Wakkanai is a city located in Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of Sōya Subprefecture. Wakkanai is home to Japan's first nursing home built inside the central train station of its city, a novel approach to caring for Japan's growing elderly population that has since been imitated in several other cities. As of 31 July 2024, the city had an estimated population of 30,590 in 17150 households, and a population density of 40 persons per km2.