Wilsonville Sister City

Wilsonville Sister City Association group photo

Wilsonville has enjoyed a sister-city relationship with Kitakata since October 1988 “in order to deepen the understanding and friendship between the two cities through programs in such fields as education, culture and economy.” To fulfill this mission the two cities have a student exchange where local high school students and middle school students from Kitakata stay with families here in Wilsonville, and then students from Wilsonville go to Kitakata and stay with host families and participate in local activities over there. The exchanges between our two cities have nurtured and increased understanding of different cultures, while creating wonderful memories and new friendships. 

About Kitakata:

Kitakata is located about 4 1/2 hours northwest of Tokyo, within the Fukushima prefecture of Japan. The climate is warm in the summer and usually receives heavy snowfall in the winter. The population of Kitakata is approximately 52,000. Kitakata is well known for its delicious ramen and beautiful lacquerware.