Prison-turned-luxury hotel to open in Nara in spring in 2026
Japan’s first “prison hotel” will open in the spring of 2026, offering amenities that its former inhabitants could only have dreamed of when it was built more than a century ago.
Unveiling plans to rehabilitate the former Nara Prison into a “top-class” luxury accommodation facility, Hoshino Resorts Inc. wants those entering the century-old prison, not to entertain any thoughts of escape, but to enjoy their stay.
Hoshinoya Nara Prison, which will accommodate paying guests in its new life, will open nearly two years later than originally planned, according to the operator, Hoshino Resorts Inc.
Nine solitary confinement cells will be converted into one guest room. A total of 48 guest rooms will be created on the first and second floors. The five detention buildings that housed inmates are arranged in a fan-shaped layout that spreads out from the center.
One of the buildings will be left as is to become a museum, which will be open to tourists and hotel guests alike. The facility with a total floor space of about 10,000 square meters will also include a restaurant and lounge.
The plans are part of a project to redevelop an area encompassing the former prison and the neighboring Konoike sports park into a tourist hub under a comprehensive agreement between the Justice Ministry, Nara Prefecture and Nara city.
“We expect that the cultural property will not only be preserved but utilized to lure visitors and create a range of ripple effects on the area,” said Nara Mayor Gen Nakagawa, who added that the collaboration of cultural and sports facilities will help entice sightseers to stay longer in Nara.
Nakagawa also said the sports park will feature a dedicated skate park for skateboarding as the sport drew public attention during the Tokyo Olympics last year. It will also be furnished with a running course.
Built in 1908, the former Nara Prison was used until 2017 to accommodate juvenile delinquents. The aging facility has been undergoing earthquake-resistance upgrades since it was shut down.
The historic building has been designated as an important cultural property by the government.
The penal institution, built in 1908, was the oldest existing prison in Japan before its closure. It was one of the five major prisons of the Meiji Era (1868-1912), with the others in Chiba, Nagasaki, Kagoshima and Kanazawa.
The initial project said the hotel would have more than 200 guest rooms and a dormitory for no-frills accommodation. The new plan is for there to be guest rooms, with a shift toward a more upmarket approach to allow for repair and development expenses, which are expected to exceed 15 billion yen ($135 million), to be covered.
Source: External
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