Hoshino Resorts to Open Luxury Hotel in Former Nara Prison

On January 20, Hoshino Resorts announced that it will open a hotel developed from a former prison on June 25. The property is located in Nara City and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.

The company had previously revealed that the hotel would operate under its flagship luxury brand, HOSHINOYA. Hoshino Resorts also announced bold room rates starting at approximately ¥150,000 JPY (around $970 USD) per night.

In addition, a museum attached to the hotel will open on April 27 ahead of the hotel's launch with the aim of increasing overnight stays in Nara Prefecture, which has long faced challenges in attracting lodging visitors.

*Living area of a guest room at HOSHINOYA Nara Prison. (Courtesy of Hoshino Resorts)*

A Historic Prison Reborn

The former Nara Prison was completed in 1908 during the Meiji era. Until its closure in March 2017, when it was operating as the Nara Juvenile Prison, about 700 inmates had been housed there. It is the only surviving example among the so-called Five Major Meiji Prisons, facilities built to modernize Japan's prison system. Its Romanesque-style red-brick architecture possesses both an unexpected beauty and an imposing presence.

The site has been developed as a tourism asset, with revenue used to help fund the building's preservation. At an online press conference held the same day, Hoshino Resorts CEO Yoshiharu Hoshino said, "This is a new initiative to maintain and preserve Japan's Important Cultural Properties through the economic power of tourism. The opening is not the goal, but the starting point."

*Floor plan of a guest room at HOSHINOYA Nara Prison, showing a suite created by combining 10 former prison cells. (Courtesy of Hoshino Resorts)*

Guest Rooms and Facilities

The hotel has transformed 500 former prison cells into 48 guest rooms. It will offer three room types, each measuring between 50 and 70 square meters, all designed as suite-style accommodations with separate bedrooms, living areas, dining spaces, and bathrooms. Room rates start at ¥147,000 per night per room (including tax and service charge). The hotel will also feature a French restaurant.

*Dining area of a guest room at HOSHINOYA Nara Prison. (Courtesy of Hoshino Resorts)*

Nara's Tourism Challenges

According to a survey by the Japan Tourism Agency, Nara Prefecture recorded a total of 2,834,450 overnight guests in 2024, ranking fourth from the bottom among all prefectures for the third consecutive year. Although Nara is close to Kyoto and Osaka, which draw many international visitors, most tourists come only for day trips and spend relatively little.

Nobuya Kakegawa, General Manager of HOSHINOYA Nara Prison, said these tourism challenges are becoming increasingly evident. Referring to the new hotel, he stated, "It will be among the world's leading luxury hotels," and expressed hope that it would help transform the entire area into a destination for extended stays.

(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: Keiko Tamura, The Sankei Shimbun