Variable damping force damper

A solenoid-type variable damping force damper prevents excessive opening of a valve plate when the damper operates at a high speed, thereby achieving reduced electric power consumption. A valve body of an expansion-side valve plate is opened by pressure of hydraulic oil flowing in from an expansion-side first communication oil passage, but at this time, the oil pressures on the side of the upper surface and on the side of the under surface of the valve body are substantially equal to each other within the expansion-side pressure accumulation chamber, owing partly to a flow of the hydraulic oil passing through flow rate adjustment holes. Therefore, even when the damper undergoes an expanding action at a high speed and the hydraulic oil flows in from the expansion-side first communication oil passage at a high inflow rate, the valve body of the expansion-side valve plate is less likely to open excessively.