Since I was born and first cried, everyone told me I will take over Hōshi Ryokan. — Zengoro Hōshi
Hōshi Ryokan is a traditional Japanese hotel, a ryokan, that has been in operation for over 1,300 years. It began in the year 718, a few years shy of being the oldest hotel- that title belongs to another Japanese hotel, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan. The hotel has been operated by one family for 46 generations.
This short video profiles the latest owner of the hotel, Zengoro Hōshi, his wife, and his daughter. It’s a fascinating look into the family that hasn’t been able to experience much beyond the walls of its hotel. The building has been rebuilt several times after the original structure has been destroyed by natural disasters. The architecture is still incredible, however, and the garden looks very tranquil. The hotel is built around natural flowing hot springs, which have not stopped flowing in all these years.
Be sure to watch the video to see for yourself, and add Hōshi Ryokan to your bucket list of places to stay while in Japan.