Tea Time in Ginza

With our time in Japan coming to an alarmingly fast end (sad face), Monday was the time for our lovely Spouse Club to say good-bye to me and several other ladies.  Many of our former members have chosen to have their farewells at more local restaurants and karaoke bars, but my fellow farewell-ees and I decided that a trip to Tokyo sounded much more fabulous! 

While karaoke bars definitely have a time and a place, we were in search of something a bit more...classy.  And what could be more classy than one of the most sophisticated hotels in Tokyo's classiest district- Ginza?  Enjoying the Peninsula's high tea sounded like just the thing!

Scones and sweets

Our menu was as follows:

The Peninsula Classic Afternoon Tea Set

2:30 pm to 5:00 pm

Selection of Savories

Fried Turkey Wrap Roll with Cocktail Sauce

Corned Beef, Sauerkraut and Watercress on Wheat Toast with Mustard Sauce

Salmon Rillettes with Multigrain Crouton

Apple Purée with Anis, Fresh Cheese and Sliced Almond

Selection of Sweets

Cheese Cake Chocolate Tart Strawberry Short Cake Matcha Cake

Scones (plain and raisin)

Choice of tea

The Peninsula Tokyo Blend Tea

The Peninsula Tokyo Afternoon Tea

The Peninsula Tokyo Breakfast Tea

Assam, Darjeeling, Earl Grey, Muscat, Jasmine Peppermint, Chamomile, 
Lemon Verbena, Rosehip & Hibiscus Relax Therapy, Counseling

I enjoyed the Lemon Verbena and Peppermint, other friends enjoyed the Rosehip & Hibiscus and Afternoon Blend, and one particularly brave lady decided to give Counseling a try.  She couldn't stop talking about how great it was, and how everyone should try Counseling at some point in their lives.  Several of us also sampled the Muscat, which had a fantastic grape smell and horribly bitter taste.  I do not recommend the Muscat.

As we chatted and sipped and snacked, a live piano/bass duet serenaded us from a balcony, and the lights of the Peninsula's magnificent lobby chandelier twinkled above our heads.  What a delightful way to say good-bye to some lovely ladies, and to Ginza.  Sayonara...for now!



Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula is 3,600 yen per person.  Reservations are recommended, and can be made by calling The Lobby at (81-3) 6270 2731.  Dress code: Smart Casual.  Sandals, shorts, and tank tops are not allowed.


Disclaimer:  I do my best to make sure all my information is accurate.  However, details may change or I may just be flat-out wrong.  Please let me know if something needs a correction.  Thank-you!