Russia’s Primorsky region is the gateway to the Pacific and one of Russia's most active areas for trade. Its capital, Vladivostok, can be termed the country’s window on the east, or even Asia’s window on Russia. The area's neighbours, China, Korea and Jap

Claims of how the region is inundated by scores of Asian immigrants tend to be exaggerated: for example, how in local restaurants not a word of Russian is spoken, or how whole towns have only foreigners. Such claims have little basis in fact.

You have to dig a bit deeper to find the truth behind the idea that the region has been overrun by Asians.

Vladivostok – the gateway to the Pacific

With stricter immigration laws and legislation limiting the quota for work permits, there are fewer Asian immigrants than there were previously. However, Vladivostok’s location will always encourage neighbouring countries to be part of the region's everyday social and economic and  life.

Some factory owners in the region would have to close down if no Asian workers had moved there in order to make a better living than they would at home.

There is a tremendous selection of right-hand drive Japanese cars in Vladivostok. When the government tried to ban them, this was the first region to go up in arms.

Japanese cars in Vladivostok

Like the rest of Russia, streets and road rules are made for left-hand drive cars, but owners of Japanese cars would have to spend thousands of dollars to switch their steering wheels to the other side. The alternative is just as unwelcome – settling for a vehicle of less quality.

“Their quality is superb! You cannot compare them to Russian cars, or even American, which use lots of gas. Japanese cars are very economical, affordable and convenient – even a child could drive a right-hand car,” said Ivan Danilov, a Japanese car salesman.