Stay overnight at the world's oldest hotel

Japan Standing in front of Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, the world's oldest hotel with a 1,300-year history, time seems to stand still.

Deep in the mountains of Yamanashia Prefecture is 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 board the train and head east. The modern world is slowly leaving behind. The stations get 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 old houses with tiled roofs, if the weather is clear.

Travelers disembark in Minbobu, a village of 11,000 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-established eateries in the back streets. 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

Kimono-clad staff greet guests and lead them to the lobby. The standard rooms at Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan have three sections: two reception areas and a living space. The walls are hung with kakejiku, traditional Japanese scrolls depicting landscapes, signed by the artists 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, the steam rising from it reminding visitors that the hotel is located on a hot spring. There are six hot springs around the hotel, four outdoor and two indoor. 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 soup followed by smoked fish, grilled meats and hot pot. When guests return to their rooms, they will find that the accommodation has been transformed. The living room has been turned into a bedroom with soft mattresses spread on the floor. Pillows are perfectly placed so that guests can look out at the forest in the morning when they wake up.

Hotel manager Kenjiro Kawano believes the secluded location has helped the hotel attract customers and keep it going 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 problems 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 would 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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