Hoshino Resorts, with the theme of "making travel enjoyable," will open the "Nara Prison Museum" in Nara City, Nara Prefecture on April 27, 2026, as part of the preservation and utilization project for the Important Cultural Property "Former Nara Prison." The Former Nara Prison is the only surviving precious architectural structure among the five major prisons (※) planned by the Meiji government. The museum aims to preserve this historic building while serving as a base for passing on its architectural beauty and historical value to future generations. The concept is "Questions from a Beautiful Prison," aiming for a new form of museum that provides visitors with opportunities for self-reflection and life contemplation.
※The Five Major Prisons of the Meiji Era: Five prisons completed during the Meiji period. Starting with the Former Nara Prison, whose construction began in 1901, the "Nagasaki Prison," "Kanazawa Prison," "Chiba Prison," and "Kagoshima Prison" were successively completed.
About the Former Nara Prison
The Former Nara Prison was born in 1908 (Meiji 41) as a major national project aimed at modernization. The designer was Keijiro Yamashita, who was involved in the construction of numerous courts and prisons. In 1946 (Showa 21), it was renamed "Nara Juvenile Correctional Facility" and contributed as a correctional institution emphasizing social reintegration and rehabilitation education. Subsequently, its historical value and beautiful architectural design were highly acclaimed, and in 2017 (Heisei 29), it was designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
Business Development on the Premises
The Former Nara Prison premises will feature the Nara Prison Museum and an attached hotel business. The museum is divided into a "Preservation Area" that maintains buildings like the Third Dormitory and guard post in their original condition, along with three exhibition buildings and an "Exhibition Area" with an attached cafe and shop.
The museum's concept of "Questions from a Beautiful Prison" stems from the desire to provide an experience where visitors can contemplate freedom through "questions" in a space dominated by prison "discipline," alongside the beautiful architecture and the background of modernization during the Meiji era.
Three Features of Nara Prison Museum
1. The Architecture Itself as the Greatest Exhibit
The Former Nara Prison's greatest feature is its architecture incorporating Western decorative styles. Its appearance is distinguished by both grandeur and beauty. The red bricks on the premises were created by inmates as part of their prison work in collaboration with craftsmen, and the interiors feature bright spaces with light coming from the ceiling, realizing a design that considered human rights. Visitors to the museum can feel the breath of history carved into the space along with the architectural beauty.
2. World-Class Creators Supervising and Art Directing
For Hoshino Resorts' first museum business development and the establishment of a facility that deeply explores the theme of prison, participation was requested from globally active creators. Through expressions that utilize the respective expertise of both Hoshino Resorts, themed on "making travel enjoyable," and the creators, a one-of-a-kind museum that conveys the essential value of this place will be born.
3. Exhibition Structure: Encountering Multifaceted "Questions" Through Three Buildings
Visitors will explore three themed exhibition buildings, deepening "questions" from multiple perspectives.
Building A: History and Architecture
This area invites visitors to reflect on the memories carved in red brick, learning about Japan's penal system and the architectural features of Nara Prison.
Building B: Body and Mind
This area introduces prison life and rules from the perspective of inmates. By learning, imagining, and objectively observing life in prison bound by discipline, visitors approach "questions" that connect to their own way of living.
Building C: Prison and Society
This area expresses "prison" through various values and perspectives. At opening, works created by artists active domestically and internationally based on inspiration from prisons and their respective sensibilities are planned to be displayed.
The cafe will offer original curry bread, cheesecake, and local sodas reflecting the Western food culture of the Meiji era. The shop will feature original goods as well as a gallery of prison-made products from correctional facilities nationwide, which will also be sold.
[Reference Information]
■About the Agreement Between "Hoshino Resorts" and "Former Nara Prison Preservation and Utilization Co., Ltd."
Former Nara Prison Preservation and Utilization Co., Ltd. is proceeding with seismic renovation work on the red brick buildings of the Former Nara Prison and preparation for opening museum and hotel businesses based on the "Public Facility Operation Business Implementation Contract" concluded with the national government (Ministry of Justice) in December 2017. The luxury hotel "Hoshinoya Nara Prison" is scheduled to open in 2026.
■History of the Former Nara Prison
1908 Nara Prison completed
1922 "Nara Prison" renamed to "Nara Correctional Facility"
1946 "Nara Correctional Facility" renamed to "Nara Juvenile Correctional Facility"
1991 First "Nara Correctional Exhibition" held, subsequently held regularly
2008 100th anniversary of establishment
2017 Designated as Important Cultural Property, closed on March 31st
Facility Details
Name: Nara Prison Museum
Location: 18 Hannyaji-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last admission 4:00 PM)
Closed: None ※Maintenance closures may occur
Admission: Adults 2,500 yen~
Attached Facilities: Cafe & Shop
Access: About 13 minutes by bus from Kintetsu Nara Station, 5-minute walk from "Hannyaji" bus stop
URL: https://hoshinoresorts.com/nara-prison-museum/ja
Opening Date: April 27, 2026
Ticket Sales Start: February 2026 (planned)
Project Overview
Nara Prison Museum (Preservation Buildings and Exhibition Area)
Building Area: 1,860㎡
Total Floor Area: 2,463㎡
Site Area: 100,478.80㎡ (including Hoshinoya Nara Prison)
Seismic Countermeasure Construction Technical Guidance: Cultural Heritage Preservation Planning Association
Seismic Countermeasure Construction Design Supervision (General): Yasui Architectural Design Office
Seismic Countermeasure Construction Design Supervision (Seismic Reinforcement): Iijima Architectural Office
Landscape Design: Onsite Planning and Design Office
Seismic Countermeasure Construction Contractor: Toda Corporation (Osaka Branch)
Interior and Exhibition Design/Construction: Nomura Kogei-sha
