 2026 |
| Size and price | 15 cm, ¥3,800 (tax included) |
| Hours | Weekdays 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM (LO 7:30 PM), weekends and holidays 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (LO 7:30 PM) |
| Reservations | https://www.tablecheck.com/ja/janu-tokyo-patisserie/reserve/landing |
About the Pastry Chef
Yukie Noguchi, pastry chef at Janu Tokyo, began her career at luxury hotels after training at patisseries and café-patisseries following culinary school. At Janu Tokyo, she creates afternoon teas, cakes, and parfaits using seasonal fruit, listening closely to nature's rhythms and valuing her connections with producers in Japan and abroad. She focuses on vegan and gluten-free creations as well as cakes and parfaits that as many guests as possible can enjoy with peace of mind.
