IHG Hotels & Resorts operates 19 hotel brands with more than 6,300 hotels in over 100 countries. In Japan, IHG Hotels & Resorts currently operates about 47 hotels under seven brands from Hokkaido to Okinawa (as of March 2024). For this interview, we asked Hiroyuki Tobari, general manager of InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8, about the attractions around the hotel.
Name: InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8
Location: 2-14-1 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
–How did you come to work at InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8?
The Hotel Seiyo Ginza, where I gained experience in my youth, had 77 guest rooms and was a pioneer of what is now called a “small luxury hotel. I was invited to apply my experience to the “InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8,” another “small luxury” hotel, and in April 2024 I was appointed general manager of this hotel.
–What kind of hotel is it?
This beautiful hotel opened in 2019. It is located in a very unusual “wharf” location and is surrounded on three sides by the sea. It has 173 guest rooms and two food and beverage facilities: a restaurant and bar and a sushi restaurant. In addition, there is a spa, a gym, a courtyard where you can enjoy the greenery of the four seasons, and “Rooftop 1859,” a rooftop space overlooking the Port of Yokohama. The sound of waves, ship engines, and seagulls can be heard from the windows of the rooms, which are designed to resemble those on a luxury cruise ship. As you feel the sea breeze on your cheeks and watch the sun shine on the water, you will feel as if you are really on a cruise ship.
This is a rooftop experience available to guests during their stay. You will feel as if you are floating on the sea, reading a book, enjoying a drink, or just relaxing and enjoying the view of the ocean. In the summer, fireworks are displayed right in front of you. If your timing is right, you can even see luxury cruise ships entering and leaving port. Enjoy the spectacular view that only a pier can offer.
–please let me know if you have any personal favorites tourist spots or restaurants in the vicinity of the hotel.
I hope you will enjoy the atmosphere of the city of Yokohama. I have long thought of Yokohama as being similar to San Francisco. The Yokohama Bay Bridge is the Golden Gate Bridge, Yokohama Chinatown is Chinatown, and our restaurant and bar, Larboard, is located on Fisherman’s Wharf (……). After a stroll along the seaside, sipping seafood and beer on the terrace will make you feel like you are in an exotic city.
–What restaurant menu do you recommend?
This seasonal course features nigiri made from fresh local fish landed in Sagami Bay at Katabami Sushi Restaurant. Enjoy a conversation with the chef while dining on the exquisite nigiri in a private space with only nine seats, where you can enjoy the greenery of the courtyard through the wide-open windows. We also offer a wide selection of local sake from Kanagawa.
–What souvenirs do you recommend?
The original craft beer bearing the Pier 8 name is sold at a store in the Yokohama Grand Intercontinental Hotel, an affiliated hotel within walking distance. The beer has a light flavor and is very easy to drink, with a modern design that is typical of Yokohama. We are sure that you will be pleased to give it as a souvenir along with your memories of the port city of Yokohama.
© Source travel watch
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