Abashiri Prison Museum

The main attraction is the "Shabou and Central Watchtower," consisting of five buildings on the premises. The building was constructed in 1912 and you can see what it was like when it was actually used as a solitary confinement cell. The entire building is dimly lit, and it's hot in the summer and cold in the winter, so you can feel how harsh the living conditions were for the prisoners at that time. You can even step into the watchtower, making it a great spot for taking photos.

One of the popular attractions at the Abashiri Prison Museum is the "bathhouse." The inmates took baths at designated times, with everything from undressing to bathing and dressing being strictly regulated. This facility reproduces the actual bathhouse where this took place. Each wax figure has a different appearance, allowing visitors to see a realistic and immersive scene as if they were actually alive.

Within the facility, there is an area where you can see the current state of Abashiri Prison that is actually in use. You can see that the current cells have televisions and washbasins. Compared to the old government building, it has become a very modern and comfortable environment, and is a facility that takes into account the human rights of inmates. Also, the current Abashiri Prison is located about a 10-minute drive from this facility.

One recommended experience for fully enjoying the taste of Abashiri Prison is the "Prison Food Experience," where you can taste the food served to inmates at the current Abashiri Prison. Two types of prison food are available: Prison Food A (Pacific Saury) and Prison Food B (Atka Mackerel). The meals are carefully designed with a balanced nutritional value, and those who have experienced it have praised it as being unexpectedly delicious. Another feature of the inmate menu is that the rice is barley rice (3 parts barley to 7 parts white rice). The cost for both meals is 900 yen per serving.

At the Abashiri Prison Museum, educational courses are held where visitors can experience the labor work that was carried out in the prison during the Meiji period. There are three experience programs available: making straw sandals, making bird calls, and making bricks. The labor work was a necessary program to encourage the rehabilitation of inmates, and through these experiences, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of life in the prison.