Akiu is the nearest hot spring resort in Sendai, the hub city in Thohoku region, northeastern Japan. The Akiu Hot Spring is among the three oldest hot springs in Japan. The name “Sakan” comes from a man named Kanzaburo Satoh who first started a small “ryokan” (Japanese inn) in Akiu about 1,000 years ago. His descendants
Tag100+ years old business
100+ Years Old Businesses Series – Geisha
We include Geisha as a part of this series because it does count as a business as Geisha was originally equal to female entertainers that made a living by having this unique identity. Before Geisha appeared, in the early stages of Japanese history, female entertainers who usually came from displaced families in the late 600s. Sexual
100+ Years Old Businesses Series – Sankogan, the Pill of Three Lights
The history of Sankogan can be traced back for approximately 700 years, back to the late Kamakura period. In the Yamatonokuni region in those days, the Ochi clan was one of the most important powerful families. Ochi clan’s brain is the Komeda family which was specialized in medicine and pharmaceuticals, and prescribed various drugs and
100+ Years Old Businesses Series – Maruya Hatcho Miso with 600 River Stones
Miso (味噌) is a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting soybeans with salt and koji (the fungus Aspergillus oryzae) and sometimes rice, barley, or other ingredients. It’s usually a yellow color thick paste that can be used for all kinds of cooking. Miso soup is a family meal item in an average Japanese household and
100+ Years Old Businesses Series – Foundry and Metal Work
Shinto shrines in Japan can date back to over 2000 years ago, along with the development of Buddhism temples. This sets the foundation for industries including constructions, metal work, foundry, material manufacturing and more to be developed early on in Japan’s history. Many of companies in the related industries have been adapted to modernized technologies
100+ Years Old Businesses Series – Tsuen Tea, Oldest Matcha from Uji
Uji is actually the very first city we visited in Japan. It was recommended by a friend who enjoyed the city a lot. It gave us a wonderful beginning of knowing Japan. We were so impressed by the beautiful and powerful Uji River going through the whole city. Definitely, we loved its famous local specialty
100+ Years Old Businesses Series – Sudo Honke, Oldest Sake Brewery
The history of Sudo family can be chased back to at least Year 1141. Since then the family had produced sake. It has been passing along 55 generations and gradually focusing on premium and most prestigious sake in Japan and the world. Bottles of Sudohonke are served in the residence of the Prime Minister of
100+ Years Old Businesses Series – Ichiwa, Aburi-Mochi Since Year 1000
Kyoto is famous for its Japanese traditions and culture preservation. If you would like to visit or count all the shops that are even only 100 years old, it will easily take up your whole life span. If it can be categorized as an industry, Japanese shrines or temples market is the most long-lived industry,
100+ Years Old Businesses Series – Koman the 2nd Oldest Hotel in Japan
Sennen-no Yu Koman is a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn or hotel) in Kinosaki, yōgo Onsen, Toyooka city, Hyōgo prefecture, kansai region in Japan. Kinosaki is an area of 12.04 mi². In 2005, it was merged into the expanded city of Toyooka and as of October 2010, the Kinosaki district has an estimated population of 3,778. However, in this small town, there exists the second oldest hotel in
100+ Years Old Businesses Series – Introduction
There are many reasons why we are so obsessed by Japan and its culture. One important and probably most important one is the spirit of never giving up and pushing through perfection and more perfection years after years, and centuries after centuries. This same spirit drives countless businesses in Japan to survive two world wars,