The Roseburg Sister City program has its roots in a 1987 exchange of students between Joseph Lane Middle School and a middle school in Shobu, Japan. (Shobu is now incorporated into Kuki). The Sister City relationship between Shobu and Roseburg was formalized in 1993 with the first adult delegation from Roseburg visiting Japan in 1994.  Both the Adult Exchange and the Middle School Exchange program involves yearly visits – one year a Roseburg delegation will visit Kuki and the next year, a Kuki delegation will visit Roseburg.  Each visit lasts approximately 10 days.

A unique aspect of these visits is that they involve home stays in each country.  Staying with host families is an excellent way to experience Japanese home life in a way that tourists never will.  Talk to anyone who has hosted or traveled to Japan and they will tell you that it’s a life enhancing experience they will always remember!

Roseburg Sister Cities members have the opportunity to travel to Kuki and tour parts of Japan.  Every trip is different - from seeing Mt. Fuji or the Japanese Alps, to wandering among the snow monkeys as they soak in natural hot springs, to shopping in Tokyo, to touring contemplative Japanese temples and gardens.  A wide range of group activities as well as time spent individually with host families is all a part of the wonderful experience.