Join Us in a Journey to Sakaide, Japan

Thank you for your interest in the Sausalito-Sakaide Sister Cities Program for its 10-day homestay cultural exchange program! Our program is seeking 12 enthusiastic Marin County high-school students (ages 15-17) to embark on this unique cultural journey and experience of a lifetime.

The program takes place in late summer (end of July – beginning of August), every other year on even years.

Applications and supporting documentation are provided below.

Embark on an Unforgettable Cultural Adventure

The Sausalito-Sakaide Sister Cities Program is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and opportunity to promote international friendship, understanding, and cooperation between the citizens of Sausalito, California, and Sakaide, Japan. Through homestays and cultural exchange activities, our program seeks to build bridges of friendship between our two communities to promote world peace at the local level.

Twelve lucky Marin County students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich traditions and customs of Japan through a homestay experience with a local family in Sakaide and engage with a diverse range of activities prepared by the City of Sakaide.

Each day, participants will convene at Sakaide City Hall, where they will board an official city bus accompanied by city staff and a Japanese interpreter. The carefully curated, jam-packed itinerary changes every year, but in the past these engaging activities have included sports chanbara, judo with local police, noodle making, tea ceremony, ikebana, kimono wearing, visiting Japanese theme parks, and many more. After our program ends, our student delegates often go on to live, study, and work in Japan and begin international careers between the US and Asia.

Program Details:

Dates: July 24th to August 5th, 2026
Location: Sakaide, Japan
Program Fee: $1000
Airfare: $2200 (estimated)
Requirements: Valid passport, up-to-date vaccinations, and live in Marin County

The deadline for applications is March 1st, 2026, at 5pm.