Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is offering a special Hanami Suite Package for guests to fully immerse themselves in the joys of cherry blossom season. General Manager Fanny Guibouret highlights the hotel’s good fortune in having its very own sakura trees, allowing guests to appreciate the transient beauty of flowers in privacy and tranquillity.
The package includes a stay in a first-floor Residential Suite with direct access to Shakusui-en, the hotel’s 800-year-old Japanese pond garden, home to 29 cherry blossom trees. Guests can enjoy in-suite breakfast, Sakura Afternoon Tea, and Champagne while appreciating the pleasures of sakura-viewing from their private balcony. These five Residential Suites also provide special access to a private garden courtyard that’s perfect for Hanami, with benches for guests to relax and soak in the wonder of cherry blossoms. Each Residential Suite is 100 square meters (1075 square feet), has natural lighting, and comes with a fully fitted kitchen. Guests can also enjoy complimentary overnight valet parking, a special gift from THE SPA, and indoor tents for kids.
In a departure from tradition, the Sakura Afternoon Tea at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is centered around a classical French pastry experience, interlaced with Japanese cherry blossoms. This springtime feast is served on the sunlit terrace beside the Japanese pond garden, with up-close views of sakura trees in full bloom.
Pastry Chef Reiko Yokota crafts an inventive repertoire of sweet creations, drawing on her training in Michelin-starred restaurants and Four Seasons hotels around the world. Highlights include the Cherry Blossom and Raspberry Verrine, a sweet-and-sour blend of raspberry mousse and cherry blossom petal jelly, and Cherry Blossom Religieuse, a floral version of traditional choux pastry. The Cherry Blossom Chocolate Tart features a luscious ganache of strawberry-flavored Valrhona chocolate.
On the savory side, guests can savor seasonally inspired creations by Chef Ryuji Koga, including the New Onion Soup and Creamy Croquette Burger, both made using early-harvested onions from Higuchi Farm in Kyoto, favored by Chef Koga for their unrivaled sweetness.
In addition to the Sparkling Sakura welcome drink, guests can explore a superb selection of beverages, including 24 Ronnefeldt teas, artisanal coffees, and Valrhona hot chocolate. The Sakura Afternoon Tea is available from March 13 to April 9, 2023, with two seatings at 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm and 3:00 to 5:30 pm. The menu inclusions feature five sweets, four savories, two scones, and a selection of 31 beverages, with weekday prices at JPY 6,700 per person and JPY 7,500 per person on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
The Brasserie presents a five-course lunch menu for the Sakura season, featuring Chef Ryuji Koga’s creations that reflect the blooming of cherry blossoms. The meal begins with Sakura Sea Bream Tartar, which is marinated with lemon and herbs, topped with sakura petals. The main course is the Kyoto Red Chicken and Angel Shrimp Ballotine, made with locally sourced chicken, sweet angel prawns, and mushrooms, served with Albufera sauce and sakura decorations. Other dishes include Sakura Shrimp Risotto and Fish of the Day. The meal concludes with Cherry and Berry Mille-Feuille, a cherry-flavored custard with fresh berries. Guests can enjoy the meal indoors or on the garden terrace. The lunch is available from March 13 to April 9, 2023, from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm at JPY 10,000 per person, including coffee or tea.