Situated on the coast of the Bay of the same name in Southern Primorye, Nakhodka is the second largest city in the Primorsky Territory, with a population of about 190,000 people. From the 7th to 13th centuries the area of Nakhodka formed part of the State of P'o-hai and the Empire of Jurchengs.

In June 1859 the Russian Corvette America first entered the waters of the gulf (later called the America Gulf) and of the bay (later called the Nakhodka Bay). In a year the Schooner Vostok arrived in the America Gulf and discovered the Vrangel Bay. In 1907 the Chernigovsk migrants founded the Americanka village in the area. After 1945 the Japanese war-prisoners were involved in the construction of Nakhodka.

The plans for the construction of the big commercial port in Nakhodka had existed since the early 1930s but the fulfillment of them was suspended by the World War. The works were recommenced in 1944. In 1947 the port started maintenance operations with ships. In 1950 Nakhodka gained the status of a town. In the beginning of the 1970s the construction of the largest in the Far East Vostochny Port started in the Vrangel Bay.

The city's modern economic potential is manifested in its ocean fleets, fishing industry, ship-repair facilities and warm deep-water ports. Since 1960s Nakhodka has been maintaining not only economic, but also friendship relations with the cities of Japan (its sister cities are Maizuru, Otaru, Tsuruga), the USA (Oakland and Bellingham). Since the early 1990s Donghe (the Republic of Korea) and Girin (China) have joined the list of Nakhodka's sister cities.

RED STAR TRAVEL invites you to visit Nakhodka, the city that keeps growing and improving year after year, pleasing the eye with youthful spirits and with the scenic beauty of the turquoise bay and the cone-shaped hills near the seashore.

YUAN DONG HOTEL

Located close to the city center. 138 km to the airport, 2 km to the railway station. Opened in 1994. All floors accessible by elevator. 57 rooms: 48 doubles, 1 triple, 4 junior and 4 main suites. All rooms feature private bathroom, air conditioner, satellite color TV, international direct-dial telephone, refrigerator. Room service. Daily maid service. Restaurant for 100 seats (Chinese and Russian cuisine). Night bar for 50 seats. Coffee shop. Banquet hall for 12 seats. Business center: facsimile facilities, photocopying, computer services, interpreters. Hair salon. Beauty shop. Billiards room. Safety deposit box. Currency Exchange. Pharmacy. Laundry. Towncar service. Security Service. English-speaking staff. Room rates - from $88.

RENT HOTEL

Located within walking distance to the city center. 136 km to the airport, 2 km to the railway station. Opened in 1997. 5 floors. All floors accessible by elevator. 21 rooms: 6 singles, 3 twins, 10 doubles and 2 suites. All rooms feature private bathroom, air conditioner, color satellite cable TV, international direct-dial telephone, radio, refrigerator. Room service. Restaurant for 30 seats (Russian and European cuisine). Bar for 20 seats. Banquet hall for 25 seats. Facsimile and photocopying facilities. Fitness center: gym and sauna. Currency exchange. Billiards room. Pharmacy. Laundry. Towncar service. On-site parking. Room rates - from $98.

PYRAMID HOTEL

Located in the city center. 138 km to the airport, 1 km to the railway station. Opened in 1993. 3 floors. 11 rooms: 2 singles, 4 junior suites and 5 main suites. All rooms feature private bathroom with hair-dryer, color satellite cable TV, international direct-dial telephone, refrigerator, mini-bar, tea-maker. Room service. Restaurant for 30 seats (Russian and European cuisine). Bar for 6 seats. Business center: facsimile facilities, photocopying, computer services. Massage saloon. Laundry. On-site parking. English-speaking staff. Room rates - from $85.

NAKHODKA HOTEL

Located nearly the Central Square. 135 km to the airport, 3 km to the railway station. Opened in 1972. Renovated in 1998. 5 floors. All floors accessible by elevator. 43 rooms: 30 singles, 10 twins, 1 junior suite and 2 main suites. All rooms feature private bathroom, color satellite TV, satellite telephone, refrigerator. Room service. Restaurant for 80 seats. Bar for 20 seats. Coffee shop. Facsimile and photocopying facilities. Sauna with massage. Casino. Billiards room. Hair salon. Laundry. Souvenir shop. On-site parking. Security service. Room rates - from $58.

Nakhodka Museums

Nakhodka Museum of Regional Studies. Operating hours: from 10am to 6pm, closed on Mondays. Established in 1980. The volume of the Museum's display items totals 17 thousand storage articles. The most interesting exhibits are the photo collection of old Nakhodka, the archeological collection from the Paleolithic Period, New Stone Age, and The Bronze Age. All exhibits were found in the area of the Nakhodka Bay. The collection of the articles of the Japanese Applied Art. Artistic exhibitions are held in the Center regularly, and there is an artistic salon and bar. The Club for the English Language Study is attached to the Center.

Nakhodka City Tour, 2 hours

Nakhodka stretches 20 km along the coast of the Nakhodka Bay. The main street of the city is Nakhodkinsky Avenue, almost all city bus routes go along this Avenue.

