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.

Deadline for applications is 31 March of the program year. Applications and supporting documentation are provided below.

Starting in 1988 after the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge-inspired Seto-Ohashi Bridge, the Sausalito-Sakaide Sister Cities Program aims to promote international friendship, understanding, and cooperation between the citizens of Sausalito, California, and Sakaide, Japan. Through cultural exchange, our program seeks to build bridges of friendship between our two communities to promote world peace.

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 translator. 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 26th to August 7th, 2024
• Location: Sakaide, Japan
• Program Fee: $975
• Airfare: $2071 (estimated)
• Requirements: Valid passport, up-to-date vaccinations, and live in Marin County

Apply to join the student delegation:

Instructions for application PDF (opens pop-up).

The deadline for applications is March 31st, 2024, Easter Sunday.

Financial assistance is available for those who qualify – reach out to us for more information.

Join us in this exciting cultural adventure and make memories that will last a lifetime!

If you have any questions, please contact apply@sausalitosistercities.org.