We were invited to experience
The Fragrant Chestnut Afternoon Tea
at The Kitano Hotel Tokyo,
available for a limited time from September 1 to November 30, 2026.
The entire afternoon tea is
gluten-free
and celebrates one of autumn’s most popular flavors in Japan:
chestnuts.
The menu combines Japanese and Western sweets,
warm and chilled desserts,
and a variety of textures.
Highlights include Mont Blanc,
chestnut yokan,
a warm fondant chocolate dessert,
and a soufflé cheesecake served with a dramatic smoky aroma.
Even the scones are made with rice flour.
They were so moist and satisfying
that it was easy to forget they were gluten-free.
It was a lovely autumn experience
for mothers and daughters,
couples,
or friends looking for a slightly luxurious afternoon in Tokyo.
Here is our detailed firsthand review.
What Is The Kitano Hotel Tokyo’s Fragrant Chestnut Afternoon Tea?
The Kitano Hotel Tokyo
is a luxury hotel in Hirakawacho, Tokyo,
and a member of
Relais & Châteaux.
Once you enter the hotel,
you are welcomed by an airy lobby
and a calm, refined interior.
The afternoon tea is served at
Tea Lounge Kafu
on the second floor.
The lounge includes a Japanese-style tea space,
and outside the windows you can see bamboo,
creating a quiet atmosphere that almost makes you forget you are in central Tokyo.
The Fragrant Chestnut Afternoon Tea
features several desserts made with chestnuts,
including Mont Blanc,
chestnut yokan,
a warm fondant-style choux dessert,
and a cheesecake served with smoky aromas.
Seasonal fruits such as grapes and pears
are also incorporated into the menu.
All 12 items — eight sweets and four savory selections — are gluten-free.
Even in our 60s,
we did not find the menu overly heavy.
The different flavors and textures
made it enjoyable all the way to the end.
From
October 1 to October 31, 2026,
some of the items are presented in a special Halloween style.
If you enjoy seasonal decorations,
October may be an especially fun time to visit.
Upper Tier｜Eight Gluten-Free Sweets Featuring Autumn Chestnuts
Eight of the twelve items
are sweets arranged on the upper tier of the stand.
The desserts are beautifully presented,
and their smaller size makes them easy to enjoy one by one.
The chocolate rum macaron
was even shaped like a chestnut!
Along with the chocolate flavor,
you can taste the rum,
giving it a more sophisticated flavor for adults.
Chestnut Fondant Chocolate Choux with Shibukawa Chestnut Ice Cream
The main dessert is a warm choux pastry
filled with chestnut-flavored fondant chocolate
that flows out when you cut into it.
It is served with cold
Shibukawa chestnut ice cream,
creating a delicious contrast between warm pastry and cold ice cream.
There were also small pieces of chestnut in the ice cream,
adding another texture.
The temperature,
texture,
and aroma were all different,
making this
a satisfying dessert where the chestnut flavor really stands out.
Chestnut Soufflé Cheesecake with a Smoky Aroma
One of the most memorable items for us
was the
chestnut soufflé cheesecake.
It is presented in a pot,
with a smoky aroma created in front of you.
The moment the lid is opened,
the fragrance of the smoke gently spreads around the table.
It is not just about the taste —
the aroma and presentation are part of the experience too.
It was unlike anything we had eaten before.
The combination of autumn aromas and the special presentation
made this one of the dishes we remembered most.
Obuse Chestnut Mont Blanc Tart and Chestnut Yokan
Autumn always makes me want to eat Mont Blanc!
The
Obuse Chestnut Mont Blanc Tart
has the rich flavor you expect from Japanese chestnuts.
The moist tart base
and smooth Mont Blanc cream
worked very well together,
allowing the chestnut flavor to remain the focus.
There is also a traditional Japanese sweet:
chestnut yokan.
One of the things I enjoy about afternoon tea at The Kitano Hotel Tokyo
is that it includes not only Western-style desserts,
but also Japanese sweets.
Pear Mousse and Shine Muscat & Kyoho Grape Jelly
Chestnuts are not the only autumn ingredient on the menu.
You can also enjoy
pear mousse
and
Shine Muscat and Kyoho grape jelly.
