Contest #419: Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan

500 years before the Magna Carta, guests were checking into this hotel.

Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan (Koshu Nishiyama Hot Spring) is the recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records as the Oldest Hotel in the World. This establishment has been continuously operated by 52 generations of the same family since 705 CE. The “Keiunkan” part of the name comes from the fact that the hotel was founded during the Keiun era in the reign of Emperor Monmu

Front of Hotel

Hotel2

Those who found the place and checked in by themselves (before the hint) included:

And those who needed a late checkout (after the hint):

Contest #418 LeMay America’s Car Museum, Tacoma, Washington, USA

Harold LeMay owned a successful refuse company, Harold LeMay Enterprises, within the Tacoma metro area, and amassed the world’s largest private car collection. After Harold died, the city of Tacoma had some extra space next to the Tacoma Dome to house Harold’s collection. Or part of it. The place has 165,000 feet of exhibit space on four levels, cost around $100,000,000, and  opened in 2012. The collection simply has to be seen to be believed. And the architecture isn’t bad, either.

Duesenburg J convertible
Jaguar XK120 coupe

And 197 other cool photos taken in January, 2013

Those who found the museum before the hint include:

  • Lighthouse
  • steven simmons
  • Paul Voestermans
  • Garfield
  • steve willis
  • Phil Ower

And after the hint:

  • Ben S
  • Steve J
  • Jason Hattermann
  • Junebug
  • mehmet DURMUS
  • Cloudspotter
  • Max_Power
  • Robin
  • donaaronio
  • Jesus Rodriguez
  • Marisa Boraas
  • Dackelz.HP
  • Maureen
  • Gillian B
  • rob de wolff
  • Chris Bell
  • Chris Nason

Contest #417 L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Located at the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland in Canada is the site of the best known Viking settlement in North America. It was established around 1000 AD by Vikings going west from Scandanavia, Iceland and Greenland – and about 500 years before Columbus “discovered” North Anerica while he was searching for Asia.

It was determined to be a Viking settlement by two Norwegians in the 1960’s and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wikipedia

Hurstwic.org

Those who found the site of the mounds without a map:

  • steve willis
  • Maureen
  • Garfield
  • Jason Hatterman
  • Phil Ower
  • Cloudspotter
  • Lighthouse
  • Paul Voestermans
  • Max_Power
  • Steve J.

And those who needed some help:

  • Gillian B.
  • Jeff
  • Jesus Rodriguez
  • donaaronio
  • steven simmons
  • Dackelz.HP