The World’s Oldest Continuing Construction Company — Founded in 578
Did you know that the world’s oldest continuously operating construction company was founded in Japan?
Established in 578 AD, Kongo Gumi has upheld more than 1,400 years of temple and shrine construction heritage. Since the Asuka period, the company has been devoted to the construction and restoration of sacred architecture, including the iconic Shitenno-ji in Osaka.
For over four decades of leadership succession — now under its 41st generation — Kongo Gumi has preserved the highly specialized role of Shodaiku, the master carpenter serving Shitenno-ji Temple. Through wars, fires, earthquakes, and social transformation, the company has continuously rebuilt and restored Japan’s most treasured wooden structures.
Its mastery of traditional joinery techniques — intricate wooden interlocking systems assembled without nails — reflects a profound architectural philosophy rooted in precision, resilience, and spiritual aesthetics. These construction methods have demonstrated remarkable earthquake resistance, withstanding even the Great Hanshin Earthquake with minimal structural damage to key temple buildings.
Yet Kongo Gumi’s longevity is not built on tradition alone.
Its guiding philosophy is simple yet powerful:
“To preserve what must never change, we must continue to change.”
While safeguarding the craft of temple carpentry, the company has actively integrated modern construction management practices and contemporary engineering techniques. Guided by the Japanese principle of Shu-Ha-Ri — master the tradition, transcend it, and innovate beyond it — Kongo Gumi exemplifies how heritage and innovation can coexist.
Exclusive Cultural & Leadership Experience Program
We are honored to offer a rare opportunity to experience Kongo Gumi’s living legacy firsthand.
Workshop & Site Visit
Explore the carpentry workshop and processing center, guided by senior leadership and master carpenters. Observe full-scale models and witness traditional wooden joinery demonstrations that embody centuries of accumulated expertise.
Dialogue with Master Craftsmen
Engage directly with active temple carpenters. Through live demonstrations and technical explanations, participants gain insight into the philosophy, discipline, and craftsmanship that define Japanese sacred architecture.
Executive Philosophy Session
Participate in a leadership dialogue exploring Kongo Gumi’s management philosophy of continuity and adaptation. Discover how a company has survived for over fourteen centuries by balancing heritage, innovation, and long-term trust.
This exclusive program offers more than a site visit.
It is an encounter with a living corporate philosophy — one that has endured for over a millennium.
For leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries seeking sustainable growth models, Kongo Gumi presents a rare case study in resilience, legacy management, and adaptive transformation.
Join us on a journey through history — and toward the future.
Kongo Gumi Special Visit Tour
In the morning, we will visit the processing center of Kongo Gumi, widely known as the world’s oldest continuously operating company.
During the visit, you will learn about the long history of Kongo Gumi and the traditions of Japanese temple carpentry. Participants will also have the opportunity to see and touch examples of traditional wooden joinery, experiencing firsthand the craftsmanship that has supported Japanese temple architecture for more than 1,400 years.
There will also be a rare opportunity to ask questions directly to a master carpenter (Toryo). He will share insights into the philosophy of temple construction and explain how the organization has been able to continue for over fourteen centuries.
After the visit, we will move to a local restaurant for lunch.
In the afternoon, the tour continues to Shitenno-ji, a historic temple with deep ties to Kongo Gumi and one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan.
Here, you will explore the temple grounds, offer prayers, and gain a deeper understanding of the architectural and spiritual heritage that Kongo Gumi has helped preserve for generations.
The tour concludes after the visit to Shitenno-ji.