    is a subprefecture of hokkaido prefecture, japan. it was renamed from the earlier abashiri subprefecture on april 1, 2010. abashiri subprefecture was established in 1897. ==etymology== abashiri prefecture was named after the subprefectural office in abashiri. however, the area was more commonly referred to as the , as it faces the sea of okhotsk, and the name abashiri was changed to the more commonly used okhotsk during the administrative redivision of hokkaido's 14 subprefectures to 9 subprefectural bureaus in april, 2010. ==geography== thumb|300px|okhotsk subprefecture ===cities=== * abashiri (capital) * kitami * monbetsu ===towns and villages by district=== *abashiri district ** bihoro ** Åzora ** tsubetsu *monbetsu district ** engaru ** nishiokoppe ** okoppe ** Åmu ** takinoue ** yÅ«betsu *shari district ** kiyosato ** koshimizu ** shari *tokoro district ** kunneppu ** oketo ** saroma ===mergers===  ==external links== *    
2010_establishments_in_Japan Subprefectures_in_Hokkaido