World's Oldest Hotel | The Oldest Hotel Still Operating

The Oldest Hotel in the World

I have an absolute weakness for medieval taverns and inns. It got me thinking - would there be some kind of record about the oldest documented hotel in the world? And, well, yes. The oldest hotel in the world is the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan. It is a Japanese hotel that opened its doors in 705, effectively making it the oldest hotel in the world. It means the hotel has been operating for 1315 years. Its name Keiunkan derives from the Keiun period, lasting from 704 to 708 - with the hotel opening during its second year.

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The content of this video covers events, people or concepts via a lecture-style presentation that is educational and historical in nature. Every video is original content by House of History. The events relating to conflict in this video are portrayed in their historical context without either value judgment or an ideological message attached to it. There is no intent to shock, upset or disgust. The goal of my channel is to make interesting lecture-style videos, no more, no less.

The hotel lies at the foot of the Akaishi mountains in the south-east of Japan. It is surrounded by hot water springs, which even back then were considered to have healing qualities. That is probably the reason why the hotel was built there in the first place. The hotel was established by Fujiwara Mahito, the son of an aide to the 38th Emperor of Japan, Emperor Tenji. The hotel’s guest list has seen several impressive historical figures. The famous 16th-century Samurai warlord Takeda Shingen, one of the most powerful men during the Sengoku Jidai period, visited the inn. Another influential person in Japanese history is Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate that ruled Japan from 1600 until the Meji restoration in 1868.

On the wall in the hotel hangs the Guiness World Record for the oldest hotel in the world and the location and building look very cosy. Especially during autumn with the surroundings and red leaves, it seems like a proper idyllic Japanese setting. Unfortunately, I haven’t been there, but I dug up some news articles and reviews to get an idea of what it looks like inside. There are 37 rooms and a restaurant; the rooms are decorated with classic art and the hotel staff wear nibu-Shiki kimonos, traditional Japanese clothing. Because of the hot springs around the hotel, there is hot spring-water pumped into the hotel’s hot spring baths, called onsen in Japanese.

Because of the COVID crisis, more recent articles about the hotel state that they are in rough weather. Because of travel restrictions, they lost a good bunch of income, so let’s hope they will pull through because such an old hotel with this amount of history and legacy ought to be preserved.

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Photos, paintings and imagery: Public Domain, Wikicommons

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[WildBill-kfpc]

Great story. Definitely something to see. I Would love to stay in all three.

[notsosilentmajority]

I never would have imagined there would be hotels still operating that have been around for such a long time. Due to Covid creating financial issues for this world landmark, perhaps the Japanese government will step in to keep them afloat. Great video, thanks very much.

[canthama]

Wow, this is a nice break indeed, never heard of them, just wonder how much would cost a night at the oldest hotel in the world...with all that luxury in the room and the high prices that is so common in Japan...and what a beautiful location that it. Thank you Oscar.

[tombogan]

Cool subject.
Interesting place,
And fantastic photo's. Thanks.

[LucidFL]

Father to so for 52 generations? Imagine the pressure of having to continue that tradition

[DaveSCameron]

And here's me growing up believing it was our dear old nans house!

[sheilagibson]

I just learned abou this hotel, thank you.

[DardanellesBy]

Very interesting video. I didn't know this information even though I'm part Japanese and know quite a bit about Japan. Thanks for taking the time to do this presentation.

Something tells me the Yakuza will make sure none of the ancient hotels in Japan close permanently. They seem to have a way of keeping up positive PR. And if they have an opportunity to one up the government they'll certainly do it.

(I know they're an evil organization but if they have good PR then the populace won't be so loud about going after them.)

[Radioaktivitet]

Amazing story. Apparently its no longer in the family though and the actual building is only a few decades old.

[Artur_M.]

Wait a minute, something seems wrong. This has nothing to do with Prussia!
I'm kidding, It's a delightful topic. I find this system of adult adoptions of worthy heirs to the family legacy particularly interesting.

[martinMD]

I'd just love to stay there. How much per nite .

[nonoaidnono]

Did not expect to see a hotel that’s 5 minutes away from me in this video

[faydulaksono]

hi . iwant to know is there proof this inn made by fijwara mahito in 8th century?

thanks for answer

[ericamccauley]

Amazing and compliment to the Japanese, the seems always known so well how to build GOOD houses

[koltoharcos]

Actually the shogunate started in 1602.

[ThePeterDislikeShow]

Did Tokyo have an eviction moratorium? I would have loved to pay for 7 days and then ended up squatting in there for over a year!

[akihikosakurai]

1:14 bro the fujiwara clan just has their fingers in every pie don't they? So many events in Japanese history are at least somewhat connected to the fujiwara clan

[Ilovekudaliniyoga]

Ye Olde Inn in that photo is in Retford north of England which is a 17th century Inn. I know because it is where my husband is from and where we organused many events including my in laws funerals. Think you got a pocture if the wrong one!!!

[christking]

Great video. I am going to sub and starting watching all you video. History is fun and amazing. I just hope that you keep your politics out of it. To many history channels start putting their bias into their videos and ruin it. So far so good. Thanks for the info

[JenniferinIllinois]

Wait, you mean the oldest hotel isn't in Prussia? 🤣🤣🤣