Hanasanshou, Park Hotel, Shiodome, Tokyo

While we have eaten in the Tateru Yoshino run restaurants at the Park Hotel several times in the past, we have never tried Hanasanshou, the Japanese restaurant.

We did not realise how popular Hanasanshou is. On several of the days we were there it was always full and not just with hotel guests. Thankfully, as we were going out one morning, we managed to make a reservation.

Located on the side of the hotel that faces east, the room has a main dining area along the window and then to each side of the bar a curtained area for a more private dining experience. Lots of dark woods are utilized throughout the room with trendy lighting around the bar.

Hanasanshou had a special menu for house guests so we chose to have that. 8 courses served Kaiseki style for around A$50. The other menus were also Kaiseki style with the difference between each being the number of courses.

First courses out was a bowl of boiled taro stem from Kyoto served simply with a bonito and soy sauce. Very light and refreshing.

The appetizer was a plate of seasonal specialties. Fresh thin wheat noodles, sushi of conger eel, Chinese lantern fruit, fruit fed sweet fish salted and dried overnight with boiled octopus, young corn, grilled eggplant with sweet miso sauce.

Clear soup with a steamed pike conger eel dumpling. Very tasty and the dumpling was light and fluffy. Those little bits floating in the soup are seaweed.

Tuna sashimi was next, it was meant to be yellowtail but they had run out so they gave us tuna. Any kind of sashimi is alright by us. The wasabi was super fresh and grated just before serving, a taste revelation!

Next up was our grilled dish of black cod baked in magnolia leaf, accompanied by edamame and ginger shoot.

Second last dish was rice cooked with barracuda and burdock along with miso soup. One of the best miso soups I have tried.

Finally seasonal fruit and green tea. Simple but refreshing end to a very flavoursome meal. Bright green Maple leaves seemed to be the garnish of the season

Now we have sampled all the food offerings available at the Park Hotel and they are all fantastic. Sometimes hotel dining can be a bit ho hum but we have enjoyed each meal we have had there.