NARA—The historical juvenile prison-turned luxury hotel here is accepting reservations ahead of June 25 when it is expected to welcome its first guests.

Hoshino Resorts Inc. made the announcement on Jan. 20, about two years after its previous target opening. The company is headquartered in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, and operates a variety of hotel brands nationwide.

Reimagining the prison, which was built in 1908, involved converting four of its five cell blocks that fan out in a half circle from the central guard tower into guest wings. All 48 rooms at Hoshinoya Nara Prison are suites.

Each suite is a combination of what used to be individual cells. For example, “The 10-Cell” connects 10 five-square-meter cells into a space that includes a bedroom, living room and bathroom.

The focus on elegance and relaxation extends to the updated design working to complement the structure’s hand-laid brick walls and high-set windows. Both features are characteristic of Meiji Era (1868-1912) architecture.

“We have engaged in dialogue with stakeholders about how we should carry the building into the future as a hotel while preserving this historic architecture,” said Masaya Kakegawa, the hotel’s general manager.

He added that the goal is to stabilize operations at an 80 percent occupancy rate within about three years of opening.

Kakegawa expressed the aim to help promote the charms of Nara city while transforming the entire area, including the hotel, into a destination for longer stays.

Base room rates without meals start at 147,000 yen ($926) per night, including tax and service charge.

A separate part of the complex will make up the Nara Prison Museum, which is scheduled to open ahead of the hotel on April 27.