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City in Hokkaido, Japan
Photo: (WT-en) Jpatokal at English Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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網走監獄 Abashiri Kangoku
The original buildings of the infamous prison, but moved halfway up Mt. Tento to free up some real estate. Inside are wax dolls of prisoners and a hair-raising array of shackles and other prison paraphernalia.
北方民族博物館 Hoppō minzoku hakubutsukan
A modern and moderately interesting museum documenting the lives of northern peoples around the world, not just Japan's own Ainu, but Canadian Inuit, Scandinavian Saami and many more. Most of the material is also in English and there are some fairly bizarre exhibits involving, among other things, seal intestines.
オホーツク流氷館 Ohōtsuku ryūhyōkan
A museum devoted to pack ice, a common phenomenon in the Okhotsk Sea but for some reason a subject of fascination among the Japanese. Here you will learn all you ever wanted to know and more about pack ice, and even get a chance to touch some in a room kept at -15 °C (5 °F) (coats provided).
おーろら
In winter, when the famed pack ice has surrounded the town, you can hop aboard this boat for a one-hour tour of the stuff up close and personal.
網走ビール
Like every other city in Hokkaido, Abashiri has its own microbrew. The brewery is open to visitors and also serves lunch and dinner.
網走流氷の丘ＹＨ
Offers good views of the Okhotsk Sea.
By plane
The nearest airport is Memanbetsu, 16 km south of Abashiri. Buses connect to the train station before and after flights (25 minutes, ¥880).
By train
Abashiri station is the terminus of JR Hokkaido’s Sekihoku Line (石北本線) from Asahikawa and Senmo Line (釧網本線) from Kushiro via Akan National Park.
By bus
Night buses from Sapporo (around ¥8000) are the cheapest way to get to Abashiri. Buses arrive and depart from Abashiri Bus Terminal, a short walk east from JR Abashiri Station.
Abashiri is fairly spread out. A network of buses radiates out from JR Abashiri Station.
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