What to know
Built in the 1890s, Abashiri Prison once held over a thousand dangerous criminals. It gained nationwide fame thanks to a popular yakuza film series from the 1960s directed by Ishii Teruo.
After a major renovation of the prison in 1984, the old buildings were relocated to the Abashiri Prison Museum (博物館 網走監獄, Hakubutsukan Abashiri Kangoku), which opened as an open-air museum in 1985. Note that the modernized Abashiri Prison still operates at the foot of Mount Tento.
The museum showcases daily prison life through over a dozen original buildings and structures, including the main prison building with its five radial wings, a courtroom, bathhouse, and punishment chamber.
Buses run from Abashiri Bus Terminal via Abashiri Station to the museum every 1–2 hours (10 minutes, 330 yen one way from Abashiri Station). Get off at the Hakubutsukan Abashiri Kangoku bus stop (博物館網走監獄) in front of the museum. Service is less frequent in shoulder seasons and not available on weekdays during the off-season.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:00)
- Closed
- December 31 and January 1
- Admission
- 1500 yen (~$9.6) (10% off with an internet discount coupon)
- English name
- Abashiri Prison Museum
- Original name
- Abashiri Prison Museum
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.