Hotel New Grand is a historic luxury hotel located in Yamashita-cho, Naka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Opened in 1927, it is one of Japan’s most distinguished classic city hotels and is highly regarded for its architectural beauty, traditional hospitality, and important place in Yokohama’s cultural history.
The hotel consists of two buildings: the historic Main Building and the modern New Grand Tower. The Main Building retains the elegant atmosphere of its original design, with luxurious Western-style interiors, traditional Japanese decorative elements, and a refined sense of history. The Tower Building, by contrast, features contemporary architecture and offers attractive views of Yokohama’s Minato Mirai waterfront.
Hotel New Grand is also famous as the birthplace of several dishes that became part of Japanese Western-style cuisine, including Doria, Napolitan spaghetti, and Pudding à la Mode. Its restaurants have played an important role in introducing and developing Western-inspired dining culture in Japan.
With its historic architecture, distinguished guests, famous cuisine, and connection with the development of modern Yokohama, Hotel New Grand is much more than an accommodation facility. It is one of the city’s most important cultural landmarks.
The history of Hotel New Grand is closely connected with the reconstruction of Yokohama following the Great Kanto Earthquake of September 1, 1923.
The earthquake caused enormous damage throughout the city, destroying many buildings and severely affecting Yokohama’s commercial and international communities. As part of the reconstruction effort, plans were developed to establish a new hotel capable of welcoming foreign visitors and providing accommodation worthy of Yokohama’s status as an international port city.
The project was known as the Foreigners’ Hotel Construction initiative. It aimed to create a modern hotel that could accommodate international travelers and contribute to the recovery of Yokohama’s tourism and hospitality industries.
Hotel New Grand was established as a result of this initiative and officially opened on December 1, 1927 (Showa 2).
The site had previously been occupied by a French naval hospital established toward the end of the Edo period. Its location in Yamashita-cho, close to the waterfront and the former foreign settlement, made it an appropriate setting for a hotel designed to welcome international guests.
The original Main Building was designed by architect Jin Watanabe, who created a building that combined the elegance of Western classicism with elements of Japanese design.
The architecture reflects the international character of Yokohama while maintaining a distinctly Japanese sense of refinement. Its luxurious appearance, carefully designed interiors, and impressive public spaces established the hotel as one of the leading accommodation facilities of its time.
One particularly distinctive feature was the use of traditional Japanese court music, known as Gagaku, in the main dining room. This unusual combination of Western-style hotel dining and Japanese cultural traditions contributed to the hotel’s unique identity.
The development of Hotel New Grand was supported by several important figures, including its first chairman, Takashi Isaka, and Keikichi Doi of Toyo Kisen Kaisha.
The hotel also invited the French hotel professional Alfonzo Dunant from Paris to contribute his knowledge and experience. His expertise helped establish high standards in accommodation, guest services, restaurant operations, and hospitality.
Through the combined efforts of these individuals, Hotel New Grand developed a reputation for sophisticated service and high-quality dining. Its staff were trained to provide hospitality suited to international travelers, helping the hotel become one of Yokohama’s most prestigious establishments.
The Main Building is the heart of Hotel New Grand and one of the most important examples of classic hotel architecture in Yokohama.
Its exterior and interior retain the atmosphere of the late 1920s, allowing visitors to experience the refined architectural style of the period. The building features a carefully composed arrangement of public spaces, guest rooms, corridors, and banquet facilities.
One of its defining architectural characteristics is the three-part composition of the building, consisting of the base, the lobby, and the guest-room floors. This arrangement gives the structure a distinctive sense of proportion and elegance.
The interior decoration, traditional materials, and impressive halls create an atmosphere that recalls the early days of international hotel culture in Yokohama.
The lobby is one of the most recognizable spaces in the Main Building. Its classic interior design, elegant furnishings, and historical atmosphere make it an especially appealing place for visitors interested in architecture and traditional hospitality.
The lobby has retained much of the character associated with the hotel’s original opening period. Its design reflects the hotel’s ambition to provide a sophisticated reception space for international visitors and distinguished guests.
