To dispose control valves over the whole circumference of a head portion in a hydraulic shock absorber used in a horizontal state.

In this hydraulic shock absorber which is used in a horizontal state though it has an air chamber bordered by an oil face O in a reservoir chamber R between an inner cylinder 1 and an outer cylinder 2, and wherein the control valves V are held by the head portion H through which a rod 4 introduced into the inner cylinder 1 at its basic end side, is penetrated while closing opening ends of the inner cylinder 1 and the outer cylinder 2, and hydraulic oil in the inner cylinder 1 flows out to the reservoir chamber R, a circular flow channel L is formed along the circumferential direction of the head portion H, and the circular flow channel L communicates with the oil in the reservoir chamber R while communicating with the control valves V.