is a subprefecture

Subprefectures in Hokkaido

Hokkaido Prefecture had 14 branch offices called 支庁 in Japanese, which is often translated in English as subprefectures. Normally, a subprefecture consists of a few to a dozen cities, towns, and/or villages....

 of Hokkaido

Hokkaido

, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...

, Japan. It was renamed from the earlier Abashiri Subprefecture on April 1, 2010. Abashiri Subprefecture was established in 1897.

Naming

Abashiri Prefecture was named after the subprefectural office in Abashiri

Abashiri, Hokkaido

is a city located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.Abashiri is known as the site of the Abashiri Prison, a Meiji-era facility used for the incarceration of political prisoners...

. However, the area was more commonly referred to as the , as it faces the Sea of Okhotsk

Sea of Okhotsk

The Sea of Okhotsk is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, lying between the Kamchatka Peninsula on the east, the Kuril Islands on the southeast, the island of Hokkaidō to the far south, the island of Sakhalin along the west, and a long stretch of eastern Siberian coast along the west and...

, and the name Abashiri was changed to the more commonly used Okhotsk during the administrative redivision of Hokkaido's 14 subprefectures to 9 subprefectural bureaus in April, 2010.

Cities

• Abashiri
  Abashiri, Hokkaido
  is a city located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.Abashiri is known as the site of the Abashiri Prison, a Meiji-era facility used for the incarceration of political prisoners...
  
   (capital)
• Kitami
  Kitami, Hokkaido
  is a city located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the most populous city and the commercial center in the subprefecture, although the subprefectural capital is Abashiri.Kitami is in central Okhotsk Subprefecture. The Kitami Mountains are nearby....
  
  
• Monbetsu
  Monbetsu, Hokkaido
  -External links:* *...
  
  

Towns and villages by district

• Abashiri District
  Abashiri District, Hokkaido
  is a district located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 38,013 and a population density of 25.37 persons per km²...
  
  
  • Bihoro
    Bihoro, Hokkaido
    is a town located in Abashiri District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. The name is derived from the Ainu word piporo, meaning "place of much water"....
    
    
  • Ōzora
    Ozora, Hokkaido
    is a town in Abashiri District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.Ōzora was formed on March 31, 2006 as a result of the merger of the town of Memanbetsu, and the village of Higashimokoto, both from Abashiri District....
    
    
  • Tsubetsu
    Tsubetsu, Hokkaido
    is a town located in Abashiri District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 6,102 and a population density of 9.29 persons per km². The total area is 716.60 km².-History:...
    
    
• Monbetsu District
  Monbetsu District, Hokkaido
  is a district located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.In 1869, Hokkaidō was divided into 11 provinces and 86 districts. Monbetsu was originally placed in Kitami Province....
  
  
  • Engaru
    Engaru, Hokkaido
    is a town located in Monbetsu District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 23,133 and a population density of 18 persons per km²...
    
    
  • Nishiokoppe
    Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido
    is a village located in Monbetsu District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2007, the village has an estimated population of 1,187. The total area is 308.12 km².-External links:...
    
    
  • Okoppe
    Okoppe, Hokkaido
    is a town located in Monbetsu District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2007, the town has an estimated population of 4,545 and a population density of 12.82 persons per km². The total area is 362.41 km²....
    
    
  • Ōmu
  • Takinoue
    Takinoue, Hokkaido
    is a town located in Monbetsu District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 3,320 and a population density of 4.49 persons per km². The total area is 766.89 km²....
    
    
  • Yūbetsu
    Yubetsu, Hokkaido
    is a town located in Monbetsu District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 4,950 and a population density of 14.52 persons per km². The total area is 344.35 km²....
    
    
• Shari District
  • Kiyosato
    Kiyosato, Hokkaido
    is a town located in Shari District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2007, the town has an estimated population of 4,818 and a population density of 12.96 persons per km². The total area is 402.73 km².-External links:...
    
    
  • Koshimizu
    Koshimizu, Hokkaido
    is a town located in Shari District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2007, the town has an estimated population of 5,698 and a population density of 20.42 persons per km². The total area is 287.04 km².-External links:...
    
    
  • Shari
    Shari, Hokkaido
    is a town located in Shari District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 13,036 and a population density of 18.36 persons per km². The total area is 736.97 km².-External links:...
    
    
• Tokoro District
  Tokoro District, Hokkaido
  is a district located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2005, the district has an estimated population of 16,291 and a population density of 15 persons per km²...
  
  
  • Kunneppu
    Kunneppu, Hokkaido
    is a town located in Tokoro District, Abashiri, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2007, the town has an estimated population of 5,882 and a density of 31.69 persons per km². The total area is .-External links:* in Japanese...
    
    
  • Oketo
    Oketo, Hokkaido
    is a town located in Tokoro District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 3,527 and a population density of 7.27 persons per km². The total area is 527.54 km²....
    
    
  • Saroma
    Saroma, Hokkaido
    is a town in the Tokoro District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.The name comes from the Ainu place name saro oma pet, meaning place of many miscanthus reeds.:...
    
    

External links

44.026559°N 144.260889°W