Last month, my husband and I enjoyed yakuzen cuisine in Nara Prefecture again. Every time we have yakuzen, it feels like we are getting healthier.

The yakuzen dishes for March are shown in pictures below. As always, everything was excellent.

After the meal, we stopped by an old juvenile prison that is no longer used. It was built in 1908 and had been used until 2017. Because of the beautiful architecture, it's become one of our important cultural properties.

The brick wall looked very long and old. I couldn't help but imagine how many boys tried escaping to climb the wall.

It seemed like under contraction. I've heard that the former prison will transform into a hotel. Hoshino Resort purchased the building and has been currently renovating. It’s scheduled to open as a hotel in 2026, which is why the public can't enter right now.

When I peeked inside through the gate, I saw another building. That must be the juvenile facility and the future hotel. Since I'm very curious how it'll transform from a juvenile into a luxurious hotel, I'd love to visit once it opens.

If you're interested in the former juvenile prison, you can find more information here.

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