The refreshing fruit flavors
work especially well between the richer chestnut desserts,
giving the entire afternoon tea a nice balance.
Surprisingly Moist｜Two Gluten-Free Rice Flour Scones
There are two types of scones:
pumpkin
and
autumn buckwheat.
I was genuinely surprised by how moist they were.
It was hard to believe they were made with rice flour.
They are served with
clotted cream
and fig jam.
The combination of pumpkin,
buckwheat,
and fig
also gives the scones a distinctly autumn feel.
The slightly smaller size
was another nice point for travelers in their 60s.
Traditional scones can sometimes be surprisingly filling,
but these were
easy to enjoy without feeling overly full.
The flavors change with the seasons,
so comparing the different seasonal scones
could also be part of the fun.
Lower Tier｜Gluten-Free Savory Dishes That Feel Like Small Plates
The Fragrant Chestnut Afternoon Tea
also includes a satisfying selection of savory dishes.
The lineup includes:
- Mushroom and bacon quiche
- Mackerel rillettes with corn tortilla
- Soup of the day
- Two kinds of finger food
The
mushroom and bacon quiche
had an autumn aroma from the mushrooms,
and the rice-flour crust was moist and pleasant.
It was the kind of savory item
I could easily have eaten several of.
The
soup of the day and finger foods change depending on the day,
so you may discover something different depending on when you visit.
That also gives repeat visitors something new to enjoy.
The savory items provided a nice salty contrast
between the sweeter desserts.
Free-Flow Drinks Include Original Kitano Teas
The free-flow drink selection includes
coffee,
café latte,
café au lait,
cappuccino,
espresso,
Darjeeling,
Earl Grey,
Assam,
mint tea,
and chamomile tea.
One of the highlights is the hotel’s
original flavored tea selection.
The green tea
“Kafu”
combines mixed berries and lemon
for a refreshing finish with very little bitterness.
The Japanese black tea
“Hidamari”
blends Japanese black tea with roasted hojicha,
with gentle aromas of lychee,
bergamot,
and caramel.
It paired especially well with the chestnut sweets,
and I found myself wanting another cup.
I definitely recommend trying it with this afternoon tea.
Sparkling wine,
matcha,
and other additional beverages can also be ordered for an extra charge.
Our Experience in Our 60s
Once again,
our editor-in-chief Mamarin, who is in her 60s,
and Megumi enjoyed the afternoon tea together.
During our previous summer afternoon tea visit,
we were impressed by an unusual shiso and lime panna cotta.
This time,
the smoked chestnut soufflé cheesecake
was the dish that left the strongest impression.
Mamarin said,
“I’m happy that we found another completely new flavor this time.”
That is one of the things I enjoy most about afternoon tea at The Kitano Hotel Tokyo.
It is not only about seasonal ingredients.
Each visit introduces you to new flavors and experiences.
The sweets are relatively small and easy to eat,
and the balance between desserts and savory dishes is good,
so even in our 60s
we were able to enjoy the entire experience slowly.
I would recommend it
for mothers and daughters,
couples,
or friends
who want to enjoy a slightly luxurious seasonal afternoon together.
Fragrant Chestnut Afternoon Tea｜Prices and Reservations
■ Dates
- Fragrant Chestnut Afternoon Tea: September 1 – November 30, 2026
- Some items will feature a special Halloween presentation from October 1 – October 31.
■ Venue
All-Day Dining Tea Lounge Kafu
2F, The Kitano Hotel Tokyo
■ Hours
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Food last order: 5:00 p.m.
Drink last order: 5:30 p.m.
※Afternoon tea is available from 3:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 12:00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays.
※120-minute seating limit.
※Free-flow drink last order is 90 minutes after seating.
※Open daily.
■ Price
- Fragrant Chestnut Afternoon Tea at Kafu: ¥7,500 per person
- Includes 12 sweet and savory items and selected free-flow drinks.
※Price includes tax. A 15% service charge is added separately.
The free-flow selection includes
coffee,
tea,
and the hotel’s original flavored teas.
Sparkling wine,
matcha,
and other drinks are also available for an additional charge.
▶Book the Fragrant Chestnut Afternoon Tea on the official website
