Blog

Nakano Prison ruins excavated during underground exploration in Nakano Ward, Tokyo, Japan

November 15, 2019

The ruins of part of Nakano Prison, a facility that confined political prisoners, were excavated this week (November 2019) in the process of ongoing exploration of underground objects prior to the expected sale of state-owned land to Tokyo’s Nakano Ward municipal government.

Seen in the back of the photo above is the historic brick-made Main Gate of the Nakano Prison that was demolished in 1983.

The Nakano Ward authority plans to relocate neighboring Heiwa no Mori Elementary School to that plot.

The Nakano Ward government told the municipal assembly this week that it will review its previous plan to preserve the Main Gate and study the feasibility to relocate it for 500 million yen ($4.6 million) to make the school premises more spacious.

For details: Nakano Prison Main Gate ("Peace Gate").

Sewage disposal system tour in Nakano, Tokyo, Japan on Oct. 27, 2019

October 24, 2019

An annual event to view the Tokyo metropolitan government’s sewage disposal system using biodegradation is planned at the Nakano Water Reclamation Center (中野水再生センター Nakano Mizu Saisei Center in Japanese) on Sunday, 27 October, 2019.

You may apply for the tour at the center from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oct 27, 2019. Explanations will be given only in Japanese. The event is part of the local festival “Arai Matsuri.”

The center is located just north of the historic Nakano Prison Main Gate. For information about the Gate, view the Nakano Dark Tourism website! https://mewpro.cc/dark-tourism/ 

You may also visit the CAPIC prison product shop next to the center for souvenirs. Many items with Japanese taste, made by inmates, are sold.

An underground sewage disposal facility is beneath Heiwa no Mori Park (Peace Forest Park) that is being converted by the Nakano municipal government to a sports park ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics despite strong objections from local residents.

Nakano Dark Tourism site opens! & Happy Halloween! — from Nakano Ward, Tokyo, Japan

October 22, 2019

Wishing you a happy Halloween season!
I’m Nakano-chan, a little bat from Nakano Dark Tourism. 

We’ve opened a website to guide you to exciting Dark Tourism destinations in Tokyo’s Nakano Ward.

https://mewpro.cc/dark-tourism/

Autumn is a good time to travel to Japan with comfortable temperatures now. Leaves have begun to change color. Halloween events everywhere. They say it’s the best season for sports, reading & eating in Japan.
Enjoy!