Jun 2
~
Jun 3

Tokyo Detention House Prison Festival

10:00am – 4:00pm
Free

*Note – this event is not taking place in 2019*

An unusual event that isn’t quite a festival and isn’t quite an exhibition either (as per the official event name). Instead, this is an unusual event that gets you access to a usually-off-limits area of the detention house in Katsushika ward. The aged complex has a pretty grim role as backdrop for sales of prisoner-made items from inmates across Japan, from shoes to jewelry to potatoes as well as a chance to try prison food for lunch. There’s traditional entertainment of course, and various stalls to survey. While the event takes place in the prison grounds, you won’t be able to access the prison complex itself of course, nor will any prisoners be involved.

Why is this specific prison of interest, you ask? Well… if you’re into the fashionable dark-tourism trend it may peak your interest to know that the prison has held quite the roster of high-profile offenders. Criminals like Shoko Asahara, leader of the Aum Shinrikyo cult responsible for the sarin gas attacks were held and executed here and currently Carlos Ghosn is probably the most high-profile prisoner (although not likely to be executed).

Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.

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