In 1909, the first public leprosariums (sanatoriums) started in Japan, with wandering leprosy patients which included criminals.

Discussions by dietmen, officials of the Ministry of Welfare and directors of leprosariums and representatives of leprosy patients agreed on the necessity of a prison.

Matsuki Miyazaki, the director of Kikuchi Keifuen Sanatorium wrote that it was decided to build a prison at Kikuchi by majority decision of directors.

The Kikuchi Medical Prison (capacity was 75 persons) was started in March 1953, and the first director was Kikuo Yamashita.

In 1996, the function of the prison was abolished with the abolition of the leprosy prevention law.