The former Nara Prison, built in 1908 and designated a cultural property in Japan in 2017, reopened in June 2026 as Hoshinoya Nara Prison Hotel, a luxury hotel operated by Hoshino Resorts. Originally designed as one of the first Western-style detention facilities in the Meiji era, the prison later became a juvenile facility housing inmates aged 16 to 26.
The hotel conversion took nearly seven years, with the primary challenge being to preserve the original prison’s architectural elements while creating a comfortable luxury environment. The complex spans 25 acres in Nara, east of Osaka, and retains its Romanesque-style main gate,
a central watch house, and five detention wings arranged in a star-like layout from a central command post.
Guest rooms are formed by combining former prison cells into three types, including the “11-Cell Deluxe” which features a living area and dressing lounge. The single-occupancy cells retain original elements such as hand-laid brick walls, ceiling moldings, green wooden cell doors with inspection slots, ventilation hatches, room numbers, original skylights, toilets, sinks, and secure wooden doors that cannot be opened from inside, even when unlocked.
Nara has traditionally been a day-trip destination from nearby cities. Hoshinoya Nara Prison Hotel aims to promote
overnight stays in the area, leveraging the location’s historical and cultural value. The prison complex also includes the Nara Prison Museum, enhancing the heritage experience offered to guests.
Since reopening, the hotel has drawn international tourists interested in architecture, history, and culture. The site served as a filming location for two episodes of the Netflix Japanese series “Alice in Borderland” season two, specifically in the “Jack of Hearts” arc, where the story features a character trapped in a penitentiary.
Hotel general manager Masaya Kakegawa said, “Rather than hiding its past, we wanted guests to physically feel that history as they
move through the space.” He added, “We hope this facility serves as a catalyst for shifting towards stay-based tourism, helping to showcase Nara’s full charm to the world.”
Nightly rates at the Hoshinoya Nara Prison Hotel start at $245, though prices vary by season. The prison originally housed approximately 635 inmates before its closure and transformation into a hotel.
