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.
Location: Abashiri
Official opening: 1890
Website: https://moj.go.jp/kyousei1/kyousei05_00049.html
Operator: 法務省
Address: 北海道網走市字三眺 093-0088 網走市
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 13:00-16:00
Phone: +81152433167
Website: https://moj.go.jp/kyousei1/kyousei05_00049.html
GPS coordinates: 44.01658,144.23106
Latest update: November 22, 2025 12:10
This collection brings together penal institutions that have marked the history of incarceration worldwide through their architecture, detention conditions, or roles in major historical events. From the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, established in 2002 for holding individuals suspected of terrorism, to high-security facilities like Red Onion in Wise County, Virginia, these sites document the evolution of penal systems across continents. Among the institutions transformed into memorial sites, Diyarbakır Prison in Turkey stands out for its conversion into a cultural center and museum since 2019. Its 24 dormitories spread over two floors, its cells, and corridors allow visitors to explore this chapter of Turkish penal history. In Argentina, Mendoza Prison, built in the early 20th century, reflects the prison practices of that era and the development of the regional judicial system. Other facilities remain operational and raise questions about prisoners' rights and incarceration conditions. Gldani Prison in Tbilisi caused national protests in 2012 after images exposing systemic abuses were released, leading to major reforms in the Georgian penal system. Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador continues to function as a correctional center in the eastern region of the country. These sites, spread across multiple continents, provide documented insights into penal practices in various political and social contexts. From Rwanda to North Korea, passing through Colombia and the United States, they help understand the evolution of judicial and correctional systems while raising current issues related to detention and rehabilitation.
Abashiri Prison Museum
2.3 km
Moyoro Shell Midden
3.1 km
Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples
2.3 km
Eisen-ji
3.1 km
Abashiri City Folk Museum
3 km
Katsuragaoka chashi-ato
3.1 km
Abashiri Civic Hall
2.9 km
Hokkaido Okhotsk Park
3.1 km
網走感動朝市
4.1 km
Abashiri City Museum of Art
2.9 km
Abashiri Sports Park
3.4 km
Katsuragaoka Park
3.1 km
Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum
1.9 km
Mount Tento
1.9 km
夕翔
2.6 km
TAP90s
2.4 km
仰げ大宮
605 m
朝翔
2.6 km
Abashiri Shrine
3.1 km
モヨロ人漁撈の像
1.9 km
あけぼの
3.1 km
Abashiri Prison Main Gate
204 m
天都山展望台
1.9 km
Stele, memorial
601 m
Stele, memorial
473 m
地蔵堂
305 m
Memorial
2.7 km
網走消防百年記念之碑「義勇」
3.2 kmReviews
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