Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is a small town on Sakhalin Island located near Russian seaport Korsakov. The vast majority of tourists come to Yuzhno-Sakhalisk during visa-free shore tours after they arrive on cruise ships to Korsakov. Sakhalin trip is mostly about nature: Sakhalin island is home to many species of birds, animals, and plants. The main site tourists like to visit in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk are the Regional Museum and Church of Saint Nicolas, and three main squares: Glory, Victory, and Lenin square.

The Regional Sakhalin museum is designed in Japanese style and keeps a great collection of exhibitions and items connected with Sakhalin's history, ethnography, and nature. The Church of Saint Nicolas is a classic example of wooden Orthodox architecture. To watch the city from the bird's eye view, come up to the top of the mountain in a gondola in the Mountain Air ski center. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is not at all similar to the big Russian cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg, but being a mixture of Russian and Japanese culture, it is worth a short visit to feel the diversity of Russia.