Hokkaido Abashiri Prison Museum Ticket

A glimpse into the prison of the time,
Abashiri Prison Museum

'Abashiri Prison' was a place where only people who committed serious crimes were imprisoned, so it was located in a suburban area and had the image of being a scary and dark place. If you are told that you were imprisoned in Abashiri Prison, 'How serious a crime did you commit?' And people were whispering. The ‘Abashiri Prison Museum’ is a place where you can experience ‘Abashiri Prison’ at that time. It is also the only museum where you can imagine the harsh prison life of the past.

bridge, kagamibashi

The bridge 'Kagamibashi' on the entrance to the prison uses clear flowing water as a mirror, and contains the meaning of 'Let's look at ourselves, reflect, and live righteously.' This is a bridge you must cross to enter Abashiri Prison. Imagine what it must have been like for the prisoners on the other side of this bridge to look back on their sins, reflect on their sins, live righteously, and then cross this bridge again and be released.

What to see inside

The prison has a circular structure with a guard in the center watching the cells in six directions. The general building has been preserved as it was in the past, and life-size wax figures of prisoners are on display in the construction site accommodations, punishment room, bath room, and restaurant, adding to the sense of realism.