A damping force is generated by keeping a damping force control valve closed when a piston of a hydraulic shock absorber starts to move from compression side dead center or expansion side dead center. A damping force control valve including a poppet valve for opening and closing a first fluid path is provided. A pilot pressure chamber defined from the fluid path by a valve element of the damping force control valve is provided. A linear solenoid and a pilot valve for increasing and reducing the hydraulic pressure in the pilot pressure chamber are provided. A check valve disposed in parallel with the damping force control valve is provided in a piston. A communication path for communication between the first fluid path downstream of the damping force control valve and the pilot pressure chamber is provided.