Japan Standing in front of Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, the world's oldest hotel with a history of 1,300 years, time seems to stand still.
Deep in the mountains of Yamanashia Prefecture lies Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) with tatami floors, kimono-clad staff, and handwritten signs. Legend has it that in 705, the eldest son of Fujiwara no Kamatari, one of the most powerful clans of the time, was out for a walk when he discovered hot springs in the area. The inn was built soon after.
For over 1,300 years, many guests have visited this place, from ordinary civil servants to famous shoguns of the Tokugawa dynasty and Emperor Naruhito. In 2011, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan was recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest hotel in the world.
Panoramic view of the hotel. Photo: CNN
The Guinness certification puts Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan among the most popular accommodations in Japan for international visitors. To get there, take a bullet train from Shizuoka Station in the prefecture of the same name, then hop on and head east. The modern world is slowly leaving behind. The stations get smaller and smaller as they pass through the countryside. Some don’t even have ticket counters. The hour-long train ride offers panoramic views of Mount Fuji, rice paddies, and tile-roofed houses, if the weather is clear.
Travelers get off at Minbobu, a village of 11.00 people, and wait for a shuttle bus from their hotel. Minobu is so small that the ticket counter at the station only accepts cash and issues paper tickets – a stark contrast to Tokyo, where LED lights flood the streets and people pass through the train gates with the tap of a phone.
There are no convenience stores or fast food joints in Minobu. Instead, visitors will visit long-standing eateries in the backstreets. From here, after an hour of winding roads and deep into the mountains, the inn finally comes into view.
Dinner in the hotel Photo: CNN
Staff in kimonos greet guests and lead them to the lobby. The standard rooms at Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan have three sections: two sitting areas and a living space. The walls are hung with kakejiku, traditional Japanese scrolls depicting landscapes with the artists’ signatures written in calligraphy. The windows are so large that the view of the forest in front of them resembles a large painting that covers the entire wall. The floors are made of locally quarried stone, and the bathtubs are made of wood.
A river flows below the hotel, and the steam rising from it reminds visitors that the hotel is located on a hot spring. There are six hot springs around the hotel, four outdoors and two indoors. The two indoor hot springs require reservations if guests want to bathe.
For dinner, guests can book a private dining room with five courses and locally produced wine. The meal includes sushi, tofu and light soups followed by smoked fish, grilled meats and hot pots. Upon returning to their rooms, guests will find that the accommodations have been transformed. The living room has been turned into a bedroom with soft mattresses laid out on the floor. Pillows are perfectly positioned to give guests a view of the forest when they wake up in the morning.
Hotel manager Kenjiro Kawano believes that the secluded location has helped the hotel attract customers and keep them there for so many years. Despite its growing popularity, they have no plans to expand the hotel.
Kenjiro Kawano takes a photo at the hotel he manages. Photo: CNN
For many years, the hotel was owned by two families. But by the 52nd generation, the previous owner had trouble finding a successor because there were no relatives or descendants left to take over the business. The 53rd generation manager of the hotel is Kenjiro Kawano.
Kawano could not legally inherit the ryokan because he was not a blood relative. To solve the problem, he took over the hotel's original shares and established Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkand Co., Ltd.
Kawano joined the hotel in 1984 at the age of 25, taking on various jobs before becoming manager. “One day, I was called into my predecessor’s office. He said I was going to take over the business,” Kawano said. At the time, he was under a lot of pressure to take over a famous historical site. “It took me six months to accept the offer,” Kawano said. What worries him most now is that he may be the last generation to maintain the hotel, as no successor has been found.
"My mission is to maintain the hotel. By handing over the reins to the 54th generation manager, I am fulfilling my duty," Kawano said.
Anh Minh (According to CNN )
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