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Japan · Tokyo · Katsushika, Tokyo

Tokyo Detention House

DetentionMaximummixedDeath rowUnder capacity (60%)LowHigh
Verified · Data dated
Aging · 5mo ago
Sources last reviewed on · data-as-of

Data is aggregated from public sources and may be incomplete or out of date. Always verify with primary sources before acting on any figure. See data sources.

For families

How to send mail, money, and visit Tokyo Detention House

Step-by-step guidance using the Japan system — addresses, money services, visit booking, what to bring on your first visit.

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Photograph of Tokyo Detention House

Gallery

From Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA where not otherwise stated).

  • 2018 Tokyo Detention House.jpg

    Photo by Kakidai via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  • 4th Tokyo Detention House Exhibition - booths - oct 3 2015.jpg

    Photo by Nesnad via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  • Ayase gawa river.jpg

    Photo by 赤猫法師 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  • Detention House - old building - oct 3 2015.jpg

    Photo by Nesnad via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  • Detention House - unopenable gate - oct 3 2015.jpg

    Photo by Nesnad via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  • Kosuge Prison circa 1930.JPG

    Photo by Unknown authorUnknown author via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  • Kosuge Station feb 27 2021 various 19 30 21 562000.jpeg

    Photo by Nesnad via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

  • Kosugestationplatform-march4-2014.jpg

    Photo by Nesnad  This photo was taken with Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Holds pretrial detainees and death-row prisoners awaiting execution. Executions are carried out on site.

Capacity

3,010

Current population

1,800

Occupancy

60%

Year opened

1971

Operational

Figures from official sources · verified 29 May 2026 · methodology

Facility profile

Population held

mixed

Opened

1971

Region

Tokyo

Security level

Maximum

Death-row facility

Yes

Conditions

Death-row cells are single-occupancy. Death-row prisoners typically learn of execution only the morning it occurs.

Visiting

Visits 15 minutes, weekdays only. Pre-charge detainees may be limited to one visitor at a time; foreign nationals via consulate.

Mailing

Mail screened. Format: 〒124-0001 東京都葛飾区小菅1-35-1 東京拘置所 + name.

Practical info

Foreign consulate visits routed through the facility's foreign liaison desk.

Known issues

UN Human Rights Committee has raised concerns over the daiyō kangoku (substitute prison) system and conditions for death-row prisoners.

Notable inmates

  • Yusuke Katayama
    1982 · programmer
  • Masami Tsuchiya
    1965–2018

    Masami Tsuchiya (土谷 正実, Tsuchiya Masami; 6 January 1965 – 6 July 2018) was a Japanese convicted terrorist and senior member of Aum Shinrikyo, responsible for the deaths of a combined 19 people and for the production of sarin, VX nerve agent, PCP, and LSD.

  • Hiroshi Zōta
    1975
  • Yukiko Ekida
    1950 · medical researcher
  • Carlos Ghosn
    Carlos Ghosn
    1954 · business executive

    Carlos Ghosn (; French: [kaʁlɔs ɡon]; Arabic: كارلوس غصن, romanized: Kārlūs Ḡuṣn; Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: ['kaːrlos 'ɣosˤn], born 9 March 1954) is a businessman and former automotive executive.

  • Sanpachi Taidō
    Sanpachi Taidō
    1945 · politician

Source: Wikidata + Wikipedia.

Contact & address

1-35-1 Kosuge, Katsushika, Tokyo 124-0001
+81 3 3690 8131
Official site

Conditions Risk Score

Derived signal — not a judgement. How it's calculated

15/100
Low concern15/100
Overcrowding
0/30
Oversight reports
0/30
Structural flags
10/15
Death signals
5/15
Conditions text
0/10

What the score is responding to:

  • · Death-row facility
  • · Substantial documented known-issues record
  • · In-custody-death signal in sources

This facility scores 15. The national average across 155 scored Japan facilities is 10 — 5 points above national average.

Related facilities

All in Japan →

Same country, matched on type + security level where possible.

Compared to other facilities in Japan

154 peers
Conditions risk scorethis: 15/100 · peers avg: 5/100 (+200%)

Higher risk than 100% of peer facilities in Japan.

Occupancythis: 60% · peers avg: 54% (+12%)
Capacity (beds)this: 3010 · peers avg: 1654 (+82%)

Data completeness

100%

How many of our profile fields are populated. We surface this so families and researchers know the limits.

Sources

Cite this page

Under CC-BY-4.0. Include the URL and access date; the site is a living reference and entries can change.

APA
World Prisons. (2026). Tokyo Detention House. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://worldprisons.com/prisons/tokyo-detention-house
Chicago
"Tokyo Detention House." World Prisons. Accessed October 20, 2026. https://worldprisons.com/prisons/tokyo-detention-house.
BibTeX
@misc{worldprisons-tokyo-detention-house,
  author = {{World Prisons}},
  title = {Tokyo Detention House},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://worldprisons.com/prisons/tokyo-detention-house},
  urldate = {2026-10-20}
}