国後、択捉島へ観光旅行＝試験ツアー実施を正式発表－政府

　外務省と観光庁は７日、日ロ両政府が北方四島での共同経済活動の一環として行う日本人向けの試験的な観光ツアーを９～１６日に実施すると正式に発表した。旅行会社を通じて参加する一般客と、同行する外務省職員らを含め５０人規模となる。
　一行は、四島に隣接する根室市などを周遊した後、国後島に１１～１３日、択捉島には１４、１５両日滞在し、両島では火山や日本人墓地などをめぐる。今回のツアーは６月の日ロ首脳会談での合意事項の一つで、既存の「ビザなし渡航」の制度を活用した特例的な措置。外務省によると、ロシアの査証（ビザ）を持たずに、観光目的で北方領土を日本人が訪れるのは初めて。（2019/10/07-19:21）

Japan's government said Monday a trial sightseeing tour to two of the four Russian-held northwestern Pacific islands at the center of the two countries' decades-old territorial row will take place between Wednesday and Oct. 16.
   The tour, part of Japan-Russia joint economic activities in the disputed islands, will be joined by around 50 Japanese people, including members of the public who made bookings through travel agencies and officials of the Foreign Ministry, according to the announcement by the ministry and the Japan Tourism Agency.
   The four islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, are Shikotan, the Habomais, Etorofu and Kunashiri.
   After touring locations including Nemuro, a city in the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hokkaido, near the island, the participants will visit Kunashiri from Friday to Sunday and Etorofu on Oct. 14-15. On the two islands, they will go to various locations, such as a volcano and graves for Japanese people who died there.
   The tour, which will utilize an existing visa-free system, was agreed on at a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin in June. It will be the first time for Japanese people to visit any of the disputed islands for sightseeing without a visa from Russia, according to the Japanese ministry.