The Peace Boat, a ship owned by a nongovernmental organization of the same name, and more than 500 passengers landed on Russian-held Kunashiri Island off Hokkaido on Tuesday morning -- despite a Foreign Ministry request that they not visit the disputed islet.
The group of 530, mostly young Japanese along with some South Koreans, Americans, German and Inuits, arrived aboard the ship and will be on the island until Wednesday. They will meet local people to exchange views on the relationship between Japan and the island, organizers of the trip said.
Some of the visitors will stay at a Japanese government-funded facility dubbed "Muneo House," after arrested Diet member Muneo Suzuki. His aide has been charged with rigging bids for building the facility formally known as the House of Friendship. Others will stay at homes of local residents, according to the group.