Mitsubishi Estate Hotels & Resorts Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Masaya Oshima) will offer a special soup made with sustainable vegetables grown using compost derived from the moat of the Imperial Palace at its Royal Park Hotels. This limited-time offering will be available from September 1 to October 31 at 12 hotels across Japan.
Sustainable Ingredients Born from Collaboration with the Moat Project
This initiative is part of a project started in 2017 in collaboration between the Ministry of the Environment and the Mitsubishi Estate Group, aimed at recycling resources to circulate between urban and rural areas.
In the moat of the Imperial Palace, water chestnuts (hishi) proliferate particularly in the summer, causing issues such as inhibiting the growth of other aquatic plants. To address this, the Ministry of the Environment has implemented a method of regularly harvesting and composting the hishi. Mitsubishi Estate utilizes this compost to grow vegetables in partnership with organic farmers in Yamanashi Prefecture.
The soup being offered features onions and corn grown using this compost. These vegetables are cultivated on an organic farm in the Yatsugatake region and will be served as fresh, flavorful soups at Royal Park Hotels nationwide.
The offering period is from September 1 to October 31, or until supplies run out. The participating hotels include the Royal Park Hotel in Nihonbashi, Yokohama Royal Park Hotel, and The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome, among others, totaling 12 locations nationwide.
Guests can enjoy this sustainable soup as part of breakfast, lunch, or dinner, with two varieties available: chilled corn soup made from fresh corn and warm onion soup made from onions. The chilled corn soup is known for its smooth texture and the natural sweetness and flavor of fresh corn, while the onion soup features a warm, comforting blend of onion sweetness and buttery richness.
This effort aims to contribute to the creation of a circular society connecting urban and rural areas, involving those engaged in environmental regeneration of the Imperial Palace moat, farmers growing vegetables with compost, and chefs transforming them into delicious soups. The initiative seeks to raise awareness about reducing food waste and achieving a sustainable society.
Royal Park Hotels has expressed its commitment to continue its sustainability efforts and promote activities towards achieving a sustainable society.
Press release available here