| Akkeshi | |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Seal Type: | Emblem |
| Pushpin Map: | Japan |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Japan |
| Coordinates: | 43.05°N 195°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Japan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Hokkaido |
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture |
| Subdivision Name2: | Hokkaido (Kushiro Subprefecture) |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Akkeshi |
| Extinct Title: | Now part of |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 734.82 |
| Population Total: | 8,276 |
| Population As Of: | April 30th, 2024 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | JST |
| Utc Offset1: | +09:00 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | City hall address |
is a town located in Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaido. As of April 30th, 2024, it has a population of 8,276, and an area of 734.82 km2. Lake Akkeshi is a Ramsar Site.
Per Japanese census data,[1] the population of Akkeshi has declined in recent decades.
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]
Kokutai-ji is a Buddhist temple in Honcho which was founded in 1802. It is one of the oldest and most important temples of Hokkaido.[3] The temple is operated by Rinzai school, one of three sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism. Missionary activities to convert the Ainu started here in 1804.
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's mascot is . 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]