Abashiri, Hokkaido

Abashiri (網走市 Abashiri-shi) is a city located in Abashiri subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

Abashiri is best known as the site of the Abashiri Prison, a Meiji-era facility used for the incarceration of political prisoners. The old prison has been turned into a museum, but the city's new maximum security prison is still in use.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 42,548 and the density of 90.36 persons per km². The total area is 470.88 km².

Abashiri is located in the eastern part of Abashiri, about 50 kilometers east of Kitami. There are no tall mountains, but there are many hills.

History

• March, 1872 Abashiri Village (アバシリ村) founded, being given the name of Abashiri District in Kitami Province
• 1875 The kanji 網走村 given to Abashiri Village.
• 1902 Abashiri Village, Kitami Town, Isani Village, and Nikuribake Village, all in Abashiri District, merge to form Abashiri Town
• 1915 Notoro Village, Mokoto Village merged
• 1921 Memanbetsu Village (now Memanbetsu Town) split off
• 1931 Boundary with Memanbetsu Town modified
• February 11, 1947 Higashimokoto Village split off. Abashiri Town becomes Abashiri City

External links

• Official website in Japanese
• Wikitravel: Abashiri