Sunday, April 1, 2012

網走監獄博物館(Abashini Prison Museum)







網走監獄博物館(Abashini Prison Museum),原為網走監獄,後移建至現地,作為博物館對外公開開放。博物館網走監獄由5棟呈放射狀的木造平房牢房、浴室、單人牢房等構成,便於監視的寬闊的走廊,厚厚的木門,冰冷的鐵窗,再現了當年犯人們在獄中的生活環境。館內還設有資料館,可通過當年犯人們的服刑內容瞭解開拓時期的北海道的一個側面。

Abashiri Prison was constructed in the 1890s to hold more than one thousand dangerous criminals. The prison gained national fame through a popular yakuza movie series by director Ishii Teruo in the 1960s.

Following a major modernization of the Abashiri Prison in 1984, the prison's old buildings were moved into the Abashiri Prison Museum (”Ž•¨ŠÙ –Ô‘–ŠÄ–, Hakubutsukan Abashiri Kangoku), which opened its doors to the public in 1985 as an open air museum. Note that the modernized Abashiri Prison is still in operation at the foot of Mount Tento.

The Abashiri Prison Museum illustrates the daily life of prisoners and exhibits more than a dozen buildings and structures of the old prison, including the main prison building with its five radially constructed wings, a law court, bath house and a punishment chamber.

How to get there:
Buses operate from Abashiri Bus Terminal via Abashiri Station to the museum once every 1-2 hours (10 minutes, 230 yen one way). Get off at the Hakubutsukan Abashiri Kangoku bus stop (”Ž•¨ŠÙ–Ô‘–ŠÄ–) in front of the museum. The buses operate less frequent in the shoulder seasons and not at all on weekdays in the off-seasons.

Hours and Fees:
Hours: 8:00 to 18:00 (April to October)
9:00 to 17:00 (November to March)
Admission ends one hour before closing
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 1050 yen (940 yen with an internet discount coupon)