A port (2a, 2b) allows a fluid to flow from a first fluid chamber (41, 42) to a second fluid chamber (42, 41) separated by the piston (1) of a shock absorber via a damping valve (10a, 10b). A flow sectional area of a passage (21d, 21e, 26d, 26e) connecting the first fluid chamber (41, 42) to the port (2a, 2b) is reduced by a throttle valve (12, 14, 51, 52) according to a pressure in the first fluid chamber (41, 42). A pressure of a pressure chamber (18, 19) and a biasing force of a plate spring (25, 29, 71, 72) acts on the throttle valve (12, 14, 51, 52) in an opposite direction to the pressure of the first fluid chamber (41, 42). The hydraulic shock absorber is thereby caused to generate different damping force characteristics depending on a stroke speed of the piston (1).