The Main Building also contains banquet facilities and spaces used for weddings and other special occasions.
The historic architecture and carefully preserved interiors provide an elegant setting for celebrations. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a classic European hotel, while the building’s Japanese design influences give it a character that is distinctly associated with Yokohama.
The hotel has also become a popular location for film and television productions because of its distinctive architecture and nostalgic atmosphere.
In addition to the historic Main Building, Hotel New Grand features the modern New Grand Tower, which opened in 1991.
The tower is an 18-story building rising approximately 73 meters above the surrounding area, with five basement levels. Its contemporary design contrasts with the classical architecture of the original hotel while maintaining the hotel’s overall identity.
The tower provides modern accommodation facilities and offers views of Yokohama’s waterfront, including the Minato Mirai district. Its upper floors are particularly attractive to guests who want to enjoy the city’s nighttime scenery.
The New Grand Tower contains 202 guest rooms, providing a larger accommodation capacity than the original Main Building.
The tower combines modern hotel facilities with the traditional hospitality for which Hotel New Grand is known. Its location beside Yamashita Park and close to Yokohama Chinatown makes it convenient for visitors exploring the city’s major sightseeing districts.
The upper floors of the tower, from the 15th through the 17th floors, are designated as executive floors.
Guests staying on these floors have access to the exclusive executive lounge known as The Club, located on the 16th floor. This lounge provides a more private and refined environment for guests seeking an elevated hotel experience.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Hotel New Grand is its influence on Japanese food culture. The hotel’s kitchens created or popularized several dishes that later became widely known throughout Japan.
These dishes were developed by adapting Western cooking techniques and ingredients to Japanese tastes. Today, they are familiar menu items at restaurants across the country, but their origins are closely associated with Hotel New Grand.
Doria is a baked rice dish topped with a creamy sauce and cheese. It is one of the best-known dishes associated with Hotel New Grand.
According to the hotel’s culinary history, the dish was created by its first head chef, Saly Weil, in response to a request from a guest who wanted something easy to eat.
The chef prepared a dish combining rice with a creamy sauce and baked it in the oven until the surface became golden. This creation became known as Doria and developed into a popular example of Japanese-style Western cuisine.
Today, Doria is served in many restaurants throughout Japan, with variations incorporating seafood, chicken, vegetables, and other ingredients.
Napolitan spaghetti is another famous dish associated with Hotel New Grand.
The dish was developed by the hotel’s chef following the Second World War. Inspired by the spaghetti served to occupying American forces, the chef created a Japanese-style pasta dish using spaghetti, tomato-based seasoning, onions, green peppers, and other ingredients.
Unlike traditional Italian pasta dishes, Napolitan is characterized by its rich, slightly sweet tomato flavor and its familiar combination of vegetables and other toppings.
It subsequently became one of Japan’s most popular Western-style pasta dishes and is now widely available in cafés, restaurants, and traditional Japanese-style Western food establishments.
Pudding à la Mode is a dessert combining custard pudding with fruit, cream, and other decorative toppings.
The dessert is also associated with the hotel’s postwar culinary history and the development of its Western-style restaurant culture.
Its colorful presentation and combination of pudding and fruit helped establish it as a popular Japanese café and restaurant dessert.
Today, Pudding à la Mode is enjoyed throughout Japan, particularly at traditional coffee shops and restaurants that specialize in classic Western-style desserts.
Hotel New Grand offers several restaurants, cafés, and bars, each with its own atmosphere and culinary style. Visitors can enjoy traditional Japanese Western cuisine, French-inspired dishes, Japanese cuisine, afternoon tea, and drinks in elegant surroundings.
Il Giardino is an Italian restaurant located within the Main Building. It offers Italian cuisine in an elegant setting that reflects the hotel’s classic atmosphere.
Tankuma Kita serves traditional Kyoto-style Japanese cuisine. It provides an opportunity to enjoy Japanese culinary traditions within the historic hotel environment.
The Cafe is particularly famous for its association with Hotel New Grand’s signature dishes, including Doria, Napolitan spaghetti, and Pudding à la Mode.
