Hotel New Grand, situated in front of Yamashita Park, symbolizes the history of Yokohama. Yokohama was a merchant town where various Westerners lived in and strode boldly along its streets 150 + years ago. Soon after the port opened, the Grand Hotel was built. It was quite famous for its view of the sea, and its restaurants, which served authentic Western dishes. But the hotel was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. The Hotel New Grand was established in 1927 - an elegant symbol of the reconstruction of Yokohama. Its first executive chef, Saly Weil, was capable of preparing all the different and popular European cuisines. While Weil was still there, General Commander of the US Military, Douglas MacArthur, stayed at the Hotel New Grand quite a few times, had fond memories of the hotel and (perhaps) of Weil’s dishes. In 1945, at the end of WWII, GHQ set up their base in Yokohama and MacArthur stayed at the hotel again for three nights.
Access: A 5-minute-walk from Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minato Mirai Subway Line.
