NationalGeographicPersonalExplorer

The view of the city from Yamashiro Restaurant is worth a drive (or walk) up the long, winding entranceway. Yamashiro is the Japanese word for “Mountain Palace.” This hilltop dwelling sits 250 feet above Hollywood Boulevard and was built in 1914 by workers brought over from Asia. Originally, the hillside terraces featured waterfalls, 30,000 varieties of plant life, and exotic birds and monkeys. In the late 1920s, Yamashiro was “the destination” for the Hollywood elite. Unfortunately, anti-Japanese sentiment during WWII resulted in the destruction of some of the beautiful traditional landscaping and décor. Today though, much like the sparkling city it overlooks, the restaurant has been revived. Thrill-seekers will note the next-door Magic Castle, a members-only venue and academy dedicated to the “advancement of magic.” Spellbinding magic shows are offered multiple times daily—but you must be a member or have a guest card to attend.