On December 12, the Japanese Embassy in Russia inaugurated a 'Visa Center' in Moscow to facilitate the growing number of Russian tourists heading to Japan. According to estimates, over 190,000 Russian visitors are expected to travel to Japan by 2025, doubling numbers from the previous year, which has necessitated a more efficient processing of visas. A sister center has also been opened in Saint Petersburg, where the actual visa assessments will continue to be carried out by embassy officials.

The new Visa Center aims to streamline the application process, although the visa issuance fee remains free for Russians; applicants will now need to pay a center usage fee of 970 rubles (approximately 19 USD). During the opening ceremony, Tomoharu Yamaguchi, a minister at the Japanese Embassy, highlighted that the increase in Russian tourists to Japan, especially under the current challenging circumstances, supports citizen exchanges and lays a foundation for future Japan-Russia relations, emphasizing the importance of maintaining these exchanges.

The surge in Russian tourism to Japan is largely attributed to the depreciation of the yen and the difficulties faced by Russians in traveling to Western countries following the comprehensive invasion of Ukraine. The Japan National Tourism Organization reported a staggering 96% increase in Russian visitors to Japan in 2025, with over 100,000 visa applications submitted solely in Moscow, resulting in long queues outside consulates and embassies. Experts in Japan are also voicing opinions on the need to continue private exchanges, considering these interactions beneficial to national interests, especially as the situation in Ukraine evolves.