The north coast of Hokkaido is home to the Abashiri Prison. The original building was built in the late 1800s by the prisoners, in pretty harsh conditions. We w

The north coast of Hokkaido is home to the Abashiri Prison. The original building was built in the late 1800s by the prisoners, in pretty harsh conditions. We were told being sent there was like being banished to Siberia. It was used for Yakuza and political prisoners. We were recently in Northern Hokkaido, but didn't have enough time in Abashiri to visit the prison museum. That part of the island is nothing like the rest of Japan.