Ishikari Subprefecture (石狩振興局) is a subprefecture of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, located in the western part of the island. The subprefecture covers 3539.86 km2 and on July 31, 2023 had a population of 2,379,802. The subprefecture takes its name from the Ishikari River, the third longest in Japan, which flows through western Hokkaido and empties into the Sea of Japan in the city of Ishikari. There are 6 cities, three towns, and one village under its jurisdiction. Sapporo is both the capital of Hokkaido Prefecture and Ishikari Subprefecture. Shikotsu-Toya National Park is located in the southern part of the subprefecture, and Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park in the north.

Etymology

The word Ishikari comes from the Ainu language, and several theories exist as to the meaning of the name. "Ishikari" is written in the Japanese language using ateji, or kanji characters used to phonetically represent native or borrowed words. The first,, means to "stone", and the second, , means "to hunt". The meaning of the written form of Ishikari has no relationship to the meaning of word in the Ainu language.

Geography

Municipalities

Mergers

History

Transportation

Ishikari Prefecture has two airports, both serving the greater Sapporo area.