Originally Posted by
freecia
This is an old press release. Is this still on track? Oddly one of the few cases where I'd probably prefer a new hostel over a re-done hotel room. Not sure how creative one can get with the same prison cell construction though arguably, 13 sq m hotel rooms aren't that much different than a well outfitted concrete box + unit bath plumbing.
This blog post titled "Beautiful Prison: Last visit to 'Former Nara Jail' before it becomes a hotel" is dated November 30th, 2019
https://smile-log.net/nara-kangoku/
Apparently Hoshino Resort is going to convert the property. It looks like an interesting development in Japan's attitude to conservation / restoration / preservation of old buildings - I don't know the details, but it appears that we're looking at an already preserved asset that had museum status, which is now going to undergo a transformation. I can't imagine that all of the rooms are going to be 13 sq m cells ... presumably they can also convert staff accommodation and administrative spaces to rooms?
Definitely not a place that I would enjoy staying, but whatevs.