is a subprefecture of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. Japan claims the southern parts of the disputed Kuril Islands (known as the Northern Territories in Japan) as part of this subprefecture.
As of March 2009, the subprefecture has an estimated population of 84,035, and an area of 3406.23 km².
Nakashibetsu Airport, the easternmost airport in Japan, is located in the town of Nakashibetsu, Shibetsu District.
History November 1897: Nemuro Subprefecture established. November 1897: Shana Subprefecture established. December 1903: Shana Subprefecture and Nemuro Subprefecture merged. August 1945: Soviet Union occupies the Kuril Islands.
Geography
Municipalities NameArea (km2)PopulationDistrictTypeMapRōmajiKanji Betsukai別海町1,320.1515,179Notsuke DistrictTown Nakashibetsu中標津町684.9824,014Shibetsu DistrictTown Nemuro (capital)根室市512.6327,109no districtCity Rausu羅臼町397.885,395Menashi DistrictTown Shibetsu標津町624.495,374Shibetsu DistrictTown
Districts in the Northern Territories
Also known as the Southern Kuril Islands (administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; see Kuril Islands dispute): NameArea (km2)PopulationDistrictTypeMapRōmajiKanjiRubetsu (Pioner)留別村1,442.822,814Etorofu District (Iturup)VillageRuyobetsu留夜別村960.273,401Kunashiri District (Kunashir)VillageShana (Kurilsk)紗那村973.31,426Shana DistrictVillageShibetoro (Rudnaya)蘂取村760.5881Shibetoro DistrictVillageShikotan色丹村253.331,499Shikotan DistrictVillageTomari (Golovnino)泊村538.565,595Kunashiri District (Kunashir)Village
Districts renounced in the San Francisco Treaty
Uruppu (Urup) Shimushiru (Simushir) Shumushu (Shumshu)
Islands Habomai Rocks Shikotan Island Kunashiri Etorofu (Iturup)
Mergers
External links Official Website