Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
city in far-eastern Russia
About Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
The city was founded in 1882 under the name of Vladimirovka and originally populated by liberated convicts, but was transferred to Japanese control after the end of the Russo-Japanese war. The Japanese renamed the city as Toyohara, and made it the capital of the Japanese prefecture Karafuto occupying the southern half of the island. After the end of World War II, Soviet troops occupied Karafuto, and the city was renamed Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk when control of the city was transferred back to Russia. Little remains of the Japanese administration apart from a very limited number of Japanese buildings, including the impressive old government building now used as a regional museum. The main heritage of the Japanese ownership of the city is a sizable number of Sakhalin-Koreans, deported here by the J
Top Attractions in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Explore the best things to see and do in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk:
- ★Building at Sakhalin Street 44
- ★Catholic Church of St. James
- ★Chekhov International Theatre Center
- ★Chekhov Literary and Art Museum
- ★Former Toyohara City Hall
- ★Gagarin Park
- ★Gorny Vozdukh Ski center
- ★Headquarters of Karafuto Guard Units
Where to Eat in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Black Cat Café
- 🍴Furusato Restaurant
- 🍴Kolobok Café
- 🍴Nihon Mitay Sushi Bar
- 🍴Restaurant Shanghai Blues
- 🍴Restaurant Toyohara
Where to Stay in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
- 🏨Belka Hotel
- 🏨Gagarin Hotel
- 🏨Hostel Ostrova
- 🏨Jubilee Hotel
- 🏨Lotus Hotel
- 🏨Mega Palace Hotel
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 13 sections including: