Ring in the New Year with a Delightful Japanese Afternoon Tea at the Royal Park Hotel β
Celebrate the New Year in style with a limited-time afternoon tea experience at the Royal Park Hotel, featuring traditional Japanese sweets and New Year’s motifs. From December 26, 2024, to January 19, 2025, indulge in a delightful array of treats and savory bites that capture the spirit of the season.
Begin your culinary journey with a welcoming glass of plum kelp tea infused with shimmering gold flakes β a truly auspicious start! The New Year’s theme continues with meticulously crafted chocolate decorations shaped like kagamimochi and hamaya (lucky charms), and a vibrant green kadomatsu roll cake made with pistachio.
Savor a unique Western-style okoshi confection with hazelnuts and maple sugar, a refreshing glass dessert balancing ginger and tart kinkan (kumquat), and a delicate terrine featuring the subtle sweetness of Japanese chestnut and the fragrant aroma of yuzu. The experience also includes a rich matcha tart chocolat, a light and airy hojicha shortcake, and a selection of other traditional Japanese sweets.
Complementing the sweet treats are savory delights such as a soba salad topped with duck and green onions, a refreshing smoked salmon and cream cheese monaka, and a kamaboko (fish cake) and basil gratin with the comforting flavors of chawanmushi (steamed egg custard). This special afternoon tea offers a unique blend of Japanese and Western flavors, setting it apart from typical holiday afternoon tea offerings.
Event Details:
- Location: Royal Park Hotel (Website)
- Nearest Station: Suitengumae Station
- Address: 2-1-1 Nihonbashi Kakigaracho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo γ103-8520 (Map)
- Dates: December 26, 2024 – January 19, 2025
- Time:
- Weekdays: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, and December 31 – January 3: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Price: 8,000 yen per person
- Contact: Royal Park Hotel (03-3667-1111)
- Official Website (for reservations and latest information): https://www.rph.co.jp/restaurants/plan/c8mwiq0t4/
Please note that event details are subject to change. Always check the official website for the most up-to-date information.
What is Traditional Japanese New Year Cuisine?
Traditional Japanese New Year cuisine, known as "osechi-ryori," plays an integral role in Japan’s New Year celebrations. It combines cultural tradition with culinary creativity and is typically served in tiered lacquer boxes called "jubako." Each dish in osechi-ryori carries a symbolic meaning, conveying various hopes for the coming year.
A selection of key components includes kuromame (sweet black soybeans) for health, kazunoko (herring roe) for fertility, and tazukuri (candied sardines) to signify a plentiful harvest. Dishes such as kobumaki (kelp rolls) and datemaki (sweet rolled omelet) represent wishes for happiness and academic success, respectively. These dishes not only highlight seasonal ingredients but also emphasize a harmony of flavors, colors, and textures.
Osechi-ryori is traditionally enjoyed with family on New Year’s Day morning, following detailed preparation in the days leading up to the holiday. By partaking in this meaningful feast, families in Japan express gratitude for the past year and hope for future prosperity, combining joy and reflection.
