Abashiri is a pleasant region on Hokkaido’s
east
coast - the site of the notorious Abashiri Prison, as well
as
the dramatic drift ice off the coast.
Abashiri is a city located near Hokkaido’s northern
tip. It is
most famously known as the location of Abashiri Prison,
which was used during the Meiji-era for the
incarceration
of political prisoners. The site buildings were moved to
the
Abashiri Prison Museum, which exhibits the daily lives
of
the prisoners through the various structures there.
These
include the main prison building, law court, and
punishment chamber.
Abashiri enjoys a ruggedly beautiful coastline on the
Sea
of Okhtosk as the northern hemisphere’s southernmost
region to view drifting sea ice. The ice usually appears
around the Abashiri coastline in mid-January and
disappears again by April. February is usually
considered
the best time to view the drift ice, by means of a brisk
tour
on an icebreaker ship. The sounds of the sea under the
drift ice from this area has been designated as one of
the
Soundscapes of Japan. Due to global warming, the ice
has been in yearly decline.
Please
see
below for tours that include Abashiri: