Abashiri

Located on the coast of the Sea of Okhostk on the northeast of Hokkaido island, Abashiri began life as a remote penal colony during the Meiji-era. In April 1890, over 1,000 serious offenders and political prisoners were sent to the isolated Abashiri village and forced to work on infrastructure projects connecting the area with the more populated south of the island. A dozen buildings and structures of the old prison have now been converted into a fantastic museum illustrating the daily life of these early political prisoners.

Today, Abashiri is predominantly a fishing town and like other coastal communities in Hokkaido, it is famed for its abundance of seasonal seafood available throughout the year. In winter, the sea freezes over with dramatic ice flows and sightseeing boats travelling out to the drift ice regularly depart the harbour.