Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, Hayakawa

History & Legacy

Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest continuously operating hot spring ryokan, open since the year 705. This 5-star property has welcomed emperors, shoguns, and travelers for over 1,300 years within the Minami Alps National Park. The current building stands on the same natural hot spring source that has flowed for thirteen centuries.

Rooms & Baths

All guest rooms at Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan offer private natural hot spring baths with free-flowing mineral water from the source. Accommodations include Japanese-style tatami rooms with hinoki wood bathtubs, flat-screen TVs, and river or garden views. Each unit is air-conditioned and equipped with a fridge, electric kettle, and safety deposit box.

Dining

The ryokan serves a daily Asian breakfast and multi-course kaiseki dinners featuring locally sourced ingredients, including A5 rank Koshu beef prepared by an award-winning chef. Guests dine in private rooms assigned to each reservation, with menus that change by season and highlight regional produce. The property also offers a vending machine and a karaoke room for evening entertainment.

Wellness & Onsen

Guests have access to multiple indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, a sauna, and an open-air bath with views of the Hayakawa river. The mineral-rich waters are free-flowing from the same source that has supplied the ryokan since 705. Private baths can be reserved at the front desk for couples or families who want a private soak together.

Location & Services

Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan sits where two rivers meet in the Minami Alps National Park, near Mount Kita and the Asahi Mountain range. The hotel offers free private parking, an electric vehicle charging station, and valet parking for guests arriving by car. A shuttle service from Minobu Railway Station is available by reservation, and the 24-hour front desk provides multilingual support.

Highlights

History: Guinness World Record - oldest ryokan since 705

Rooms: All rooms with private natural hot spring baths

Dining: A5 rank Koshu beef kaiseki dinners

Wellness: Multiple indoor/outdoor hot springs & sauna

Location: Minami Alps National Park, two rivers converge

Convenience: Free parking, EV charger, shuttle service