Hoshino Resorts transforms historic Nara prison into cultural museum

Hoshino Resorts has announced the opening of the Nara Prison Museum on 27 April 2026, repurposing a national heritage site into a unique cultural destination. The project will preserve the former Nara Prison, a National Important Cultural Property, and aims to create a space for reflection on history, architecture and society.

The former Nara Prison, completed in 1908, is the only surviving structure of the “Meiji Five Great Prisons,” a major modernisation project of its time. Designed by architect Keijiro Yamashita, the red-brick building was designated an Important Cultural Property in 2017 for its historical value and architectural design. It operated as the Nara Juvenile Prison from 1946 until its closure.

The new facility is based on the concept of “A Question from the Beautiful Prison.” Hoshino Resorts states the museum will offer an experience that encourages visitors to contemplate freedom and their own way of life while appreciating the building’s architecture and the disciplined environment it once housed.

The museum itself will be the main exhibit. Its distinctive red bricks were produced by inmates as part of their prison labour. The design incorporates features considerate of human rights, such as bright, naturally lit interiors illuminated by skylights.

The project is guided by world-renowned creative talent. Taku Satoh, known for his design work on products like Lotte Xylitol Gum and Meiji Oishii Gyunyu milk, serves as Art Director. “I was first drawn to the interesting prospect of turning the fascinating and valuable architecture of Nara Prison into a museum,” Satoh said. “I hope the exhibition will pose various questions to our visitors.”

Museography supervision is handled by Adrien Gardère, whose portfolio includes exhibition design for the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto and the Louvre-Lens museum in France. “Knowing and imagining the history of the Haviland system, which was deployed worldwide, and the experience of inmates in the prison provides a starting point for thinking about universal human themes,” Gardère stated.

The museum will consist of a Preservation Area, which maintains parts of the prison in their original state, and an Exhibition Area. The latter will feature three themed wings: “History and Architecture,” “Body and Mind,” which explores life inside the prison, and “Prison and Society,” which will showcase works by contemporary artists inspired by the site.

A cafe will offer food reflecting Meiji-era Western cuisine, and a shop will sell original merchandise alongside a gallery of products made in prisons across Japan. The wider site development also includes the luxury hotel “Hoshinoya Nara Prison,” which is scheduled to open during 2026.