PRISON BY NIGHT : Light & Echoes 2026

Dates & time: December 4, 2026 (Fri) - January 31, 2027 (Sun) 18:00–21:00 (last entry 20:00)
* Not held 12–14 Jan (Tue–Thu)
Price & booking: Adults ¥3,000 / university and high school students ¥2,000 / elementary and junior high ¥1,000 / preschool children free (disability certificate holders ¥1,000). Limited early-bird tickets until 31 Oct take ¥500 off the adult price. Advance booking is recommended, and tickets are sold on asoview!. Guests staying at Hoshinoya Nara Prison don't need to book.
Venue & access: Nara Prison Museum by Hoshino Resorts Take the direct bus from Kintetsu Nara Station (about 18 min) or JR Nara Station (about 25 min) to Nara Kangoku Museum-mae, then walk 1 minute. By car, turn off Prefectural Route 44 at the intersection in front of the Nara TV headquarters building; free parking is available (90 spaces).

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Why You Should Visit

A winter-only night museum at the Nara Prison Museum, a red-brick prison complex from the Meiji era. Under the theme "At night, the prison begins to speak," the evening is built around three parts: architectural lighting that picks out the buildings in light and shadow, a light, video and sound installation in the preserved wing lined with 48 solitary cells, and a projection of messages from more than 5,000 cards sent to the Prison Postcard Project. Graphic designer Taku Satoh is art director, with nighttime staging and video by visual artist Seiichi Hishikawa. A good choice for travelers who want to see this Meiji architecture in a very different mood after dark.

Schedule

12月

日月火水木金土 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

2027年1月

日月火水木金土 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

18:00–21:00 (last entry 20:00) は祝日

Photo Gallery

1 / 4

画像出典: PR TIMES（星野リゾート）

The lit-up red-brick exterior, the installation in the preserved wing (concept image), cards from the Prison Postcard Project, and the limited-time Zenzai Hot Chocolat. Images via the Hoshino Resorts press release on PR TIMES.

Creators

Taku Satoh

Graphic designer (TSDO) and art director of the Nara Prison Museum

A graduate of the design department and graduate school of Tokyo University of the Arts, he works mainly on packaging, posters, branding for products and facilities, and corporate identity. He has been general director of NHK E-TV's Design Ah! and Design Ah! neo, and director of 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, where he has organized many exhibitions. He is president of Kyoto University of the Arts, and his honors include the Mainichi Design Award, the Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts and the Medal with Purple Ribbon.

Works

Package design for Lotte Xylitol Gum
Package design for Meiji Oishii Gyunyu milk
General director of NHK E-TV's Design Ah!

Seiichi Hishikawa

Video craft artist, photographer and art director; night-time staging and video

He began his career in the music industry and has since worked across genres, directing corporate brand films, staging fashion shows and designing spaces for art museums. Since 2022 he has been making what he calls video craft, three-dimensional video works rooted in Japanese crafts and designed to blend with light and space. His awards include Cannes Lions, D&AD, the New York ADC and the iF Design Award, and he received a special award when exhibiting at the Venice Biennale.

NOTE

Café & shop

A limited-time drink, Zenzai Hot Chocolat (sweet red bean hot chocolate), is on the menu
The café and shop are for museum visitors only

History Heritage Culture Art Illumination Winter Limited Time Date

出典: PR TIMES（星野リゾート）

Kobe · Gluten-free

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FAQ

Can I go without booking?

Advance booking is recommended by the museum. No details on same-day tickets have been announced. Guests staying at Hoshinoya Nara Prison don't need to book.

Are there any days it's not held?

It is not held on 12–14 January. On other days of the run it is open 18:00–21:00, with last entry at 20:00.

How much are tickets for children?

Elementary and junior high students pay ¥1,000, high school and university students ¥2,000, and preschool children enter free.