HOSHINOYA Nara Prison is honored to be included in National Geographic’s Best New Hotels List 2026! Marking its inaugural launch as part of the annual Best of the World Collection, this new list celebrates standout properties that offer truly unforgettable guest experiences. This recognition celebrates the exceptional design and architectural heritage of HOSHINOYA Nara Prison—a thoughtful conversion of the former landmark facility—as well as the on-site Nara Prison Museum, which remains dedicated to honoring the site’s historic legacy.
Click here for the full list: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-of-the-world-2026/article/best-new-hotels
About HOSHINOYA Nara Prison
Newly opened in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, on June 25, 2026, HOSHINOYA Nara Prison is a 48-room luxury hotel that repurposes the former Nara Prison, an Important Cultural Property designated by the Japanese government with 112 years of history. Rooted in the spirit of the Meiji era, the hotel invites guests to experience a pivotal era of transformation — celebrating how Western influences took root, flourished, and adapted into a uniquely Japanese art of living. By offering the one-of-a-kind experience of staying within a historically significant former prison while engaging with its rich history, HOSHINOYA Nara Prison aims to create a "cycle of heritage", contributing to the preservation of this cultural asset for future generations through the power of tourism.
About HOSHINOYA Brand
Luxury hotel embodying the true characteristics of land, history, and culture
HOSHINOYA is an accommodation with distinct themes, conceptualized from each location's land, history, and culture. Woven into these distinct themes is our attention to detail in every aspect from the design to hospitality; contributing to the creation of a one-of-a-kind world of HOSHINOYA. Enrich the heart with the epiphanies of travel through a unique stay experience.
About Hoshino Resorts
Hoshino Resorts was first established as a Japanese inn/ryokan in 1914 in Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture before it began the operation of other resorts in Japan. Today, it has evolved into a highly influential hotel management company and is run by 4th-generation family member Yoshiharu Hoshino. Providing a unique experience focused on the local charms of each destination and a high level of omotenashi, Japanese-style hospitality, the company has expanded rapidly out of Karuizawa since 2001 and now operates more than 60 accommodations both in and outside Japan with one of the following categories: luxury hotel brand “HOSHINOYA,” hot spring ryokan brand “KAI,” countryside resort hotel brand “RISONARE,” city tourism hotel brand “OMO,” free-spirited hotel brand “BEB”, mountain hotel "LUCY" or other unique lodgings.
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