Abashiri Prison, Correctional facility in Abashiri, Japan
This correctional facility occupies an extensive compound in northern Hokkaido, featuring multiple buildings constructed during the Meiji and Taishō periods that showcase traditional Japanese penal architecture.
Established in 1890, this institution played a significant role in regional development through prisoner labor, including the construction of central roads connecting remote areas of Hokkaido during the Meiji era.
The site has been depicted in numerous Japanese films and serves as an educational resource about the evolution of the country's penal system and correctional practices over more than a century.
The facility operates under the Ministry of Justice and welcomes visitors from Monday to Sunday between 13:00 and 16:00, with an adjacent museum displaying historical artifacts and exhibits about prison life.
Several original wooden structures from the late 19th century have been preserved as Important Cultural Properties, including the administration building, guard towers, and cell blocks that illustrate early prison design.
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