Set amidst many picturesque mountain hot springs, the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Yamanashi Prefecture is recognized as the world’s oldest hotel, guesthouse and even general business, catering to everything from samurai to modern day tourists, for over a thousand years.
Originally founded in the year 705, the natural hot springs in the traditional onsen area allowed the creation of several therapeutic baths that attracted visitors and military from around the world to come and relax.
Among these patrons were several samurai and famous army commanders – shogun – giving the spa a little more notoriety.
Since its inception, Keiunkan onsen has been operated by members of the original family only over the centuries. Fifty-two different generations of descendants looked after and ran the inn, increasing space and gradually modernizing each season.
Today it is considerably larger than it was a thousand years ago, yet both the look and feel of the inn has remained surprisingly unchanged.
Despite the modern amenities, the simple and relaxing design of the surrounding spaces and mountains give the feeling of being in the year 705.
Keiunkan currently owns the Guinness World Records for the oldest hotel in the world – you can see the record here – and is now looking for another one, the world’s most productive hot springs, thanks to its new bathing area that pumps more one thousand liters of naturally heated water per minute.
For more information: Keiunkan (in Japanese and English)
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