The City of Hot Springs, Arkansas, recently returned to Hanamaki, Japan, strengthening a Sister City relationship that has connected the two communities for more than 30 years.
The delegation met with Hanamaki Mayor Masaru Obara, city and business leaders, tourism representatives, and professional counterparts to exchange ideas and best practices. Visits to partner schools reinforced longstanding educational ties, while cultural experiences, including Hanamaki’s renowned onsen, historic sites, and Hanamaki Matsuri, offered a deeper look at how the community preserves its traditions and natural resources while supporting tourism and local development.
A special moment came when the Hot Springs Sister City Program brought home its Sister Cities International Innovation in Business Development Award, presented in Washington, D.C., in July. The award was presented to Yasuhiro Otomo and the Hanamaki Toy Museum team in recognition of their contributions to the partnership. It will now be proudly displayed at the Toy Museum as the two communities continue working toward their shared goal of establishing a permanent Moku Playland in Hot Springs by 2028.
From education and government to tourism, culture, and economic development, this visit demonstrated the many ways Sister Cities relationships create lasting connections and opportunities to learn, collaborate, and grow together across borders.
