Visitors are still welcomed inside this 1,300-year-old inn in Japan—the world’s oldest hotel

Hidden away in a secluded valley in the Japanese mountains is a hotel that has been witness to over a thousand years of history. This hotel, known as Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, is known as the oldest hotel in the world, with a history spanning as far back as 705 CE.Situated in a small town called Hayakawa in Yamanashi Prefecture in the Japanese mountains, the hotel has been in business for more than 1,300 years, long before the idea of tourism was conceived. It was first opened as an inn by a member of the aristocracy known as Fujiwara no Mahito in the Keiun period of Japan’s history. It was first built around a hot spring and has been known as a destination for travelers to rest and rejuvenate in its mineral-rich waters.At the heart of the inn is its geothermal hot spring, part of Japan’s deeply rooted onsen bathing culture. The hotel’s baths are supplied by natural springs that produce nearly 1,000 litres of hot water per minute, flowing directly from underground sources. The visitors today can still soak in the indoor and outdoor baths that utilize the natural waters that have been utilized over the centuries.

Throughout the years, this inn has hosted many types of visitors with different backgrounds, such as monks, scholars, samurai warriors, and feudal lords.

Historical records show that even Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the most powerful leaders in Japanese history, is said to have visited the hot springs in search of the healing properties of the waters.Perhaps one of the more interesting aspects about this hotel’s history is its legacy in terms of family ties. Indeed, for more than 1,300 years, this hotel was run by descendants of its founder over a period of about 52 generations, making it one of the longest family businesses in the world.

In this regard, this hotel has managed to sustain Japanese hospitality values based on service excellence.

The hotel’s family legacy continued until 2017 when it was handed over to someone else since no heir came forward from the hotel’s founder’s family to run it. Despite the change in leadership, the hotel continues to honour its centuries-old traditions.While it has been in operation since the 8th century, it should be noted that it has been rebuilt and renovated several times over the centuries due to natural disasters such as fire and earthquakes, as well as modernisation efforts.

The hotel that we see today is a blend of modern facilities and Japanese architecture, with tatami-mat floors, sliding paper doors, and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.In 2011, Guinness World Records declared Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan to be the oldest hotel in the world, giving it a special place in world history.Today, when you visit this historic inn, you are privileged to be able to experience something unique—a tradition of hospitality that has been in operation for over 1,000 years! In today’s world, where businesses are having difficulty surviving for just a few decades, this beautiful resort in the mountains represents something special—a symbol of culture and tradition in Japan.