It is definitely out of the way... my grandmother lives there and I visit every other year or so.
I fly HND-KUH, then shuttle bus to Kushiro station. Depending on my arriving timeframe I either take bus 25 or the train to Akkeshi. There's only 4-5 trains/buses a day so sometimes it is a long wait.
Akkeshi Conchiglie is walkable from the station, The fishery direct sales shop, A-Uroko is also a short walk away. I'd also suggest the Akkeshi Marine museum which is in between and free.
Akkeshi train station usually has a taxi sitting out front so it's not bad getting around once you're there, but if you're on the bus you can get off around Miyazono where there's some restaurants or take across the bridge to Matsubacho where there's some more.