Peace: Japanese students Nobuaki Ito, Kenta Kindo, Keiji Nakayama, Yuka Teshima and Yui Sasaki arrived in Port Macquarie on Friday.
SUNNY weather greeted a group of Japanese students who arrived in town on Friday.
Representatives from Handa Higashi Senior High School in Japan - from Port Macquarie’s sister city Handa - will spend five-days on a cultural exchange visit in Port Macquarie which includes a visit to Billabong Koala and Wildlife Park, The Camden Haven, North Brother Mountain and cruise down the Hastings river.
Council Administrator Neil Porter welcomed the students at an afternoon tea on Friday.
Handa and Port Macquarie officially became sister cities 22 years ago and the visit will continue the long standing association.
“The friendship we have with our Sister-City friends in Japan is strengthened on each return. I know that many students still exchange letters and emails to maintain friendships forged with their host families from previous visits and I hope bonds like that will be created on this visit as well,” Mr Porter said.
Twelve students, three teachers and one representative from the the school’s Parent Teacher’s Association are taking part this year.
Students will be billeted with families from St Columba Anglican School over the weekend to experience life in a typical Australian household, before embarking on a busy itinerary to visit local attractions.
After taking in the sights on Monday, they will spend Tuesday in an Australian classroom at St Columba and make Anzac biscuits and sushi with other students.
“We are lucky to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world and I am delighted to showcase the Hastings to some very special visitors,” said Mr Porter.