World's Oldest Family Companies

It can be quite incredible for a family business to remain successful for decades especially in such competitive times like these. But believe it or not, there are certain family businesses that have thrived and remain successful through the decades (and even centuries) and still continue in operation even today. Here are the five world's oldest family companies and a bit of their history.

1. Kongo Gumi

Type of business: Construction

Country: Osaka, Japan

Founded: 578

Prince Shotoku brought the Kongo family members, who were Korean to Japan more than 1,400 years ago. They were tasked to build the Buddhist Shitennoji Temple, which still stands even today. Temple building was the business that the family has maintained over the centuries.

Not only that, the Kongo Gumi has also participated in the construction of many famous buildings, including the landmark 16th-century Osaka castle. As of December of 2006, the family owned business has been purchased by the Takamatsu Corporation when the firm fell on hard times. Its last president was Masakazu Kongo, the 40th in the Kongo family line to do so. The Kongo Gumi still continues to do business, but as a subsidiary of the Takamatsu Corporation.

2. Hoshi Ryokan

Type of business: Innkeeping

Country: Komatsu, Japan

Founded: 718

The world's oldest hotel was established about 1,300 years ago when, according to legend, the god of Mount Hakusan visited a Buddhist priest, telling him to uncover an underground hot spring in a nearby village called Awazu. When the hot spring was found and discovered to have helped many sick people who bath in its waters get well, the priest requested a woodcutter's son named Garyo Hoshi to build and run a spa on the site. Since then, the Hoshi family has maintained and ran the hotel in Komatsu, listed in the Guiness Book of World Records as the oldest operating hotel in the world. The current hotel can house up to 450 people in 100 rooms. Zengoro Hoshi is the current patriarch, the 46th member in the Hoshi family line to run the inn.

3. Chateau de Goulaine

Type of business: Vineyard, museum, butterfly collection

Country: Haute Goulaine, France

Founded: 1000

The Chateau de Goulaine is a castle that has been in the ownership of the Goulaine family since the year 1000 AD. It is operated as a museum and in addition, houses a rare butterfly collection. Some areas of the ancient estate can also be used to host various functions such as weddings. Wine is also produced at the estate and is available for sale at the castle's vineyards.

4. Fonderia Pontificia Marinelli

Type of business: Bell foundry

Country: Agnone, Italy

Founded: 1000

This ancient Bell foundry started in the small central town of Agnone, high in the Appenine hills in Italy. The foundry still uses the original wax techniques developed by its founders where a wax "false bell" is overlaid with metal to make the real thing. Some of its bells toll in New York to as far as Beijing, Jerusalem, South America and Korea, among other locations. Currently, the foundry has 20 employees that includes five members of the founding Marinelli family. Pasquale Marinelli is currently the foundry's managing director. A museum was also opened in 1997 that features the work of Pasquale's brother, sculptor Ettore Marinelli.

5. Barone Ricasoli

Type of business: Wine and olive oil

Country: Siena, Italy

Founded: 1141

The Ricasoli family was awarded ownership to their land by the Republic of Florence sometime during the 12th Century. Farming was started on their Brolio Estate which covers about 3,600 acres today. The family's main business is focused in its vineyards and wine production. In addition, about 26 acres of the estate has been marked for olive cultivation.