Japan’s first luxury hotel inside a prison

On Tuesday, Hoshino Resorts started accepting reservations for its newest luxury hotel to open in Nara on June 25, 2026. Like all of the company’s hotels, it exudes elegance. This hotel is a little different, though, as it’s the first luxury hotel in Japan to be created inside a former prison. HOSHINOYA Nara Prison promises to respect the building’s radical past while providing guests with a luxurious accommodation experience.

The “unforgettable space” of Hoshinoya Nara Prison

The hotel will have 48 rooms, which, according to the website, are “defined by high ceilings and red brick walls.” They are composed of multiple solitary confinement cells, providing “unforgettable spaces that blend historical grandeur and contemporary design.” Guests will also have better dining options than former inmates. The set menu includes Western and Japanese meals, Wagyu shabu-shabu and vegetarian kaiseki dishes.

Opened in 1908, the building has a striking layout with cells radiating out from a central observation tower, which was based on the revolutionary radial prison design of British-American architect John Haviland. It is the only surviving building among Japan’s “Five Major Prisons” built during the Meiji period. All buildings were designed by Keijiro Yamashita, and most of the brickmaking and construction work was done by prisoners.

In 1946, it was renamed Nara Juvenile Prison because all inmates were between the ages of 16 and 26. It closed as a prison in 2017 due to aging infrastructure and earthquake safety concerns. In the same year, it was designated as a national important cultural property. Plans to convert the prison into a luxury hotel were originally planned earlier, around 2020 or 2021, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed the project.

museum

In addition to the hotel, there will be a museum on site dedicated to the historical and architectural heritage of the area. It will consist of two sections: an exhibition area and a protected area, as well as a third cell area and guard station. The museum is expected to open on April 27, with adult admission prices starting at 2,500 yen. It will be open to hotel guests and the public.

For more information about Hoshinoya Nara Prison, see here.

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