Credit: Yamashiro via IG @yamashirola
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L.A. is full of dazzling landmarks and legendary spots, but certainly, none of them feels as eccentrically enchanting as the beloved Yamashiro Hollywood restaurant. Perched high in the hills, it offers us a glimpse of ancient Japanese architecture and culture, just a short drive away from DTLA.
A mountain palace with a Hollywood twist
Rising roughly 250 feet above Hollywood Boulevard, Yamashiro was conceived as a private estate by the art‑loving Bernheimer brothers, who wanted a place to showcase their Asian art collection. Construction began in 1911 and wrapped up in 1914. By the 1920’s, it was a private club, and in the 60’s it became the Japanese restaurant we all know today.
Inspired by Japanese castles, they named the building Yamashiro as it literally means “mountain palace,” and every beam and tile was designed to evoke the grandeur of palace architecture from the Yamashiro region near Kyoto.
A pagoda older than the U.S.
One of Yamashiro’s most distinctive and show-stopping features is the 600‑year‑old pagoda imported from Japan. That’s right: a structure older than the country itself. Located over the Pagoda Bar and pool terrace, it’s a “living piece” of history, a rare glimpse into centuries‑old craftsmanship transported across the world.
Views, bites, and Hollywood legends 
Via Yamashiro Hollywood.
Besides its rich history and mesmerizing beauty, another main feature of the Yamashiro is it’s sprwaling 360° views of the L.A. skyline, stretching from downtown to the hills of Beverly. The unbeatable scenery is perfect to enjoy the Japanese‑inspired dishes with a California twist, such as sushi rolls, Wagyu sukiyaki, matcha soba, all paired with handcrafted cocktails.
Beyond the menu, the gardens, koi ponds, and terraces showcase Yamashiro’s architectural richness so exquisitely executed that the estate has served as the backdrop for films like Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Gone in 60 Seconds, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Sayonara.
AloJapan.com