Pop up cards (buildings in former Nara Prison)
On 14 September, Hoshino Resort Inc. announced that it plans to open a hotel using the buildings in the former Nara Prison in spring 2026.
I visited the former Nara Prison in 2017 and subsequently created two pop-up cards (the blog at the time).
At that time, the pattern of the main building wasn’t available to download, but I have decided to publish the pattern with a few modifications.
The photo shows the modified version. [ver. 1.1]
(The image below is for reference: [ver. 1.0] created in 2017)
The basic shape has hardly changed. I made a cut in the fold line to make it easier to fold, and increased the number of connecting points a little. I also added a chimney, which I had forgotten to make.
As only the past modified version was not enough, I made another building in the former Nara Prison as a new work.
This is the medical office. This building was also built in 1908, when Nara Prison was established.
The card here is only photographs, so the pattern is not published.
Much is not known about the utilisation of the Nara Prison due to the withdrawal of the first contractor and the lack of subsequent media coverage. The company that is supposed to be carrying out the utilisation project is the “former Nara Prison Preservation and Utilisation Corporation", but there does not seem to be much media coverage of the company’s activities.
I found the aerial photos of the site taken in 2008 and 2021.
The buildings built in 1908 remain, but many of the later buildings, such as classrooms and training areas, have been demolished.
It seems that construction work is progressing, just not reported.