New Sanno Hotel 4.86

The New Sannō Hotel or New Sannō U.S. Force Center is located in downtown Tokyo. It offers a swimming pool, recreational facilities, a Navy Exchange, and other services designed for military travelers. The hotel is regulated and controlled by the U.S.–Japan Status of Forces Agreement. In addition to active duty and retired U.S. military personnel eligible to use other Armed Forces Recreation Centers, DoD civilian employees duty stationing in Japan, contractors on DoD orders to execute contracts for the U.S. armed forces stationed in Japan, U.S. Embassy Tokyo personnel and individuals administratively attached to U.S. Embassy Tokyo are eligible to use the hotel.HistorySanno HotelThe original Sanno Hotel opened in 1932 on the southern side of Hie Shrine in Nagatachō, Tokyo, neighboring Akasaka, near the Imperial Palace and National Diet Building. The privately owned hotel, with a Western design, was considered one of the top three accommodations in Tokyo along with the Imperial Hotel and the Dai-chi Hotel, and was frequented by government and military officials. The hotel served as the headquarters for dissident military units during the February 26 Incident in 1936.The hotel was gutted by Allied bombing during World War II. The American occupation forces took over the facility in 1946 and rebuilt it for use first as American family apartments and later as VIP and senior officers’ billeting. From 1959 to 1972, it was used as field officer lodging and from 1972 to 1975 as billeting for E-7 and above. During this time, the property remained under the ownership of Anzen Motor Car Co., its original owner, from whom the government of Japan leased the facility for use by the U.S. military.