For visitors interested in the origins of Japanese Western-style cuisine, this restaurant is one of the most rewarding places to experience the hotel’s culinary heritage.
La Terrasse is the hotel’s lobby lounge, where guests can enjoy drinks, refreshments, and a relaxing break surrounded by the refined atmosphere of the Main Building.
Its classic surroundings make it an attractive place to experience the traditional character of Hotel New Grand without staying overnight.
Sea Guardian II is a sophisticated bar within the hotel. Its atmosphere reflects the hotel’s long association with international guests and classic hotel culture.
Le Normandie is located in the New Grand Tower and offers French cuisine in an elegant setting overlooking Yokohama’s waterfront.
The restaurant’s panoramic views provide a particularly attractive dining experience, especially when the city and harbor are illuminated at night.
Since its opening, Hotel New Grand has welcomed members of the Japanese Imperial Family, prominent public figures, international visitors, and numerous celebrities.
Among its most famous guests was General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers during the postwar occupation of Japan.
MacArthur stayed at Hotel New Grand after arriving in Japan in 1945. His connection with the hotel remains one of the most well-known episodes in its history.
Following the end of the Second World War, the hotel was requisitioned by the Allied occupation forces and used as accommodation for officers.
This period marked a significant chapter in the history of the building, as it became connected with the political and social changes taking place in Japan after the war.
After the occupation, the hotel returned to its original role as a public accommodation facility and continued welcoming travelers and distinguished guests.
The room associated with General MacArthur is preserved as MacArthur’s Suite.
Today, ordinary hotel guests can also stay in this historically significant suite, offering a rare opportunity to experience a room connected with one of the most important figures in Japan’s postwar history.
The suite is one of the hotel’s most distinctive accommodation features and attracts visitors interested in modern Japanese history.
Hotel New Grand’s classic architecture and nostalgic atmosphere have made it a popular location for Japanese films, television dramas, and other visual productions.
The Main Building’s grand lobby, traditional interiors, and elegant halls provide an authentic setting that evokes the atmosphere of an earlier era.
Its distinctive appearance has allowed the hotel to appear in numerous productions, helping introduce its architectural beauty to audiences throughout Japan.
For visitors, walking through the Main Building can feel like stepping into a scene from a historical film. Even those who are not staying at the hotel can appreciate its architectural character and atmosphere.
Hotel New Grand has undergone several important changes while preserving its historical identity.
These developments helped the hotel maintain its position as a major accommodation destination while preserving the historic character that distinguishes it from newer hotels.
Hotel New Grand is ideally situated for exploring the historic waterfront and international districts of Yokohama.
Just outside the hotel is Yamashita Park, a popular seaside park where visitors can enjoy views of Yokohama Port and the surrounding waterfront.
Yokohama Chinatown, one of Japan’s largest and most famous Chinatowns, is also within easy walking distance. Visitors can enjoy Chinese restaurants, traditional shops, and the lively atmosphere of the historic district.
Other nearby attractions include the historic Osanbashi Pier, the Yokohama Marine Tower, the former foreign settlement in Yamate, and the waterfront promenades around Minato Mirai.
The hotel’s location makes it an excellent base for travelers who want to combine sightseeing, shopping, dining, and an appreciation of Yokohama’s international history.
Hotel New Grand is one of Yokohama’s most treasured historic buildings. Since opening in 1927, it has witnessed the city’s reconstruction after the Great Kanto Earthquake, the changes of the postwar occupation period, and the development of modern Yokohama.
Its historic Main Building preserves the atmosphere of a classic international hotel, while the modern New Grand Tower provides contemporary accommodation and panoramic city views.
The hotel’s culinary heritage is equally remarkable. Doria, Napolitan spaghetti, and Pudding à la Mode are now familiar dishes throughout Japan, yet their history remains closely connected with the hotel’s kitchens.
Whether enjoying a meal at The Cafe, admiring the grand lobby, discovering the history of MacArthur’s Suite, or staying overnight, visitors can experience a distinctive part of Yokohama’s cultural heritage.
For travelers seeking to discover the historical and international character of Yokohama, Hotel New Grand is an especially memorable destination.