Hotel Indigo Inuyama KAKKOII Afternoon Tea
On the fourth and final day of my 3-night, 4-day trip to Nagoya, I planned to conclude the journey with a "KAKKOII Afternoon Tea" at the hotel where I stayed on the third night. This afternoon tea was a hidden gem that I discovered while browsing the hotel's restaurant section on their official website.
When planning my trips, I always research the hotel's facilities, room conditions, views, and breakfast menus in advance before making a final decision. This time, while exploring the restaurant options, I found out about the afternoon tea, which is limited to three groups per day and requires a reservation in advance. Reservations can only be made through the official website, and the tea is available for a minimum of two people. For this trip, I enjoyed afternoon tea at three different locations, all booked for two people. The time slot for this tea was fixed from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM.
After having breakfast in the morning, I checked out, left my luggage at the hotel, and followed a triangular itinerary covering Inuyama, Komaki, Iwakura, and back to Inuyama. Thanks to the hotel staff's kindness, I was able to enjoy a complimentary visit to Urakuen before heading to the restaurant at the scheduled time.
The table prepared for us was on the opposite side of where we had breakfast. The afternoon tea was served on two trays, one for each person, with a single strawberry stand shared between us. The presentation of the afternoon tea, including an illustrated print of the menu, was impressive.
After a morning walk, I started with an iced coffee and welcomed the KAKKOII Afternoon Tea. The weather was clear, and the view of Inuyama Castle from the window was majestic. While chatting with the server, I mentioned a newly opened afternoon tea spot at a Nagoya hotel and even showed them photos of the Nagoya Castle view from that location. I suggested that the terrace here might offer an even more stunning view than Nagoya's, and expressed my desire to step outside. I also shared that I had visited over 200 afternoon tea spots in Japan.
Shortly after, the restaurant's general manager accompanied the server and moved one of the trays and the strawberry stand to an outdoor terrace table for us. They even helped us take beautiful photos, allowing us to enjoy a wonderful time with a direct view of the National Treasure Inuyama Castle. Afterward, we returned indoors.
To my surprise, the indoor table had been tidied up. 🤔 The staff brought back the strawberry stand and informed us that the desserts were being kept refrigerated, the scones were freshly baked, and the savory items were being warmed up for us to enjoy. This thoughtful hospitality added a special touch, and we began a delightful second round of afternoon tea indoors.
I wrote a heartfelt message in Korean on the back of the illustrated menu postcard for the server, who was learning Korean. The stay, breakfast, and service at this hotel were all excellent, and choosing to have afternoon tea here was a great decision. When I went to retrieve my luggage from the reception, the staff member who had arranged the Urakuen visit greeted me warmly and asked how the afternoon tea was. I told them it was a wonderful experience and thanked them for their help with Urakuen. 🧳 They handed me my bag and offered a high-five, which I gladly returned. It was a truly "KAKKOII" 1-night, 2-day experience. Thank you.