Definition of Abashiri

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. It is an important local port city and railroad terminal.

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.