About Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Sakhalin Region is the only island region in the Russian Federation, made up of 59 islands. Sakhalin Island, home to our city, is one of Russia’s largest islands, stretching 948 km from south to north. Kuril Islands, part of the same region, extend for 1,200 km from north to south between Kamchatka and Hokkaido.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is the administrative center of Sakhalin Region. Founded in 1882 as the village of Vladimirovka. From 1905 to 1946 it was part of Japan and known as Toyohara. At war's end Soviet troops occupied the settlement, renamed it Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and made it regional capital.

Downtown lies in the southern part of Sakhalin Island on a plain surrounded by hills, which creates a distinctive climate not typical of coastal towns. Summers can be very warm; winter cold intensifies without wind. Like most of Sakhalin Island, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk lies in a temperate monsoon climate zone. January is the coldest month (−12.8 °C on average), August the warmest (+17.1 °C).

Local time is permanently MSK+8 relative to Moscow, UTC offset +11:00.

Municipal district covers 898.2 square kilometers; population 180.7 thousand. International airport lies 10 km from downtown; railway and bus terminals in the city center link the capital with every part of the island.

Several business centers, restaurants, cafés, nightclubs, cinemas, theaters, a cultural park, supermarkets. Public transport includes large municipal buses, private minibuses. Most retail stores open 10:00–19:00, grocery stores 9:00–21:00, supermarkets 8:00–22:00 without breaks or days off.

Main fixed-line telecom provider is Rostelecom. Local telephone numbers have six digits with area code 4242. Four mobile operators serve the city: MTS, MegaFon, Beeline, Tele2.