We recently visited
Hilton Tokyo Odaiba
with our editor-in-chief, Mamarin,
to try the
Japanese Afternoon Tea Set
at the hotel’s Japanese restaurant,
Sakura.
This special afternoon tea
has been available on weekends and public holidays
since July 18, 2026.
With views of the Japanese garden and Tokyo Bay,
the experience combines refreshing Japanese sweets
with savory dishes prepared by chefs
from the restaurant’s
tempura,
teppanyaki,
and sushi counters.
It was a beautifully balanced afternoon tea
that felt especially suited to summer in Tokyo.
What Is the Japanese Afternoon Tea at Hilton Tokyo Odaiba?
Hilton Tokyo Odaiba is a luxury hotel
in a waterfront location
with views of landmarks such as
Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge.
Inside the hotel,
the Japanese restaurant Sakura
serves teppanyaki,
sushi,
tempura,
and traditional Japanese cuisine.
This Japanese-style afternoon tea
was introduced as a limited weekend and holiday offering.
Our table was spacious,
with plenty of distance between neighboring tables.
That made it easy to relax
without feeling crowded.
The location was another highlight.
From the restaurant,
we could see
Rainbow Bridge
and Tokyo Skytree.
The open waterfront scenery
made the experience feel especially relaxing.
Japanese Sweets Inspired by Summer
The centerpiece of the afternoon tea
is a selection of
light and refreshing Japanese sweets.
The lineup included
warabi mochi,
nerikiri inspired by a clear river and ayu sweetfish,
black soybean matcha terrine,
and a smooth
pumpkin and soy milk mousse.
Each item was designed to highlight
the natural flavor of its ingredients.
Matcha Terrine and Soft Mitarashi Dango
One of our favorites was the
black soybean matcha terrine.
It had a smooth texture
and a lovely balance
between sweetness
and the gentle bitterness of matcha.
The mitarashi dango
was also soft and satisfying,
with a sweet-and-savory glaze.
A seasonal fruit assortment
helped refresh the palate
between the richer sweets.
Eight Savory Dishes from Tempura, Teppanyaki and Sushi Chefs
The savory selection included
eight dishes
prepared by chefs from Sakura’s
tempura,
teppanyaki,
and sushi counters.
Highlights included
Japanese black beef roast beef,
three kinds of temari sushi,
and seasonal tempura.
Instead of soup,
the afternoon tea also included
sea bream dashi broth.
Its rich umami flavor
paired beautifully with the savory dishes.
The savory menu included:
- Tempura: conger eel wrapped in shredded egg, sweet potato, and myoga ginger
- Teppanyaki: Japanese black beef roast beef with concentrated black vinegar
- Seasonal vegetable gratin with meat miso
- Temari sushi: minced tuna
- Temari sushi: kelp-cured sea bream
- Temari sushi: salmon
Japanese Black Beef Roast Beef
The roast beef was rich and flavorful,
but the black vinegar
gave it a refreshing finish.
It felt well suited to summer
without being too heavy.
Savory Dishes Worth Coming Back For
The temari sushi
and myoga tempura
were also light,
seasonal,
and delicious.
The savory dishes were so enjoyable
that we would happily return
for lunch or dinner at Sakura.
Three Types of Self-Service Shaved Ice
The afternoon tea also included
self-service shaved ice.
There were three homemade syrups:
- Kinako
- Matcha
- Orange
and three toppings:
- Kuromitsu black sugar syrup
- Sweet red bean
- Condensed milk cream
The colorful display
felt almost like a Japanese summer festival.
You could shave the ice yourself,
or ask a staff member for help.
Suggested combinations
were displayed near the station,
which made it easy to experiment.
Mamarin chose
matcha syrup,
sweet red bean,
and plenty of condensed milk.
Enjoying freshly made shaved ice
while looking out over Tokyo Bay
was one of the most memorable parts of the experience.
Orange, Kinako Kuromitsu and Matcha Azuki
We tried all three recommended combinations.
The first was
orange shaved ice.
Fresh orange
and homemade orange syrup
gave it a bright,
refreshing flavor.
Next was
kinako with kuromitsu.
Kinako syrup is quite unusual,
and it paired especially well
with plenty of black sugar syrup.
The third was the classic combination
of
matcha and sweet red bean.
The red beans were large and satisfying,
and adding condensed milk
made it even better.
We enjoyed it so much
that we went back for a second serving.
Each flavor had a completely different character,
from refreshing citrus
to rich kuromitsu
to classic matcha and azuki.
Warm drinks were also available
as part of the free-flow beverage selection.
After several servings of shaved ice,
we appreciated being able to switch
to hot hojicha or Japanese tea.
For us,
alternating between cold desserts
and warm tea
made the experience more comfortable.
Welcome Drink and Free-Flow Beverages
The welcome drink was
non-alcoholic sparkling sake.
It was served in beautiful kiriko-style glassware,
which made the start of the afternoon tea
feel especially elegant.
The self-service drink area included
coffee,
black tea,
hojicha,
Japanese tea,
four kinds of Japanese herbal tea,
and
amazake made only from koji.
There were interesting varieties
such as
black soybean and burdock tea
and
peach oolong tea.
Choosing different teas
was part of the fun.
Black tea was from Smith Tea.
The amazake made with koji
had a clean,
gentle sweetness
that paired very well
with the Japanese sweets.
We enjoyed it enough
to go back for refills.
Our Experience with the Japanese Afternoon Tea at Hilton Tokyo Odaiba
The spacious tables
and generous distance between seats
made the restaurant feel calm and relaxing.
We also loved being able to see
Rainbow Bridge
and Tokyo Skytree
from the restaurant.
The combination of sweets,
fruit,
savory dishes,
shaved ice,
and hot drinks
kept the menu varied from beginning to end.
For us,
the experience worked especially well
for a relaxed mother-daughter outing
or a special weekend celebration.
The
Japanese Afternoon Tea Set
at Sakura, Hilton Tokyo Odaiba
combines traditional Japanese flavors
with sushi,
tempura,
teppanyaki,
seasonal sweets,
and self-service shaved ice.
It felt like
a modern way to enjoy Japanese summer flavors in Tokyo.
Hilton Tokyo Odaiba Japanese Afternoon Tea: Price and Reservations
Period
From July 18, 2026
Weekends and public holidays only
Venue
Japanese Restaurant Sakura, 3rd floor
Time
3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Price
¥7,000 per person
Tax and service charge included
Reservations and inquiries
TEL: 03-5500-5580
Restaurant information: 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Important:
This is a limited-time event scheduled to end in September 2026. Availability, dates and menu details may change, so please check the official page before visiting.
