Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber which comprises a piston rod inserted into a cylinder assembly; a piston fixed to the inner end of the piston rod to divide the internal space of the cylinder assembly into first and second oil chambers; and passage means designed to attain communication between both chambers and provided with an opening-variable orifice whose opening area automatically varies with the temperature of damping oil, wherein the damping property of said shock absorber is always kept constant independently of changes in the temperature of damping oil.