Did you know two of the oldest businesses (still in business now) are in Japan. Seriously, they are over 1,400 and 1,300 years old respectively.
Founded: 578 AD
Japanese construction company Kongo Gumi 金剛組 was the world's oldest continuously operating independent company until it was absorbed as a subsidiary of another larger construction company in 2006.
http://www.kongogumi.co.jp
Nshiyama Onsen Keiunkan 西山温泉 慶雲館 is a hot spring hotel in Hayakawa, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 705 AD, it is the oldest hotel and one of the oldest companies in operation.
http://www.keiunkan.co.jp