Sister City informational meeting

An informational meeting about the upcoming 20th anniversary citizen delegation trip to Hot Springs’ sister city, Hanamaki, Japan, will be held on Monday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m. in room 205 of the Hot Springs Convention Center, 133 Convention Boulevard.  Prospective travelers are encouraged to attend.

“Have you ever thought about taking a trip to Japan?  Would you like the opportunity to experience the culture, not just as a tourist but as a special guest? Being a member of the Hot Springs Sister City 20th anniversary citizen delegation allows individuals to experience Hanamaki, its scenic countryside, the wonderful flavors of its cuisine, the incredible hospitality of the people of our sister city, and the beauty and diversity of the Japanese culture,” said Mary Neilson, Sister City Program Coordinator.   

This year’s special 20th anniversary delegation visit is tentatively scheduled for September 7-15. The group will spend the first two nights in Tokyo. While there, the delegates will spend a day visiting ancient temples, shrines and Tokyo City. The following day, the delegation will take the world-famous bullet train to Hanamaki. While in Hanamaki, guides take the group to visit shrines, museums, and onsen, or Japanese bathhouses. The accommodations are all western-style hotel rooms. The highlight of the trip will be taking part in the 20th anniversary celebration activities as well as the annual Hanamaki Festival, which will take place September 13-14. Delegation members are even invited to take part in the festival parades if they wish.   The festival includes festival dancers, mikoshi, which are shrines that are carried on the shoulders of a group of Hanamaki citizens, and finally lighted floats that travel down the street to the sound of ancient rhythms.

The estimated travel cost of $4000 includes airfare, transportation, lodging, tours, guides and most meals. For any questions or for more information on how to reserve a spot, contact Sister City Program Coordinator Mary Neilson, 501-545-6960 or hotspringssistercity@yahoo.com .