Hoshino Resorts will open “Hoshinoya Nara Prison” (18 Hannyaji-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture), a luxury hotel created through the preservation and revitalization of the “Former Nara Prison”—a National Important Cultural Property—on June 25. Ahead of the opening, the hotel held a press preview on June 23 to showcase its guest rooms, lounge, dining areas, and other facilities.
As part of the preservation and revitalization project, the “Nara Prison Museum by Hoshino Resorts” opened its doors ahead of schedule on April 27. The museum showcases the history, architecture, and evolution of the penal system at the former Nara Prison. With the opening of the hotel, the museum—which previously offered only day-trip visits—will now also provide overnight accommodations.
Hoshinoya Nara Prison is the latest addition to the “Hoshinoya” brand, which offers an overwhelmingly extraordinary experience through the unique themes of each of its properties. Hoshinoya currently operates eight properties in Japan and overseas, and following the opening of Hoshinoya Nara Prison in 2026, it plans to open “Hoshinoya Asuka” in 2027.
Completed in 1908, the building is an example of modern prison architecture. It was one of the “Five Great Meiji Prisons” constructed as the Meiji government modernized the judicial system, and it still retains features such as the Haviland System—in which five cell blocks radiate out from a central guardhouse—and its red-brick exterior. It was used as the Nara Juvenile Correctional Facility from 1946 until it closed in 2017. That same year, it was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
The building was designed by Keijiro Yamashita. After studying under Kingo Tatsuno and researching prison architecture in Europe and the United States, he set out to design modern prisons in Japan. Of the five major Meiji-era prisons, Nara Prison is considered to be the only one that retains nearly its entire original appearance from the time of its completion.
The concept behind Hoshinoya Nara Prison is “Important Cultural Property at Dawn.” Rather than simply serving as a facility where visitors can experience the space of the former prison, it has been reborn as a luxury hotel that carries the charm of this historic building—a symbol of Meiji-era modernization—into the future. The property combines the imposing red-brick architecture with modern amenities and Hoshinoya’s signature, extraordinary ambiance.
At the media reception, Masaya Kakegawa, General Manager of Hoshinoya Nara Prison, provided an overview of the facility. Mr. Kakegawa described the site as “an extremely important symbol through which Japan showcased its modernization to the world.” He noted that designation as a cultural property is not an end in itself, but rather that a system is needed to preserve and pass it on to future generations through ongoing maintenance and repairs. He expressed his intention to reinvest the profits generated by the hotel’s operations into the maintenance and restoration of the cultural property.
The Preservation and Utilization Project is being carried out as a PFI project under a concession model, in which the Ministry of Justice retains ownership of the buildings while entrusting their operation to the private sector. Hoshinoya Nara Prison, as the facility responsible for hotel operations, plays a role in expanding the utilization of cultural properties to include overnight stays.
There are 48 guest rooms in total, all of which are suites. These were created by connecting nine to eleven former prison cells and renovating them into guest rooms featuring a bedroom, living room, dining area, and bathroom. The signature room type, “The 10-Cell,” is designed by connecting 10 former solitary confinement cells. It combines exposed red brick walls revealed beneath the plaster, vaulted ceilings approximately 3.5 meters high, steel columns added for seismic reinforcement, and wood paneling.
Rather than preserving the closed-off atmosphere of the former prison, the interior design creates the sense of spaciousness needed for a comfortable stay by connecting multiple spaces while making the most of the long, narrow dimensions of the cells, the high windows, and the texture of the brick walls. The living room, dining room, and bedroom are each separate, and this functional layout is utilized to give each guest room its own unique character.
In the hallway outside the guest rooms, the wooden doors that were once used as cell doors have been preserved. While the sight of the doors lined up in neat rows evokes the atmosphere of that era, the floor has been carpeted to strike a balance between preserving the cultural heritage and ensuring a comfortable stay for hotel guests. Mr. Kakegawa described this hallway as “my personal favorite spot.”
In the public spaces, the main lounge—converted from the former auditorium—is a standout feature. The high-ceilinged space features a series of exposed beams, and the arches extending from the windows create a sense of depth. Furniture, books, and art are arranged throughout the space, transforming it into “another living room” where guests can spend time apart from their guest rooms. What was once a venue for lectures and other events has been transformed into a space where guests can relax during their stay.
The dining lounge was designed as a place to enjoy pre-dinner aperitifs and evening drinks. In the evenings, we host “An Evening of Sound,” where guests can enjoy the music of a phonograph, accompanied by cocktails, whiskey, and other beverages. The courtyard features a white walking path and a private deck, which are illuminated at night with lighting inspired by moonlight.
The restaurant offers “Gastronomy Chronicle,” a dinner course that traces the history of French cuisine in Japan. Comprising four courses themed “Dawn,” “Maturity,” “Present,” and “Future,” the menu weaves together a culinary timeline—from the Meiji era, when Western cuisine first arrived in Japan, through the present, and into the future—into a single dining experience.
For breakfast, we serve the “Civilization and Enlightenment Breakfast,” a modern take on Western-style cuisine from the Meiji era. The menu features small portions of dishes that have carried over into today’s Western-style cuisine, such as Scotch eggs seasoned with Worcestershire sauce, crab cream croquettes, and fried shrimp. In addition, we offer Japanese breakfast, Western breakfast, and a light breakfast.
Activities during the stay are also themed around the Meiji era and the history of the building. Upon arrival, guests can enjoy “Akane’s Tea Salon” in the main lounge, where they’ll sample Japanese black tea from Tsukigase in Nara Prefecture. In the evening, guests can participate in “Evening Fragrance Preparations,” a perfumery workshop that offers an introduction to the culture of perfume. In the morning, inspired by the Western concept of physical education introduced during the Meiji era, guests can take part in “Morning Bell Exercises” using original bells crafted from Yoshino cedar.
Guests can enter the Nara Prison Museum by Hoshino Resorts, located on the premises, via a dedicated entrance. While the museum is open to the general public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., guests may visit free of charge during their stay. Additionally, certain areas are open exclusively to guests from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Only guests staying overnight can experience the Third Dormitory in the Preservation Area and the exhibition area during hours that differ from the usual schedule. By moving back and forth between the hotel and the museum, visitors can gain an understanding of both the architectural value of the building and the history of this unique society that was once a prison.
Hotel journalist Yumi Yamaguchi took the stage at the talk salon and presented examples of accommodations around the world that utilize heritage hotels and historic buildings. Ms. Yamaguchi explained that while the trend of converting historic buildings into hotels is spreading globally, there are few examples where the structure of a former prison is utilized even within the guest rooms. She praised the project as a globally rare example of luxuriously revitalizing the spaces of a former prison as guest rooms.
In his congratulatory remarks, Nara Prefecture Governor Machi Yamashita described the opening of Hoshinoya Nara Prison as a major turning point for tourism in Nara. Since many tourists visiting Nara are day-trippers, improving accommodation options remains a key challenge. Governor Yamashita remarked that it would not be surprising if people visited Nara solely to stay at this facility, and expressed his hope that it would serve as a base from which visitors could leisurely enjoy Nara.
Regarding collaboration with the surrounding area, Mr. Kakegawa explained that while the Nara Kitamachi area, where the facility is located, is home to a wealth of attractive tourist resources, there are still aspects that have not yet been fully utilized. He added that they are considering offering sightseeing tours by rickshaw in collaboration with nearby sites such as Hannya-ji Temple.
The building, which has been preserved as an Important Cultural Property, is not only a historic structure open to the public as a museum but is also expanding its role to welcome guests as Hoshinoya Nara Prison.
© Source travel watch