Japan turned a 118-year-old prison into a luxury hotel where guests sleep in converted cells
The former prison also served as a filming location for the second season of Netflix's Japanese series "Alice in Borderland."
A former Japanese prison from the Meiji era has transformed into a luxurious hotel, offering guests the chance to sleep in converted cells. The Former Nara Prison, initially built in 1908 and later designated a cultural property in 2017, reopened as the Hoshinoya Nara Prison Hotel in June 2026 under the management of Hoshino Resorts. Spanning across 25 acres, the hotel comprises 48 rooms, featuring a star-like design with five radial wings radiating from a central command post.
Each room type, with the largest being the "11-Cell Deluxe," provides a living area and dressing lounge, with nightly rates starting at $245, varying according to the season. The hotel's general manager, Masaya Kakegawa, highlighted that the establishment has been particularly popular with international tourists, as well as those interested in architecture, history, and culture.
The hotel's rooms were created by merging former prison cells, and a considerable effort was made to preserve the original architectural elements, such as hand-laid brick walls, original ceiling moldings, and hallways adorned with green wooden cell doors and ventilation hatches. The original skylights and steel reinforcement beams remain visible above the hallways, providing an authentic glimpse into the prison's past.
The transformation of the Nara prison into a luxury hotel was initially announced in 2017, and it was officially converted in June 2026. The hotel has already attracted a significant number of visitors, including international guests and architecture enthusiasts, who are drawn to its unique blend of history and modern comfort.
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