Spend a night at the most beautiful prison ever—the first "prison hotel" in Japan opens in 2020

▲ Nara Juvenile Prison is known as Japan’s most beautiful prison. (Photo / Screenshot from Wikipedia)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Japan’s only “prison hotel” is about to be born. The Japanese Ministry of Justice has announced that it will hand over the now-closed former juvenile prison in Nara to a private enterprise to be renovated and operated as a hotel, with an expected opening in 2020. In the future, visitors to Nara can not only enjoy the sight of deer but also spend a night in Japan’s most beautiful prison.

Nara Juvenile Prison was once one of Japan’s five major prisons. With its exterior built from red bricks, it was dubbed “Japan’s most beautiful prison” and designated as an important national cultural property. Unfortunately, due to structural aging, it was closed in March this year.

To revitalize this old prison, Tokyo-based hotel operator “SOLARE HOTELS & RESORTS” will take over the building. They plan to reinforce the structure by inserting steel bars without compromising the external appearance, transforming the prison into a “cultural property hotel.” The hotel is expected to have 150 rooms. Additionally, on the approximately 100,000 square meter site, another hotel featuring 80 rooms, a restaurant, and hot spring facilities will also be established.