The subprefecture covers 3,539.86 square kilometres (1,366.75 sq mi) and on July 31, 2023 had a population of 2,379,802.

Sapporo is both the capital of Hokkaido Prefecture and Ishikari Subprefecture.

[2] The word Ishikari comes from the Ainu language, and several theories exist as to the meaning of the name.

[2][3] "Ishikari" is written in the Japanese language using ateji, or kanji characters used to phonetically represent native or borrowed words.

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