'''Sakhalin Oblast''' is a region in Southeastern Russia, located directly to the north of Japan, and consisting of Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Island chain.
Regions
Sakhalin
Kuril Islands:
* Kunashir
* Iturup
* Shikotan
Cities
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – Regional 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
Kurilsk – administrative capital of the Kuril Islands
Okha – Northernmost town of Sakhalin Island and booming oil hub
Severno-Kurilsk – northernmost town in the Kurils, near 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
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.
The Kuriles: 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 elsewhere in Russia, Russian is the predominant language, but there are also an estimated 30,000 Koreans, mostly in the capital Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, although many do not speak Korean.
Get in
The regions largest city, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, is the arrival point for international flights from major Russian cities as well as Seoul, Sapporo and Hakodate; most foreign tourists wishing to visit these islands begin here. There are also charter flights booked by oil companies, available to their employees or those visiting these companies. It may also be possible to book independantly on the charter flights operated by Vladivostok Air, as there appear to be local people unconnected to the energy industry using this flight too.
There are also ferry services between Kholmsk and the Russian mainland at Vanino, Primorsky Krai and between Korsakov and Wakkanai, Japan.
Get around
From Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, domestic carriers offer flights to Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kurilsk, Okha, and other regional destinations.
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.
See
Itineraries
Do
Eat
Try kimchi in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, be sure to eat seafood in the Kurils, and enjoy the ubiquitous and tasty everyday Russian soups and meals.
Drink
Stay safe
Remain vigilant in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk; Sakhalin Oblast has the highest rates of juvenile crime in all of Russia.
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.