The former Nara Prison, constructed in 1908 during Japan’s Meiji era, reopened in June 2026 as the Hoshinoya Nara Prison Hotel. Located in Nara east of Osaka, the prison was designated a cultural property in 2017. It was one of five Western-style detention facilities designed by the Meiji government and was renamed Nara Juvenile Prison in 1946, housing inmates aged 16 to 26 with vocational training programs. The prison’s full capacity was about 635 inmates before closure and redevelopment plans were announced the same year it received cultural site status.
Preserving History While Upgrading Facilities
Hoshino Resorts undertook nearly seven years of renovation to convert
the former prison into a luxury hotel. The process involved preserving many original architectural features such as hand-laid brick walls, ceiling moldings, and distinctive green wooden cell doors with inspection slots. Hallways keep elements including ventilation hatches, room numbers, skylights, and steel reinforcement beams. The largest challenge was balancing the preservation of historic elements with the installation of modern amenities suitable for luxury accommodations.
Hotel Layout and Accommodation Features
The Hoshinoya Nara Prison Hotel covers 25 acres and retains the prison’s star-shaped floor plan, with five detention wings radiating from a central command post and watch house. The complex includes the Nara Prison Museum and
Romanesque-style main gate. Guest rooms are formed by combining former prison cells. There are three types of rooms, with the largest called the “11-Cell Deluxe” featuring a living area and dressing lounge. Single-occupancy cells originally included a toilet, sink, window, and heavy wooden door without inside knobs.
Visitor Appeal and Media Connections
Since opening, the hotel has attracted international travelers and guests interested in architecture, history, and cultural heritage. The prison also served as the set for two episodes in the second season of Netflix’s Japanese series “Alice in Borderland,” where parts of the “Jack of Hearts” storyline were filmed. This connection has added to
the site’s appeal. Nightly rates at the hotel start at $245, varying seasonally.
Hotel Management and Tourism Development
Masaya Kakegawa, the hotel’s general manager, emphasized the intent to let guests physically experience the prison’s history throughout their stay. He stated, “Rather than hiding its past, we wanted guests to physically feel that history as they move through the space.” Kakegawa also highlighted the goal to shift Nara’s traditional day-trip image by promoting overnight stays, saying, “We hope this facility serves as a catalyst for shifting towards stay-based tourism, helping to showcase Nara’s full charm to the world.” The hotel is part of Japan’s broader effort
to develop cultural tourism by repurposing historic buildings while maintaining their architectural heritage.
