Hotel hospitality to travellers have been a feature of the earliest civilizations. In Greco-Roman culture and ancient Persia, hospitals for recuperation and rest were built at thermal baths. Japan's Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, founded in 705, was officially recognised by the Guinness World Records as the oldest hotel in the world. During the Middle Ages, various religious orders at monasteries and abbeys would offer accommodation for travellers on the road. The precursor to the modern hotel was the inn of medieval Europe, possibly dating back to the rule of Ancient Rome. These would provide for the needs of travellers, including food and
Nyūtō Onsen Nyūtō Onsen Nyūtō Onsen (乳頭温泉郷 にゅうとうおんせんきょう "Nyūtō-onsen-kyō") is a rural hot spring resort in Towada-Hachimantai National Park, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, Japan and consists of Japanese-style hot spring spas scattered around the base of Mount Nyūtō. Nyūtō Onsen is composed of seven separate accommodation facilities. This includes six ryokan inns (including the well-known Tsuru-no-yu Onsen and the innermost Kuroyu Onsen) and the Nyūtō Onsen-kyō Kyūka-mura Hotel. Additionally, a free outdoor natural hot spring ("noya") known as Ippon-matsu Onsen is on the trail of Mount Nyūtō. The site formerly hosted accommodation facilities and changing rooms which are no longer present; the