The oldest hotel in the world, according to Guinness World Records, is in Japan and is called Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan. This traditional inn with its hot springs and stunning views surely has endless stories to tell.
Some hotels aren't just places to spend a night or two, but historic landmarks that are destinations in their own right for visitors from every corner of the planet. One such example is the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Japan, near the iconic Mount Fuji. Having welcomed guests for 1,300 years, it's the oldest hotel in the world, according to the Guinness World Records.
The Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan is located in the famous hot springs of Yamanashi, in the same region as Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain. It was founded in AD 705 by Fujiwara Mahito and has operated continuously to this day. It's also remarkable that it has belonged to the same family for 52 generations.
To grasp the hotel's age, it's enough to consider that it began operating about 300 years before the Vikings made their landing in America and 225 years before the Kingdom of England was founded. It's even older than the city of Kyoto. Built in a tranquil and secluded place, deep in the mountains of the Kai region, the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan has hosted everyone from samurai to politicians and celebrities from around the world.
Today, the renovated hotel has 37 rooms, and what impresses visitors are the blooming gardens and the hot-spring waters that have flowed since the hotel first opened. Guests can enjoy the waters of the natural hot springs in four outdoor and two indoor baths.
The price per night in one of its rooms is about 400 euros and includes a kaiseki-style tasting dinner, that is, a menu with various dishes served in small portions and which mainly include vegetables and fish, always accompanied by sake.
