Former Yilan Prison

Former Yilan Prison is a preserved prison complex from the Japanese colonial period featuring traditional Japanese architecture with wooden decorative details and structural components. The entrance hall displays carefully crafted building elements that characterize the structure throughout.

The prison was established in 1898 during Japanese colonial rule and operated as a major correctional facility for many decades. It was relocated in 1992 to another township as the city expanded and evolved.

The building shows how Japanese colonial administrators organized their prison system in Taiwan through its design and layout. Walking through it reveals the specific approach they took to managing incarcerated people during that period.

The site is located near the commercial center of Yilan City and is easy to access. Visitors should plan time to examine the wooden details and layout of the preserved spaces carefully.

The preserved prison shows how its surroundings completely changed over time - it once sat outside the city and now sits within the bustling center. This transformation tells the story of how Yilan grew and changed over more than 100 years.