Koman (hotel)
| Sennen no Yu Koman (千年の湯古まん) | |
|---|---|
  Sennen-no Yu Koman Location within Japan | |
| General information | |
| Status | Operational |
| Architectural style | Japanese architecture |
| Location | Kinosaki, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Country | Japan |
| Coordinates | 35°37′29.8″N 134°48′19.4″E / 35.624944°N 134.805389°E |
| Opened | 717 |
| Known for | 2nd oldest hotel in the world |
| Website | |
| www | |
Sennen no Yu Koman (千年の湯古まん) is a traditional Japanese inn (ryokan) in Kinosaki, Toyooka city, Hyōgo prefecture, Japan.
Koman was founded in 717. This makes it a long-established business (shinise), the second oldest hotel in Japan - after the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Yamanashi Prefecture - and one of the oldest companies in the world.
The ryokan was established by Hiuke Gonnokami (日生下権守) and his descendants founded local bath houses in Kinosaki Onsen.[1] The establishment was passed on for over 46 generations.
The history of the ryokan is based on two historic documents: the Hiuke Family Heirloom Chronicle (Hiuke-shi Kahō Kyūki 日生下氏家宝旧記), which summarizes the history of Kinosaki Onsen, and the Mandala Chronicle (Mandara-ki 曼陀羅記), which describes the creation of the Kinosaki hot spring resort, and the establishment of Mandarayu (曼陀羅湯) hot spring. These documents have been handed down over many generations.[2]
In 708, Hiuke Gonnokami, a descendant of Hiuke family, is said to have had a dream that led to the establishment of the nearby Shisho Shrine (四所神社 (豊岡市). Then in 717, a Buddhist priest named Dōchi Shōnin (道智上人), came to the shrine to pray. He did this for 1,000 days, when he is said to have used his vajra to cause a hot spring miraculously appear.[3]
According to Koman's website, the sacred place where Dōchi Shōnin did his religious practice was called the Mandara Yashiki (曼陀羅屋敷). After that, the name of the residence became Mandara-ya (曼陀羅屋). Mandara-ya changed its name to Komandaraya (古曼陀羅屋) in the Meiji (era) (1868 – 1912) before being re-named as the current Sennen no Yu Koman (千年の湯古まん). The website notes that neighboring Mandarayu Bath (Mandara-yu まんだら湯), 80 meters to the south, is a modern establishment opened after 1868.[4]
Other sources indicate that Mandara-yu (not Mandara-ya) is renowned as one of Kinosaki’s very first hot springs.[5] The town of Kinosaki appears in various historical documents that can authenticate its founding to 720 AD.[6]
See also
[edit]- List of oldest companies – several hundred notably old companies.
References
[edit]- ^ "Over a Thousand Years of Service: Japan's Oldest Businesses Reign Supreme(ly Old)". 28 October 2014.
- ^ "城崎温泉と古まんの歴史". 20 July 2022.
- ^ "城崎温泉と古まんの歴史". 20 July 2022.
- ^ "城崎温泉と古まんの歴史". 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Kinosaki History". 20 July 2022.
- ^ "JAPAN'S BEST HOT SPRING TOWN: KINOSAKI ONSEN" (PDF). 20 July 2022.
External links
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