A former prison in Japan has been converted into a luxury hotel — Business Insider
In the Japanese city of Nara, a former prison built over a century ago has been converted into a luxury hotel. The Hoshinoya Nara Prison Hotel complex opened in June after nearly seven years of renovation.
The former Nara Prison was built in 1908. In 2017, it was designated a Japanese cultural heritage site. Today, the building operates as a 48-room hotel that also houses the Nara Prison Museum.
According to Hoshino Resorts, the complex has a star-shaped layout: five prison wings radiate out from a central command post. The total area of the site is approximately 25 acres.
Hotel General Manager Masaya Kakehawa said that since its opening, the property has been particularly popular among foreign tourists and travelers interested in history, architecture, and culture.
The hotel offers three room categories. The largest of these—the “11-Cell Deluxe”—features a living room and a walk-in closet. Rates start at $245 per night, though prices may vary depending on the season.
During the renovation, most of the building’s historic elements were preserved. In particular, the hand-built brick walls, original ceiling moldings, green wooden cell doors with peepholes, ventilation openings, skylights, and steel beams have been preserved.
According to Kakehawa, the main challenge was combining historical authenticity with the comfort of a modern hotel.
“Rather than hiding its past, we wanted guests to physically experience this history as they moved through the space,” he noted.
In addition, the former Nara Prison served as a filming location for the second season of the Japanese Netflix series “Alice in Borderland.”
This was reported by Business Insider.
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