The Oriental Lounge on the 38th floor of Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo is serving a limited-time afternoon tea inspired by the work of British painter J.M.W. Turner, available from September 24 (Thu) to November 15 (Sun), 2026.
Works: 《水のある風景》, c. 1840–45 (left); 《捕鯨船エレバス号に万歳！ もう一頭獲ったぞ！》, exhibited 1846 (right). Both by J.M.W. Turner. Photo: Tate.
Created Alongside the Tate's Turner Exhibition
The afternoon tea was created in connection with "Turner: Painting the Sublime, in Dialogue with Contemporary Art," to be held at the National Museum of Western Art. The menu draws on paintings to be shown in the exhibition — 《捕鯨船エレバス号に万歳！ もう一頭獲ったぞ！》, 《嵐のなかの船》, 《月光、ミルバンクでの習作》 and 《水のある風景》 — translated into sweets and savories.
Known as the "painter of light," Turner captured shifting light, atmosphere and the power of nature with techniques that went on to influence generations of later artists. The afternoon tea builds on six themes that run through his work — Light, Atmosphere, Movement, Reflection, Nature and Ephemeral Beauty — expressed through the color, texture and shape of each dish.
The sweets are built around ingredients and confections associated with Britain, reinterpreting classics such as the Victoria sponge to evoke the light and landscapes in Turner's paintings, while the savories draw on the color and composition of the same works.
Afternoon Tea Overview
- Venue: Oriental Lounge (38F)
- Period: September 24 (Thu) – November 15 (Sun), 2026
- Hours: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Price: ¥8,580 (Monday–Thursday), ¥10,340 (Friday–Sunday)
Prices include tax; a 15% service charge is added separately. The afternoon tea is by reservation only.
Sweets Inspired by Turner's Paintings
The dessert inspired by 《月光、ミルバンクでの習作》 renders moonlight reflected on still water through the flavors of banana, peanut and rum.
The piece inspired by 《嵐のなかの船》 — a ship caught in a storm — captures the stormy sea and dramatic sky with dark chocolate and salted caramel.
The dessert based on 《水のある風景》 draws on delicate color and flavor to express the transparency and soft light of the original watercolor.
A Tableside Finale
The afternoon tea closes with a special dessert inspired by 《捕鯨船エレバス号に万歳！ もう一頭獲ったぞ！》, one of the paintings to be shown in the exhibition. The dish, evoking the movement of the sea, is finished tableside in front of guests.
Drinks
Guests can pair the sweets and savories with free-flow tea and coffee, drawing on a selection of more than 20 varieties chosen by tea sommeliers.
About "Turner: Painting the Sublime, in Dialogue with Contemporary Art"
This retrospective will introduce the work of J.M.W. Turner, one of Britain's leading painters, drawing mainly on the collection of Tate in London, home to the world's largest collection of Turner's work. More than 80 pieces, including oil paintings and watercolors, will be on display. The exhibition groups the works by theme along a loose chronology, and pairs Turner's paintings with contemporary art to show how the idea of the "sublime" that he pursued continues to resonate with artists today.
- Period: October 24 (Sat), 2026 – February 21 (Sun), 2027
- Venue: National Museum of Western Art (Ueno Park, Tokyo)
- Hours: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM (until 8:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays; last entry 30 minutes before closing)
- Closed: Mondays, November 24 (Tue), December 28 (Mon) – January 1 (Fri, holiday), 2027, and January 12 (Tue), 2027 — though the museum is open on November 23 (Mon, holiday) and January 11 (Mon, holiday), 2027. The permanent collection is closed from January 12 to February 21, 2027.
- Organizers: National Museum of Western Art, Tate, The Asahi Shimbun, TV Asahi
- Admission: ¥2,400 (general), ¥1,500 (university students), ¥1,100 (high school students)
- Official website: turner2026-27.exhibit.jp
Reservations
- Phone: 03-3270-8188
- Online: Reserve the Turner Exhibition Afternoon Tea
