Japan’s 118-year-old former Nara Prison has been transformed into a luxury hotel, with around 500 cells converted into 48 suites. A room tour by travel creator Elona Karafin shows the property’s preserved architecture and unusual prison-inspired interiors.
What if a place once designed to confine prisoners became a luxury hotel? Japan has turned that unusual idea into reality, with a historic former prison in Nara transformed into a five-star property. The 118-year-old building, which once housed prisoners and later served as a juvenile facility, has now reopened as a luxury hotel while retaining several elements of its original architecture. A room tour shared by luxury travel creator Elona Karafin has offered social media users a glimpse inside the unusual property, prompting fascination, curiosity and questions about whether people would feel comfortable spending a night in a former prison.
From Prison To Luxury Hotel
The property, operated by Hoshino Resorts, is located inside the former Nara Prison, which was built in 1908. The historic facility was later used as a juvenile prison until 2017 and is now recognised as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
According to Karafin, around 500 former prison cells have been transformed into 48 suites, along with hotel amenities and a restaurant. Rather than completely removing the building’s past, the hotel incorporates several original features into the guest experience.
Inside The Unusual Prison Suite
In her video, Karafin takes viewers through one of the hotel’s suites, which has been created by combining around nine to 11 former prison cells into one large living space.
The suite begins with a lounge area featuring exposed red brickwork that remains in its original form from the prison’s operational days. Guests also have access to a coffee station and a minibar, with drinks included as part of their stay.
The suite also features a walk-in wardrobe, along with locally inspired gifts from Nara Prefecture, including fans, handmade socks and bags.
The bathroom has a standalone bathtub, shower and toilet, adding a distinctly modern touch to the historic setting.
Rooms That Still Reflect The Prison’s Past
One of the most striking aspects of the suite is its unusual proportions. Karafin points out that the room is considerably longer than it is wide, giving it an appearance somewhat similar to a train carriage.
The layout reflects the building’s original prison design, with several former cells combined to create larger accommodation spaces.
Another lounge area includes an old-school CD and cassette player, allowing guests to listen to music associated with the Meiji era.
The bedroom, meanwhile, has a minimalist design with a bed, soft tones and plenty of natural light.
Karafin said she initially wondered whether staying in a former prison would mean having limited natural light. However, she noted that the room receives plenty of sunlight when the weather is clear.
Preserving A Piece Of Japanese History
The transformation is not simply about creating an unusual hotel experience. Operating part of the historic property as a hotel also helps generate funds for maintaining and preserving a culturally significant building.
With historic structures often requiring considerable resources for upkeep, the hotel model allows visitors to experience the site while contributing towards its continued preservation.
The property also forms part of a broader approach to hospitality that focuses on making use of existing buildings rather than constructing hotels entirely from scratch.
Social Media Reacts To The Prison Hotel
The video shared by Elona Karafin on Instagram quickly attracted attention from viewers, with many fascinated by the idea of staying inside a former prison.
One user commented: “I am see so many spirits around you when you do the introduction. I bet some people cannot fall asleep at night here .”
Another user highlighted the importance of encouraging tourists to explore Nara instead of adding to the pressure on Kyoto, while also praising the hotel’s approach to preserving existing buildings.
The user commented: “As a Japanese person, I can say that one of the reasons we would like to encourage tourists to visit neighboring Nara is because Kyoto is currently suffering from overtourism. Hoshino Resorts, which operates this facility, is a company that makes use of existing buildings rather than constructing new hotels from scratch, and its accommodations are known for providing a certain standard of hospitality.”
A third user compared the property with another former prison that has been converted into a hotel in the UK, writing: “Last year we stayed somewhere similar in the UK called the Bodmin Jail Hotel! The exhibit alone is worth a visit! .”
The unusual transformation has left social media users divided between curiosity about the experience and questions about whether they would actually feel comfortable spending a night inside a former prison.
A Hotel Unlike Any Other
With its exposed brickwork, unusually long rooms and preserved architectural elements, the Nara property offers guests something far removed from a conventional luxury hotel.
For travellers interested in history, architecture and unusual stays, the former prison provides an experience where the past remains an integral part of the present.
What was once a place of confinement has now become a destination for travellers, offering a very different kind of stay while helping preserve a significant piece of Japanese history.