Photo by Kit Leong on Shutterstock
High up in L.A.’s glamorous Hollywood Hills neighborhood, you’ll find an authentic Japanese pagoda dating back to the 14th century, which two brothers imported to their fanciful Asian-inspired estate in the early 1900s.
The estate is now a storied Los Angeles landmark and Japanese-inspired restaurant with a compelling past: Yamashiro Hollywood.
Here, we’ve delved into the century-long history and lore of the Hollywood icon.
What is the history of Yamashiro? The Bernheimer brothers’ Asian-inspired estate
In the early 1900s, German-born brothers Adolph and Eugene Bernheimer ran a successful New York enterprise importing Asian goods to the States. In 1911, they purchased a Hollywood knoll and began constructing an extravagant estate called “Yamashiro,” designed with a mix of Japanese and Chinese elements.
The Bernheimer brothers imported a small tiered pagoda from Japan as one of many exciting elements on the property. These days, you can still find the now 600-year-old relic next to the property’s Pagoda Bar and swimming pool. Yamashiro Hollywood asserts that the pagoda is the oldest structure in California.
Photo by Kit Leong on Shutterstock
If the ancient pagoda doesn’t tip you off as to the Yamashiro property’s ambitious design, the rest of the grounds is just as remarkable. The brothers decorated the 10-room main house with ornate teak and cedar carvings and gold lacquer and then filled it with heaps of imported Asian art. They adorned the sprawling terraces and courtyard with thousands of plants and trees, exotic animals, koi ponds, waterfalls, a cave-like “Monkey House,” and even a miniature Japanese village.
Construction finished on the Bernheimer estate in 1914, just a year after the California Alien Land Law passed. The law prohibited “aliens ineligible for citizenship” from owning or leasing land long-term, and was primarily directed at Japanese immigrants. Gimmick notwithstanding, the Yamashiro estate stood out for uplifting Asian aesthetics and design at this point in history.
Photo by Kit Leong un Shuttesrtock The 400 Club and World War II
The Bernheimer brothers enjoyed only a brief residency at Yamashiro Hollywood. They sold the estate in 1922, after which point the property held a series of curious roles.
Hollywood’s elite 400 club famously used Yamashiro as a headquarters where A-listers like Buster Collier, BeBe Daniels, or Roscoe Arbuckle mingled. It then opened to the public as a scenic tourist attraction called “Hollywood Japanese Gardens,” but with the arrival of World War II, a destructive wave of anti-Japanese sentiment swept throughout the country.
Vandals stripped many of the estate’s remaining decorative elements. The owners changed the property’s name and covered and painted over the Asian-inspired architecture. Later, the estate served as a military boys’ school and was converted into apartment units before falling into disrepair.
Photo by @yamashirola on Instagram Restoration and comeback of Yamashiro
In 1948, Thomas O. Glover bought the Yamashiro property intending to raze it to the ground. However, the story goes that Glover decided to restore the mansion to its original glory after discovering some of the original woodwork and ornate wallpaper.
Glover opened the “Hollywood Hill Club” cocktail lounge in the back of the property, which eventually grew into today’s Yamashiro Hollywood restaurant.
Movies at Yamashiro
You may recognize Yamashiro Hollywood from its distinctive cameos in Kill Bill, Memoirs of a Geisha, Gone in 60 Seconds, Sayonara, Perry Mason, and many more films and TV shows.
Yamashiro Hollywood Restaurant
The famed hilltop restaurant is now widely regarded as one of the most beautiful restaurants in Los Angeles, serving delicious Japanese-inspired cuisine. Yamashiro Hollywood’s menu is extensive, encompassing everything from bountiful brunch to tenderloin steaks and handcrafted cocktails. Celebrities and locals alike look forward to an exquisite sushi meal in the splendid garden setting overlooking the L.A. skyline.
📍 Location: Hollywood Hills Hotel – 1999 N Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
🕜 Hours: The restaurant is open daily for dinner service from 5-11 PM, and on weekends for lunch from 11 am-2:30 PM.
🍽️ Reservations: Yamashiro Hollywood