Ichita Yamamoto, state minister in charge of territorial issues, will visit the Russian-held islands of Kunashiri and Etorofu off Hokkaido next month for discussions with local officials and to inspect infrastructure, a government source said Wednesday.

Yamamoto will visit the two islands, among four that Japan wants returned, from Sept. 19 to 23, in the first such trip by an incumbent Cabinet minister in eight years, the source said.