KATHMANDU, May 5: During her visit to Nepal, Japan's Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko toured the Basantapur area of Kathmandu this afternoon.

Arriving at Basantapur at around 2 o'clock, she spent approximately half an hour exploring Kaal Bhairav, Hanuman Dhoka, and various cultural heritage sites. She also purchased a Buddha statue during her visit.

This marks her first official visit to Nepal since assuming the position of Japan's Foreign Minister. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she is scheduled to have separate courtesy meetings with President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Foreign Minister Kamikawa is slated to hold bilateral talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha at the ministry today, followed by a dinner hosted in her honor by Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha. Concluding her visit, Foreign Minister Kamikawa is expected to depart for Japan tonight via a Nepal Airlines Corporation flight.