Photo/Illutration An architectural rendering of the Hoshinoya Nara Prison (Provided by Hoshino Resorts Inc.)

NARA--Japan’s first “prison hotel” will open here 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. 

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. 

Multiple solitary cells will be combined to form spacious guest rooms, 48 in total. The facility with a total floor space of about 10,000 square meters will also include a restaurant and lounge.

Additionally, part of the original prison will be preserved as a museum open to tourists and hotel guests alike.

Built in 1908, the former Nara Prison was operational until 2017 when it closed due to aging.

The historic building has been designated as an important cultural property by the government.

Hoshino Resorts announced in 2022 plans to renovate the building and turn it into a luxury hotel. The company’s most luxurious hotels operate under the Hoshinoya brand.

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Solitary cells line corridors at the former Nara Prison in Nara. The photo was taken on May 31. (Makoto Ito)

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