Japanese Citizens Visit South Kuril Islands in Visa-Free Exchange Program

Japanese citizens who previously lived in the southern Kuril Islands, as well as their relatives traveled to Iturup Island on Saturday for an annual visit under the framework of visa-free exchange between Russia and Japan.

The group is made up of 60 individuals who previously lived on Iturup Island. The Japanese are expected to come back on June 8, after visiting graves of their relatives.

The trip was made possible after both Russia and Japan agreed to promote exchange between residents of the islands by allowing visa-free visits.

Earlier this year, it was reported that over 1,100 Japanese citizens will visit the South Kuril Islands, whereas around 360 Russian citizens from the Sakhalin Island will go to Japan.

Visitors can use their national passports with a special paper attached to it. Since 1992, when the two countries signed the bilateral visitor exchange agreement, over 20,000 Japanese citizens have visited the Kuril Islands.

Besides people who previously lived on the islands and their relatives, the visa-free regime allows environmental scientists, medical personnel and workers of cultural programs to visit the islands.

History of the Kuril Islands Dispute

© Sputnik