The World’s Oldest Continuously Running Hotel Is In Japan, Operating Since 705 A.D.

If you think that the oldest hotel in the world is located in Paris, London or Rome, you are deeply mistaken. For a fact that will certainly boost your knowledge, the world’s oldest hotel is in Asia and it’s birth time will leave your jaws dropped.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, a hot-spring hotel in Japan, is the oldest hotel in the history and has been existing since 705 A.D. Existing since Located in Yamanashi, the inn has been taken care of by all the 52 descendants of Fujiwara Mahito.

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The hotel is being operated for a rough 1300 years and it was built some 300 years before the 300 years before the Vikings came to America and 225 years before the country of England was formed.

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However, as per Fortune, people who have stayed in the hotel are not varied. The guests who had the privilege to spend time in the hotel located at the foot of the South Japanese Alps, include politicians and Samurai.

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The major attraction of the Keiunkan remains its hot spring which has been there from day one.

While family experience and expertise seem to be the key behind the longevity of the hotel, it’s famous patrons include Tokugawa Ieyasu, Japan’s first shogun, and Kouken, the 46th emperor.

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Though the hotel has been kept up to date with modern amenities, the simple, calming design of the spaces and the natural mountains surrounding them make it feel as though it is still 705, says, Atlas Obscura.

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You can watch the documentary here:

The world’s second oldest hotel, Hoshi Ryokan, which opened 13 years later, also lies in Japan. Now that you know about these two ancient stays, make them a priority in your bucket list. And of course, thank us later!

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