<P> Hōshi (法師) is a ryokan (Japanese traditional inn) in the Awazu Onsen area of Komatsu, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan . Founded in 718, it was once thought to be the oldest operating hotel in the world until the realization that another Japanese hotel, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, in Yamanashi, Japan, had claim to this title: it was founded in 705 . The Hoshi Ryokan has been operated by the same family for forty - six generations . </P>

Japanese hotel run by same family for 1300 years