Companies That Have Survived A Millennium

Some businesses are over 1,000 years old and are still operating today. While most startups fold within a decade, these ancient companies have survived wars, plagues, and total shifts in global technology.

The oldest continuously operating business is Kongo Gumi, a construction firm in Japan that was founded in 578 AD. It spent over 1,400 years specializing in Buddhist temple architecture before finally becoming a subsidiary of a larger group in 2006. Many of these ancient survivors are surprisingly humble, ranging from historic hotels to traditional breweries that have served locals for centuries. Their longevity often comes from a deep commitment to a specific craft that never goes out of style.