A ryokan is a type of traditional Japanese inn that typically feature tatami-matted rooms, communal baths, and other public areas where visitors may wear yukata and talk with the owner. They have existed since the eighth century AD during the Keiun era, which is when the oldest hotel in the world, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, was created in 705 AD. Another old ryokan called Hōshi Ryokan was founded in 718 AD and was also known as the world's second-oldest hotel. Such inns also served travelers along Japan's highways.