Akkeshi, Hokkaido

Coordinates: 43°3′N 144°51′E / 43.050°N 144.850°E / 43.050; 144.850
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Akkeshi
厚岸町
Town
Flag of Akkeshi
Official seal of Akkeshi
Location of Akkeshi in Hokkaido (Kushiro Subprefecture)
Location of Akkeshi in Hokkaido (Kushiro Subprefecture)
Akkeshi is located in Japan
Akkeshi
Akkeshi
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 43°3′N 144°51′E / 43.050°N 144.850°E / 43.050; 144.850
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Kushiro Subprefecture)
DistrictAkkeshi
Area
 • Total
734.82 km2 (283.72 sq mi)
Population
 (April 30th, 2024)
 • Total
8,276
 • Density11/km2 (29/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
Websitewww.akkeshi-town.jp

Akkeshi (厚岸町, Akkeshi-chō) is a

town located in Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaido. As of April 30, 2024, it has a population of 8,276, and an area of 734.82 km2. Lake Akkeshi is a Ramsar Site
.

History

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[1] the population of Akkeshi has declined in recent decades.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
2000 12,307—    
2010 10,630−13.6%
2020 8,892−16.3%

Sights

Shinryu, the northern part of the town is linked to Honcho, the southern part, by a bridge offering a scenic view of the lagoon which separates both parts. The length of the bridge is 456 m.[2]

Japanese Buddhism. Missionary activities to convert the Ainu
started here in 1804.

Traffic connections

Akkeshi is about 50 km east of Kushiro on the east coast of Hokkaido. The town is on Nemuro Sen railway line and can be reached by train from Kushiro and Nemuro several times a day. The railway station is in Shinryu. The nearest airport is in Kushiro.

  • Akkeshi railway station
    Akkeshi railway station
  • Kokutai Ji Shrine
    Kokutai Ji Shrine
  • View from Kokutai Ji Shrine
    View from Kokutai Ji Shrine
  • Akkeshi Lagoon
    Akkeshi Lagoon
  • Town Hall
    Town Hall
  • Akkeshi High Street
    Akkeshi High Street
  • Akkeshi High Street
    Akkeshi High Street

Mascot

Umiemon, the town's mascot

Akkeshi's mascot is Umiemon (うみえもん). He is a yōkai samurai from the sea. His chonmage is stylized like a sea urchin, his eyebrows resembles kelp, his nose is like the Japanese littleneck clam and his ears are like Sakhalin surf clams. His hakama is armored with scallops. The sode (spaulders) on his hakama resembled oysters. His weapon is the saury (when he wields it, it acts like a katana to give a powerful slap to his adversaries).[4]

References

  1. ^ "Akkeshi (Hokkaidō, Japan) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information". Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  2. ^ Karl Baedeker Guide: Japan, p. 258. Ostfildern-Kemnat 1999
  3. ^ "ご当地キャラクターネーミング投票". Akkeshi.