From Wikitravel

Sakhalin previously known as Karafuto by the Japanese, is a large and very sparsely populated island which was the center of a long power struggle between Russia/USSR and Japan for control of its large oil and gas resources. Sakhalin is beautiful, but has an undeveloped tourist sector. Because of the energy business, however, good food and hotels catering to foreigners are available. Yuzhno-Sakhalin, due to its large population of stranded Sakhalin Koreans, reputedly has very good Korean cuisine.

[edit] Cities

• Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk — the oblast's administrative capital and largest city
• Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky — home to famous writer Anton Chekhov during his stay in Sakhalin
• Kholmsk — Sakhalin's western port
• Korsakov — Sakhalin's southern port
• Okha — northernmost town of Sakhalin Island and booming oil hub

[edit] Other destinations

• Moneron (монерон) - Go diving or bird watching on the tranquil island of Moneron of Sakhalins south-western coast

[edit] Understand

[edit] Talk

As elsewhere in Russia, Russian is the predominant language, but there are also an estimated 30,000 Koreans, although many do not speak Korean, mostly centered on the island capital, which also hosts a sizable minority of Azerbaijanis - especially it seems - among taxi drivers. Due to the proximity to Japan, you may also find staff on upmarket hotels and restaurants in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, with at least some understanding of Japanese.

[edit] Get in

[edit] Get around

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is the main hub for all means of transportation. local and regional buses, charter minibuses, as well as Trains, all depart from the Station in the city center,

[edit] By plane

SAT Airlines (Sakhalinskie Aviatrassy) [1] the islands native carrier, operates flights between it's main hub in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and the oil hubs Okha and Nogilki on the northern part of the island.

[edit] By train

[edit] By bus

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Itineraries

• Russia to Japan via Sakhalin - Sakhalin is connected to Hokkaido, Japan by a weekly ferry during the summer - this itinerary tells you how to get there.

[edit][add listing] Do

Sakhalin has plenty of stunning natural scenery to offer. However, transportation out in the wilderness of Sakhalin, requires patience, and a lot of careful and thoughtful planning. An alternative is shelling out the extra cost for enlisting the aid of a local tour operator.

• Diving - Moneron island, close to the city of Kholmsk is a marine park that offers some unique diving, there is a dive shop in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk that can help with arrangements.
• Skiing

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Get out

• Kuril Islands — see what few travellers ever get to see, and catch a plane or the twice monthly ferry to Kunashir island, in the Kurils chain of islands, one of the world's most unique natural habitats, including flora and fauna native to Japan, but long lost in Japan's quest of industrialization.

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