Getting to Know Each Other, One Student at a Time

Educational exchange has been at the heart of the sister city relationship between Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Hanamaki, Japan, since its inception in 1993. This dynamic program connects students from both cities, fostering cultural understanding and lifelong friendships through immersive experiences in each other’s communities.

An Immersive Cultural Experience
Each fall, Hanamaki student delegations journey to Hot Springs, where they immerse themselves in American life. These students stay with local host families, attend area schools, participate in sporting events, and experience what it means to be a teenager in the United States.

Each year, the Hot Springs National Park Sister City Foundation accepts applications from Garland County students in grades 8–11 to be part of a student delegation that travels to Hanamaki for approximately one week each summer. Hosted by Japanese families, these students explore the traditions, education system, and everyday life of their counterparts in Hanamaki. Local teachers accompany the group as chaperones, ensuring a safe and enriching experience for all participants.

Supporting the Next Generation of Cultural Ambassadors
To make these life-changing opportunities accessible, the Sister City Foundation offers scholarships to eligible students. Fundraising events, including the annual Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival, provide essential support for the scholarship program.

In 2026, the Hot Springs National Park Sister City Foundation provided Garland County public school teachers and administrators with a unique opportunity to participate in an international educational exchange in Hanamaki, Japan.

The exchange allowed participating educators to visit Japanese schools, interact with teachers and students, and experience the culture and daily life of Hanamaki. The program encouraged the sharing of educational practices and perspectives while providing meaningful professional growth.

The Foundation is currently exploring plans for future teacher exchanges as part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening educational and cultural ties between Hot Springs and Hanamaki.

Watch for announcements this fall regarding future exchange opportunities and application information.

Student Exchange: Learning Beyond the Classroom

The Sister City Program offers 8 – 11 grade students in Garland County the opportunity to participate in an international student exchange with our sister city. This program is designed to foster cultural understanding, global awareness, and personal growth through direct, meaningful experiences.

Student delegates travel to Hanamaki as part of a supervised group and take part in cultural activities, school visits, and community events. During their stay, students engage with Japanese peers, experience daily life in a different culture, and develop a deeper understanding of global perspectives that extend far beyond the classroom.

The student exchange emphasizes responsibility, curiosity, and cultural respect. Participants serve as ambassadors for Hot Springs, representing their schools and community while building lasting connections abroad. Many students return with increased confidence, broadened worldviews, and a renewed interest in international learning.

Applications for the 2027 Student Delegation will be available in fall 2026. Additional details, eligibility requirements, and application materials will be posted on this page as the application period approaches.

Please check back for updates, or follow the Hot Springs Sister City Program for future announcements.

The following schools have sister school relationships and many take part in arts, video, and student exchanges each year.

• Sasama Daini Elementary School and Fountain Lake Elementary School
• Hot Springs Middle School and Hanamaki Junior High
• Jessieville Middle Schools and Ohasama Junior High Schools
• Lakeside High School and Hanamaki Higashi High School
• Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and Arts and Hanamaki Kita High School

For more information about how you can be involved in hosting guests or traveling to Hanamaki as a student or teacher delegate, email director@hotspringssistercity.org

Hot Springs Delegation Returns from Educational Exchange in Japan

June 2026

The Hot Springs Sister City Program recently welcomed home 17 students, two educators, and two chaperones following the annual educational exchange to Hanamaki, Japan. Held May 29–June 8, the exchange provided participants with the opportunity to experience Japanese culture firsthand while serving as ambassadors for Hot Springs.

Students were selected through a competitive application and interview process that evaluated leadership, character, academic commitment, and their ability to represent the community abroad. In the months leading up to the trip, delegates prepared presentations about Hot Springs, learned about Japanese culture, and participated in team-building activities.

During the exchange, delegates attended classes alongside Japanese students, visited local schools, and participated in cultural activities that offered a firsthand look at education and daily life in Japan. Educator delegates met with Japanese teachers and administrators to exchange ideas and strengthen educational partnerships.

In addition to school visits, the delegation explored many of Hanamaki’s cultural landmarks and participated in traditional experiences including a tea ceremony, mochi making, visits to local shrines, and the popular wanko soba eating competition. The group also met with Hanamaki Mayor Masaru Obara, who welcomed the delegation and recognized the long-standing friendship between the two sister cities.

One of the most meaningful experiences was spending the final weekend with host families. Living with local families gave delegates a deeper understanding of Japanese culture while creating friendships that will last a lifetime.

Following their return to Hot Springs, Executive Director Mary Zunick, who also serves as Honorary Consul of Japan for Arkansas, challenged delegates to identify a Japanese custom or practice that could positively benefit American communities.

The winning presentation recognized the Japanese tradition of students cleaning their classrooms and helping serve school lunches, highlighting how these practices foster responsibility, teamwork, respect, and pride in their schools. Check the link below to view.

For more than three decades, the Hot Springs–Hanamaki educational exchange has strengthened the friendship between the two communities while providing life-changing opportunities for students and educators. Each fall, students from Hanamaki travel to Hot Springs for the reciprocal exchange, continuing a tradition of cultural understanding and international friendship.

The exchange is coordinated by the Hot Springs Sister City Foundation in partnership with the Hot Springs Sister City Program and is made possible through the support of volunteers, educators, host families, and community partners in both Hot Springs and Hanamaki.