OSAKA - A luxury hotel converted from a historic former prison in the western Japan city of Nara opened Thursday, with its operator aiming to use part of the revenue from the property to help preserve the nationally designated cultural asset.

Guests will be able to enjoy the facility's rich history while staying in one of 48 spacious suites created by combining several former solitary and shared cells. Exposed brick walls and high-set windows retain traces of the building's original use.

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