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Retoro Buildings and Weird Wax Dolls Excite Our Curiosity -Abashiri Prison Museum in Abashiri-

August 13th, 2016

Abashiri Prison Museum (博物館網走監獄) is one of popular sightseeing spots of Abashiri city and was opend in 1983. About 200,000 tourists come. Buildings of former Abashiri prison (旧網走刑務所) that many movies and novels were set in were removed, and rebuilt at large land of 169,264m2. There are all 38 buildings, and 4 buildings among those were designated as a national important cultural property. By the way, real iwax dolls of prisoners and guards are weird. Those sad expression and device to sometimes work were so amazing it gave me goosebumps. They carry out a free guided tour. Because there is an atmosphere that you do not know if you do not visit here, please visit here.

Goverment Building (旧網走監獄庁舎) was designated as the national important cultural property and features an interesting compromise between Eastern and Western archtectural design. Light blue is impressive. At the building, documents about prisoner and the Hokkaido development are displayed, and there are Abashiri Prison Library (網走監獄ライブラリ) and a souvenir shop, too. The movie "Birth of Abashiri Prison and the Mission (網走監獄誕生とその使命)" is released.

Former Prison Staff Quarters (旧網走刑務所職員官舎) are called "Japanese Style Single Story Row House (看守長屋)". The area of the house is 29.7521m2 and is very small. I am suprised at prison staff with a wife and 2 children that lived at the house.

Temporary Quarters (休泊所) are mobile quarters for developing roads from Abashiri to Sapporo, and another name is "Mobile Prisons (動く監獄)". A log was used as a pillow, and a prison guard knocked on the log with a hammer at the time of waking up. I think that it looks tough.

Abashiri Prison Futamigaoka Farm (二見ヶ岡刑務支所) was built on hills in the wesern part of Abashiri city in 1986. Buildings are most old wooden prison in the world and was designated as the national important cultural property. It achieved a role as an agriculture base. There is a restraunt at the building, and visitors can eat a prison meal "Kangoku-meshi (監獄飯)".

Radial 5-Winged Prison House (五翼放射状平屋舎房) has radial 5 prison and a centaral observation room with a hexagon, guards are easy to watch prisoners. It was an exact copy of a radial prison from Leuven, Belgium. The stylish retro buildins are very cool and were built in 1945 and were most large wooden prison in those days. Those buildings were designated as the national important cultural property.

Prayer Hall (教誨堂) features an interesting compromise between Eastern and Western archtectural design and has the Eastern appearance and Western interior decoration. It was built for prisoner's own salvation in 1912 and was designated as a national important cultural property. This hall is large, so many prisoners seemed to come.

Atmosphere of Abashiri Prison Museum Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Abashiri Prison Museum

Admission fee	Adult: JPY 1080. Elementary or junior high school student: JPY 540.
Parking lot	Free parking is provided (400 cars)
Business hour	From June to September 08:30-18:00, from October to April 09:00-17:00
Regular closing day	Open year all round
Telephone number	+81-152-45-2411
Home page	Home page is here
Mapcode	305 582 354*68

Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations around Abashiri Prison Museum.

Onsen Ryokan Motoyoshi(温泉旅館もとよし)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Abashiri Kanko Hotel(網走観光ホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hokuten-no-Oka Abashiriko Tsuruga Resort(北天の丘あばしり湖鶴雅リゾート)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Abashirikoso(ホテル網走湖荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Auberge Kita-no-Dan-Dan(オーベルジュ北の暖暖)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Tento-no-Sato Hotel Honjin Abashiriko(天都の郷ホテル本陣網走湖)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Pension Wani-no-Ie(ペンションわにの家)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten