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The oldest hotel in the world is located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan Hotel has welcomed guests for over 1,300 years and was founded in 705. This Japanese hot spring guesthouse has been run by the same family for 52 generations.
2011 Guinness World Record holders recognized it as the oldest hotel in the world. Japan also boasts the second oldest hotel in the world, Hōshi Ryokan, which is also mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records.
Japan’s long-standing business seems to stand the test of time, and perhaps the answer lies in the healing waters of the hot springs.
The 37-room guesthouse is located at the foot of the Akaishi Mountains, also known as the Southern Alps of Japan, about 140 km from Mount Fuji. Since its opening in 1316, all the hot water in the hotel has come directly from the local springs in Hakuho.
Due to the nearby hot springs, called onsen (hot springs or guest house built around hot springs), each hotel room is equipped with natural hot tubs, as well as public hot tubs that all guests can share.
Since Fujiwara Mahito first built the guesthouse, there have been several renovations over the years. a major renovation was carried out. Even after these renovations, the guesthouse has retained its traditional onsen architectural style, also contains Washitsu style elements with tatami mats and classic Japanese art and furniture.
2019 Wi-Fi is available, so guests can now use the internet. However, most guests opt for a break from electronic devices to fully experience the relaxing atmosphere, admire the spectacular views, and unwind in the thermal baths.
Japanese Ryokan (guest house), the category to which Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan belongs, originated in the 8th century, but reached its peak in the 17th century with the rise of trade between the capital Edo (now Tokyo) and the Imperial Palace of Kyoto. Many of them were built along the Tokaida road that connects these objects and became popular with merchants, officials and samurai.
One of the ways that the oldest hotel in the world has managed to function for so long depends in part on traditional architecture and traditional services. A country that suffers from many typhoons, earthquakes and receives high humidity every year, a flexible structure and regular maintenance is the key to longevity.
By the way, traditional Japanese architecture and design also play an important role.
Traditional japanese architecture
The creation of a unique style of traditional Japanese architecture began in the 8th century, however, it was fully formed only in the Edo period (17th-19th centuries). These styles have since inspired designers around the world and it’s easy to see why. Some of the key attributes of this architecture can be broken down into several key elements.
First of all, a lot of wood is used in traditional Japanese architecture. With high humidity, frequent typhoons and many earthquakes, wood has traditionally been preferred to other materials such as stone. Wood is generally available, provides more ventilation, and can be more durable in such conditions. It is also more flexible, which provides greater safety during earthquakes.
By combining these natural materials with the generally minimalist style of Japanese architecture, nature and sustainability intertwine, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
With this in mind, roofs are another key element of traditional Japanese architecture. Not only are they generally curved, wide and elongated, which makes them pleasing to the eye, but they are also designed to protect windows from rain. This allowed the windows to be open all year round to ventilate the premises, regardless of the weather, and prevent water from entering the house.
When you move into a traditional Japanese home or hotel, you can expect to see shōji (mobile screens) and fusuma (sliding doors) and tatamium mats used as a floor.
These traditional elements work together to balance or block light and create a flexible space. Sliding partitions and doors can also be easily moved according to space requirements, creating more spacious rooms or separating them as desired.
Nature is highly respected in traditional Japanese architecture. This style aims to create balance and harmony between people and their natural environment; This is still evident at Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, and perhaps that is why this guesthouse has remained so popular over the years.
Thermal waters
Hot springs or onsen, erupts below the Earth’s surface, where water is naturally heated by the Earth’s internal heat until it rises to ground level. They are usually found near areas of volcanic activity that are common in Japan.
The widely accepted definition of a hot spring is a source of warm water that flows from the ground at more than 36.7 degrees Celsius. They can sometimes be hotter than the surrounding land and air temperatures, and are sometimes called geothermal or hot springs.
The intrusion of magma near the surface heats the groundwater. Some hot springs are heated by convective circulation when groundwater penetrates to a depth of approximately 1 km or more where rock temperatures are high.
Bathing in hot springs provides health benefits, which explains why people around the world regularly go to hot mineral springs. In Japan, even animals enjoy hot springs. The macaques that live in Jigokudani Monkey Park are famous for swimming year-round in the nearby hot springs.
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