You Can Visit the World's Oldest Man at the Hot Springs Inn That Keeps Him Young

When 112-year-old Masazo Nonaka, now officially the oldest man alive, isn’t watching television or indulging in desserts, he can often be spotted spending time with his family at their charming hot springs inn in Japan.

Nonaka was officially recognized by Guinness World Records on Tuesday as the oldest living male, which he attributes to his time spent soaking in the country’s famed hot springs, his indulgence in desserts, and his love of watching sumo wrestling.

Nonaka was born on July 24, 1905, less than two years after the Wright Brothers launched the first power-driven flight on December 17, 1903. He has spent a fine portion of those years running his own hot springs bed and breakfast in Hokkaido, Japan along with his family.

Nonaka’s family has run the 105-year-old Yado Nonaka Onsen for four generations, eventually succeeding his parents and running the inn himself until his granddaughter Yuko took over.

The inn sits at the foot of Mount Oakan near Akan National Park, known for its pristine lakes. Here, visitors will find an open-air bath sculpted out of rocks where they can soak in sulfur springs with views of the stars in the evening.

There are also indoor bathhouses and a total of 10 rooms, all of which are pet-friendly.

Due to its volcanic terrain, Japan is home to a variety of natural hot springs across the country, both indoor and outdoor. Their waters are filled with natural minerals believed to offer relaxing and cleansing properties to bathers.

The country is known for the longevity of its residents, with those over 65 accounting for about a quarter of the total population in 2014, according to a report conducted by the University of Pennsylvania. That number is expected to rise to 41.1 percent of the total population by 2100, the report said.