Imagine walking into a hotel where history stretches back more than 1,300 years. A place where emperors, samurai, and travellers from across Japan have rested and rejuvenated. That place exists, and it’s called Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, located in Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture. Recognised by the Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest hotel, Keiunkan has been around since the year 705 AD.
Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan: The World’s Oldest Hotel Still Welcomes Guests Today
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Keiunkan was founded by Fujiwara Mahito, the son of an aide to Emperor Tenji. Since then, it has been passed down through the same family for 52 generations. For over a millennium, they carried on the tradition of welcoming guests with warmth and care. While families across the world struggle to keep a business for even a few decades, here, the same family has run this inn for more than a thousand years. Even though management changed hands in 2017, the spirit of the place remains unchanged.
Keiunkan is a hot spring inn, or onsen ryokan. The natural hot spring water comes directly from the Hakuho Springs, flowing endlessly into the baths. The hotel has six baths in total, a mix of outdoor and indoor options, where you can soak while surrounded by mountains, forests, and the calming sound of streams.
This 1,300-year-old hotel has 37 rooms, each designed in the traditional Japanese style with tatami mats, sliding doors, and classic art. While some of them feature private open-air baths to enjoy the hot springs in complete privacy, others have a moon-viewing platform to look out over the quiet mountains under the stars.
A 1,300-Year-Old Japanese Ryokan With Eternal Springs
The food at Keiunkan is just as unforgettable as the baths. Here, you will be treated to beautifully arranged multi-course dinners that showcase the best seasonal ingredients. Each dish is prepared with care and served one by one so you can truly savour the freshness and flavour.
Staying here takes you on a journey to Japanese history and culture. Imagine waking up to the views that great rulers like Tokugawa Ieyasu and legendary samurai like Takeda Shingen once soaked in. Even modern emperors have taken baths in these same springs. Booking a stay here lets you share a tradition that has been passed down for centuries.
Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan is in the same area as Mt. Fuji, Japan’s most sacred and iconic mountain. Even though you can’t see Fuji from the hotel, the drive there takes you past some of Japan’s most breathtaking scenery. Nearby, you can also see snow monkeys at Jigokudani Monkey Park taking a dip in their own hot springs or tour ancient temples.
The charm of Keiunkan lies in its ability to make time stand still. You arrive as a modern traveller, yet you immediately feel connected to the past. And above all, the warm Japanese hospitality makes you feel at home.
For over 1,300 years, Keiunkan has welcomed everyone from kings to wanderers. Today, it continues that same tradition for you.
Cover Image Courtesy: Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan/Instagram
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