A National Cultural Property Reborn as a Luxury Hotel — Japan’s First Prison Hotel
Located in Nara City, the Former Nara Prison (Nara Juvenile Prison) is an architectural relic from the Meiji era. Completed in 1908 as one of Japan’s Five Major Prisons and a symbol of the Meiji government’s modernization of the penal system, it has since been designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
In the spring of 2026, this historic building will be reborn as “Hoshinoya Nara Prison,” a luxury property under Hoshino Resorts’ flagship brand “Hoshinoya.”
This project by Hoshino Resorts is expected to go beyond the framework of accommodation, serving as an experimental model that bridges cultural heritage preservation, historical education, and local tourism.
Highlights — Adaptive Reuse of a Cultural Property
This project has drawn attention as an advanced example of adaptive reuse—transforming a designated cultural property into a luxury hotel while preserving its historic structure. The facility’s most distinctive feature is how it transforms the historical “memory of space” into a modern experience, rather than merely repurposing the building.
The former Nara Prison features the Haviland System, a radial design extending from a central watchtower that combines functionality and symmetry. Respecting this original concept, seismic reinforcement and infrastructure upgrades are being implemented to maintain the integrity of the cultural asset while creating a contemporary hospitality space.
Some suites will combine multiple former cells, preserving the original walls and doors as part of an immersive experience that connects guests to the site’s history.
A museum space open to the public is also planned within the premises. This approach ensures that the building remains accessible to the community as a cultural property rather than existing solely for hotel guests.
Surroundings
The Former Nara Prison stands near major cultural landmarks such as Nara Park and Todai-ji Temple, surrounded by the city’s signature landscape where history, nature, and culture intertwine.
Access
Address: 18 Hannyaji-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Facility Overview
| Brand | Hoshinoya |
|---|---|
| Address | 18 Hannyaji-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture |
| Guest Rooms | 48 rooms |
| Building Area | Hoshinoya Nara Prison: 6,226 m² / Museum (tentative): 1,762 m² |
| Total Floor Area | Hoshinoya Nara Prison: 10,343 m² / Museum (tentative): 2,168 m² |
| Site Area | 100,478.80 m² (including museum) |
| Facilities | Restaurant, Lounge, Museum (open for day visitors) |
| Hotel Design | Azuma Environmental and Architectural Laboratory |
| Landscape Design | Onsite Planning and Design Office |
| Construction | – |
| Developer | – |
| Opening | Spring 2026 (planned) |
References:
Official Hoshinoya: https://hoshinoresorts.com/ja/brands/hoshinoya/sp/hoshinoyanaraprison
Former Nara Prison Official: https://former-nara-prison.com/index.html
Asahi Shimbun: https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASK7J4WMFK7JPQIP01K.html
