Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

Step into Japan’s only full-scale open-air prison museum, where Meiji- and Taisho-era buildings reveal the lives of former inmates. The Abashiri Prison Museum offers a rare, immersive glimpse into Japan’s penal history.

The museum preserves iconic wooden structures from the former Abashiri Prison, including cell blocks, the administration office, and a chapel. With 8 Important Cultural Properties and 6 registered Tangible Cultural Properties, visitors can experience history firsthand.

The centerpiece is the Cell Block and Central Guard House, an Important Cultural Property. Five wooden wings radiate from a central watchtower, letting a single guard monitor all corridors. It is the world’s oldest surviving wooden radial prison and the only one in Japan. Some of the 226 cells are open to visitors, offering a glimpse into prisoner life.

Other historic buildings include the pale blue-and-gray Administration Office, the self-sustaining Futamigaoka Branch Prison, and the Kyokaido (Chapel) blending Japanese and Western styles. In the theater, a three-screen presentation recreates the grueling roadwork performed by prisoners.

Visit the Prison Cafeteria for a recreation of inmate meals. Exclusive merchandise is available at the museum shop, and Hokkaido specialties can be found at the on-site store. With history, architecture, and immersive experiences, the Abashiri Prison Museum is a must-visit in Abashiri.