The port construction skirts the whole coastline. Unlike Vladivostok, Nakhodka has no defined city center. View place: Panorama of Nakhodka Bay and Nakhodka Gulf.

Nakhodka Commercial Seaport JSC, situated on the northwestern coast of the Sea of Japan in the Nakhodka Gulf. In 1997 the Port celebrated its 50th anniversary and its employees are proud of all those years of its successful operation. Loading berths are 10 to 11,5 m deep which makes them accessible to heavy-tonnage vessels. Favorable climatic conditions, advantageous geographic location, the most up-to-date navigation equipment and a reliable system of harbor pilotage allow the Port to quickly service ships at competitive prices all the year round because the bay is ice-free even in the dead of winter.

Panorama of the turquoise Bay and the cone-shaped hills near the seashore, industrial Port create the romantic impression.

Central Square. In this area the City Administration, the Editorial Office of the Nakhodkinsky Rabochy newspaper, Nakhodka Hotel, the Central Branch of the Saving Bank, State Tax Inspection Building (formerly Vostok Hotel), Cozy Public Garden, where in 1987 to 70th anniversary of October Revolution was placed the Monument to Lenin (sculpture M.K. Anikushin) and the Representatives of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (MID RF) are located. Central Square is the place of meeting Nakhodka citizens and the important road junction of city.

Monument of Hope. In northern part of the city there is a magnificent monument towering on Lebedinaya Hill. The Monument "Woman with child in hands" became as a symbol of waiting and hope of safe returning crews from sea to the native port, to their families. This monument was placed in 1975 and was dedicated to some tragedy in sea. In 1966 too frosty winter the Boksitogorck fish Trawler through the covered with ice hull went down. The Sculptor is M.K. Anikushin. From the monument place the beautiful view of City and the Japanese Sea is opened.

China Town. Not far from the bus station Barkhatnaya and next to Suan Yang Hotel, there is a so-called China Town. This is a shopping mall, which comprises about 60 small shops, snack bar and cafe. Its construction reminds a part of the Great China Wall. Here you can buy anything - from small souvenirs from China to heavy leather coats form Turkey and car auto-parts from Japan.

Memorial to the Soviet People's Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 with Eternal Flame.

Stones garden. The Garden of Stones, similar to Garden of Stones in Kioto, which otherwise called The Philosophic Garden or The Garden Ryoanzi is located between the bus stop Tikhookeanskaya and Majority Square (Ploschad Sovershennoletiya). Fifteen gray rough are scattered on white sand, and from whatever direction you look at them you will always see 14 stones, the 15th is obstructed by the other stones. This Stone's Garden is the present of sister-city Tsuruga (Japan). Stone of Friendship. A granite stone of irregular form brought from the Japanese sister-city Maizuru in 1978 to commemorate 17 years of friendship between the two cities. It's located between the bus stops Tikhookeanskaya and Majority Square. This place is very popular as a walking zone.

The Municipal Center of Culture (MCC) was built in 1958. This is a place for leisure of Russian and foreign seamen, Nakhodka's citizens: adults and kids. The International Seamen Club and English Resource Center occupy the right wing of the building. Those two organizations help to foster international friendship and cooperation in the Pacific Rim and give an opportunity to Nakhodka's citizens to improve their knowledge of a number of foreign languages. MCC also holds different types of artists' performances: from hobby groups to professional singers and Moscow theaters troupes.

South District Market. This is a new area for different kinds of purchase and where townspeople do their shopping. There are goods from China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Russian firms and others.

Full-Day Tour of Nakhodka

If you are staying in Vladivostok or Khabarovsk, you can reach the city by railway (from Khabarovsk) or by bus (from Vladivostok). You will explore the city with its main view places, visit the Historical Museum and Art gallery, enjoy the traditional meal of seafood.

-Arrive in Nakhodka from Vladivostok or Khabarovsk
-City tour including popular View places: Central Square, Monument of Hope, China Town Memorial of the Second World War, Stone's Garden, Stone of Friendship, Municipal Center of Culture, South District Market
-Lunch of Far Eastern traditional seafood
-Visit to Museum of Regional Studies
-Visit to Souvenir and Art Salon
-Depart from Nakhodka for Vladivostok or Khabarovsk

RED STAR TRAVEL offers you to spend a few days in the pearl of the Russian Far East. Try your hunting luck and get the desired big game trophy! Breathtaking wildlife and the warm hospitality of the tour organizers will make your trip really unforgettable. The camp of Hunting and Fishing is located 120 km away from the city of Nakhodka. Accommodation at the Forest Camp is provided at the warm cottages in single rooms with local video TV set. Each cottage consists of two separated rooms. Professional hunter, 4WD load truck, weapon and life cartridges are provided. You will experience exciting hunting for the Manchurian deer or wild boar. (Animal taken by hunters or fish can be cooked and served as well). Fishing: trout, grayling, umber. Hunting or Fishing requires advance reservations.