The phrase “Old is Gold” is personified through the Hoshi Ryokan in Japan, which qualifies to be the oldest hotel in the world. It has a history of 1300 years of operations, facilitated through 46 generations of family ownership. The location of the hotel was revealed to a Buddhist Monk, Taicho Daishi, by a deity, who visited him in his dream state, telling him that the village of Awasu houses a subterranean hot spring blessed by The Physician of Souls himself. The fact was confirmed when the sickened villagers of Awasu were healed by the water of the Hot Spring and today the people from world over bathe in the spa at the hotel.

The hotel is complete with restaurant, spa, guest rooms, a garden, a theater, a hall, a festival foyer, and a couple of other units whose functions are only familiar to the Japanese.

Many of the rooms still retain the traditional Japanese interiors, while others have been renovated to tout a modern ambience. It also features a Hoshi Museum that is intimately linked to the region's traditional arts and crafts and has several artists display their work.

NOTE: our reader Sean wrote to us that The Hoshi Ryokan is actually the second oldest hotel in operation. It was founded in 717. The actual oldest hotel still in operation (also in Japan) is the Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan, which was founded in 705.