Kuril Islands

An empty beach in the Kurils The Kuril Islands (Russian: Кури́лы, koo-REE-lyh; Japanese: Chishima Islands, 千島列島, Chishima Rettō), are a chain of islands in the Russian Far East, located directly to the north of Japan and east of Sakhalin. Regions Kunashir Iturup Shikotan Cities Kurilsk – administrative capital of the Kuril Islands. Severo-Kurilsk – northernmost town in the Kurils, close to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Yuzhno-Kurilsk – Largest town in the Kuril Islands Other destinations Kurilsky Zapovednik - Impressively beautiful nature reserve, considered the best example of an unspoilt, pristine environment of the same flora and fauna native to Japan Atlasov Island - An Island-volcano in the Kurils praised by the Japanese for its near perfect shape, similar to Mount Fuji Understand Though still claimed by their former owner, Japan, the Kuriles are now thoroughly Russian, sparsely populated and poor. Most locals make their living fishing in the island chain's abundant waters. The chain's most populated island is Kunashir, centered on Yuzhno-Kurilsk, but its smaller administrative capital Kurilsk is located on the biggest island, Iturup. Talk As with much of Russia, Russian is the predominant language, some Japanese is spoken as well. Get in The largest nearby Russian cities with airports are Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to the west on the island of Sakhalin, and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to the north. The former's airport has flights on domestic carriers to Yuzhno-Kurilsk and Kurilsk. Travelers going to the Kuril Islands arrive most quickly via plane from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, but it is also possible to take a slower ferry from Sakhalin to Kunashir and on to Iturup. Get around See Revered for its perfect shape, the volcano Atlasov Itineraries Do Eat Be sure to eat seafood in the Kurils, as the fishing in this part of the North Pacific is considered some of the best in the world. You may well see this seafood available in expensive restaurants around the world offered at prices a hundred times what it will cost to enjoy it here. Drink Stay safe Get out Hokkaido — Japan's northernmost island paradise for skiing, hot springs, and delicious regional cuisine is a relatively short ferry ride away from Sakhalin, although there are no regular ferries between the Kurils and Hokkaido due to the political conflict. Kamchatka — If you have the time to wait and find someone to ferry you from Severno-Kurilsk it's a beautiful destination for outdoors enthusiasts and a worthwhile addition to a Kurils trip. Sakhalin — Russia's largest eastern island is the most convenient point of entry to the Kurils, and the most convenient point of exit. This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!