Tourism Meiji-era Nara prison to be converted into a luxury hotel

Nara Prison, constructed in 1908, is designated as an important cultural property by the central government. It was used until 2017 to accommodate juvenile delinquents. The ageing facility has been undergoing earthquake-resistance upgrades since it was shut down. "We expect that the cultural property will not only be preserved but utilized to lure visitors and create a range of ripple effects on the area," said Nara Mayor Gen Nakagawa. The plans are part of a project to redevelop an area encompassing the former prison and the neighbouring Konoike sports park into a tourist hub under a comprehensive agreement between the Justice Ministry, Nara Prefecture and Nara City.

Click to expand...

Petaris said:

I know this is Japan but, I just can't see this being that popular of an idea.

Click to expand...

salyavin said:

With some people's kinks if it came with "guards" and safe words I could imagine a certain type of person liking it.

Click to expand...

Hoshino Resorts Inc.'s Hoshinoya Nara Prison Hotel, carrying the company's luxury brand, will have 48 guest rooms. Several solitary confinement cells will be renovated and combined to make one room. A restaurant and a museum that tells the history of the former prison are also being considered for the site. The facility was completed in 1908 as one of the "five great prisons" planned by the Japanese government in the Meiji era (1868-1912). The design and historical value of the red brick building were highly regarded, and it became an important national cultural property in 2017. The building was constructed to facilitate surveillance with five cellblocks radiating from the centre guardhouse.

Click to expand...

The new museum will carry the theme "Questions from a Beautiful Prison," offering exhibitions that recreate aspects of prison life, including access to solitary confinement cells. The striking red-brick complex, originally built in the Meiji era as one of Japan's five key prisons, is an Important Cultural Property. Since its closure in 2017, four of its five radiating wings have been converted into a hotel, with one preserved as the museum. Nara Prefecture hopes the project will tackle long-standing issues in its tourism industry. Katsunori Tsuji, head of the prefecture's tourism strategy division, noted that Nara is often described as "cheap, shallow, and narrow." In 2023, visitors spent on average about 6,000 yen, compared with the national average of 9,931 yen. Less than 10% of tourists stay overnight. Most confine their trip to Nara Park. The redevelopment of the prison, located at the northern edge of the Kitamachi district near Nara Park, is seen as a way to spread visitor traffic and encourage longer stays. Tsuji explained that the prefecture has historic buildings across its territory, and that by opening the prison site, officials hope to bring attention to these lesser-known assets as well. The hotel section, to be operated under the "Hoshinoya Nara Prison" brand, will feature 48 luxury rooms, making it the first hotel in Japan adapted from an Important Cultural Property. Together with the museum, it is expected to serve as a flagship project to boost spending per visitor and reshape Nara's appeal.

Click to expand...

Link: