Abashiri Prison Museum

Overview

Abashiri Prison Museum is an open-air museum preserving and exhibiting buildings used as Abashiri Prison from the Meiji era onward. The "five-wing radial single-story cell block," opened in 1985, is the oldest prison facility in Japan and the world's oldest surviving example of a wooden penal building. This building vividly recreates the lives of inmates, offering a glimpse into the harsh labor conditions and daily lives of prisoners. The museum also features numerous exhibits and materials detailing the lives of inmates, such as tools, clothing, and meal records, providing a deeper understanding of prison life at the time. Furthermore, the prison mess hall offers a "Prison Food Experience," recreating the meals served to prisoners. This menu is based on the current meals served to inmates at Abashiri Prison, offering a unique taste of the past. Abashiri Prison Museum isn't just a history museum; it's a valuable place to learn about the harsh realities of prisons and the hardships faced by prisoners. It's a thought-provoking experience for those interested in history and culture, and also provides a platform to contemplate the role of prisons in modern society.