Japan’s Ancient Keiunkan Hotel

Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Japan is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest operating hotel. It remained in the same family for 52 generations and for more than 1,300 years.

That remarkable family tradition ended in 2017, when no family member was ready to take over the business. Management was entrusted to its longtime director, Kenjiro Kawano, and operations were moved to a newly created company. Keiunkan is still open and keeps its record-setting history dating back to 705.