Muneo Suzuki, minister for development in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido, sailed to Kunashiri, one of the four Kuril islands taken by the former Soviet Union in the dying days of the war.

Suzuki was to meet regional leaders of the Southern Kuril district, talk with residents and visit a power plant, school and hospital. He was scheduled to visit Etorofu, another island in the disputed group, on Thursday before returning home the following day.

A total of 25 Japanese lawmakers have visited the Kuril islands since Japan and Russia agreed on a mutual visa-free visit program in 1992. But Tokyo had previously avoided sending any cabinet members to the islands.

Suzuki's visit marks a thaw in relations since Japanese PM Yutaro Hashimoto and Russian President Boris Yeltsin agreed in Siberia last year to do their best tosign a peace treaty by 2000.