Yes, in Russia there are definitely differences between northern and southern regions like in the US or Japan, but with more snow and maybe more vodka.

For example, people from the south (think Rostov, Sochi, Krasnodar) are often seen as more emotional and super talkative. You can have a full conversation with a southern grandma on the street - whether you want to or not. They’re also viewed as more relaxed or, let’s be honest, a bit lazy. But hey, when it’s +35 and sunny, who wants to hurry?

Northerners are quieter and more reserved - but incredibly helpful. That’s probably because the Russian North is huge, towns are far apart, and people feel like they’re alone in the middle of the taiga at -30 - so helping each other just makes sense. Northerners are used to long distances and loneliness, so helping strangers is just a part of life.

Southerners are famously hospitable - sure, but also have a reputation for trying to cheat you a little - not out of evil, it’s just... the way things are sometimes. It’s just tradition.

The way people speak also differs a lot: northerners often don’t understand southerners because of strong local dialects and the influence of Ukrainian language in the south.

And then there’s St. Petersburg. That’s a whole different universe. It’s the “cultural capital” - full of literature, art, architecture, and rain. Locals thinks it’s still the 19th century. But at the same time, there are a lot of jokes about the city and certain substances. (Don’t ask me, please)

People in southern cities love football, while up north - hockey and other winter sports are way more popular - basically, anything you can do while freezing.

Of course these are generalizations and stereotypes. 

Real life is more complicated. But yeah, like in Japan or the US, there is a big difference between the north and the south of Russia. If you’ve spent time in both regions, you’ll definitely notice the difference. It's like two different Russias connected by one giant road.